Faculty of Arts

Asian Studies Program

Learn about the languages, histories, economies and cultures of China, Japan and Korea. Home to approximately 60 percent of the world’s population, Asia-Pacific nations have emerged as major economic powers while their populations assert their own cultural identities. In our globalized economy, there’s a growing demand for people skilled in intercultural communications. 

As well, the departments of Anthropology, History and Religion offer Asia-related specialty courses that contribute toward a minor or major in Asian studies.

Our faculty and staff
A of stepping stones across a small pond.

  • Asian Studies Invited Speaker Series and the History Assiniboia Lecture present:

    States-in-Waiting: A Counternarrative of Global Decolonization

    With Lydia Walker, Ohio State University

    Wednesday, March 12, 2025
    2:30 p.m., Reception to follow
    409 Tier building

    Join us for a book talk from Dr. Lydia Walker, Provost Scholar Assistant Professor and Seth Andre Myers Chair in Global Military History at Ohio State University. 

    After the Second World War, national self-determination became a recognized international norm, yet it only extended to former colonies. Groups within postcolonial states that made alternative sovereign claims were disregarded or actively suppressed. Foregrounding little-known regions in South Asia and Southern Africa and the networks that connected them to global politics, States-in-Waiting illuminates the un-endings of decolonization—the unfinished and improvised ways that the state-centric international system replaced empire, which left certain claims of sovereignty perpetually awaiting recognition.

    States-in-Waiting: A Counternarrative of Global Decolonization (Cambridge University Press, 2024) is available as an open access download. 

  • Headshot of Lydia Walker.

Programs of study

Student resources and opportunities

Earn university credit for travel studies abroad 

Choose from exchange programs, travel study courses or field study courses that provide hands-on experience while allowing time to travel, explore and work abroad. Exchange destinations include Japan, China and Korea.

Study at a partner institution in Asia

Each year, UM students study abroad through the university's student exchange agreements. Students typically spend one semester or one academic year abroad, taking a combination of language and culture courses.

These study-abroad programs are based on reciprocal tuition agreements, where students pay tuition fees to their home university while studying at the partner university.

Scholarships for exchange students

Exchange participants are chosen from all faculties. Students are not required to have studied the Japanese, Chinese or Korean language to participate.

Students interested in the exchange program should meet with an Academic Advisor in their faculty to discuss how an exchange can fit within their academic program.

Contact a Faculty of Arts Academic Advisor

Learn more about student exchange programs

Oliver Marshall, seventh person from the right, joins students from Kokugakuin University in their traditional kimono day.

Language Centre Resources

Students are encouraged to check out this list of resources to help with language learning. From dictionaries to movies, search engines and news outlets, there are many opportunities to immerse yourself in another language. 

Manitoba Japanese Speech Contest

Students may enter this annual speech contest where three to five minute memorized speeches are presented in Japanese in introductory, intermediate and advanced categories. The contest is open to students who are presently studying Japanese as a foreign language and are of a nationality other than Japanese.

Winners go on to participate in the National Japanese Speech Contest.

The event is co-organized by the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, co-sponsored by The Consulate General of Japan in Calgary and supported by the Japan Foundation and Mitsui Canada.

Check back here for more information and dates for the next contest.

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme is a Japanese government-sponsored exchange programme that aims to improve foreign language teaching in schools and to promote international understanding.

The JET Programme offers highly qualified university graduates opportunities to work as either Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) in elementary and secondary schools or Coordinators for International Relations (CIR) in selected local government offices in Japan.

Explore the JET Programme

  • Chinese Language Partner Program

    The Chinese Language Partner Program promotes language study for students of both the English and Chinese language.

    Through the program, native speakers of Chinese help Chinese language students with language learning. In exchange, Chinese language students help students and scholars from China with English.

    To participate in the program, please contact:

    Shu Zhu
    204-474-9557
    Shu.Zhu@umanitoba.ca

External resources

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Community and outreach

  • The Asian Studies Centre strives to be involved in the educational and cultural activities of the Asian communities in Winnipeg and Manitoba.

    Some of our current activities and connections: 

    • We are serving as consultants and resource providers for the three major Winnipeg Chinese schools.
    • We have frequent involvement with the activities of the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Community Centre.
    • We maintain close contact with the embassies and consulates of Asian governments.
    • We provide assistance to students who wish to explore study opportunities in Asia.
  • On January 23, 2020, Dr. William Lee was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette—a national decoration presented by the Government of Japan in the name of the Emperor to individuals that have made significant contributions with respect to the promotion of and exchange of friendship between nations.
    On January 23, 2020, Dr. William Lee was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette—a national decoration presented by the Government of Japan in the name of the Emperor to individuals that have made significant contributions with respect to the promotion of and exchange of friendship between nations.

Contact us

Asian Studies Program

306A Fletcher Argue
15 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

asian.studies@umanitoba.ca
204-474-6323