Best South Asian studies programs?

[Mutaher]

I am in penultimate year of Bachelors in economics and have started considering my graduate school options. I would like to do my Masters in South Asian studies and would appreciate any kind of help regarding that. From whatever research I have done, Columbia's program seems to stand out the most. Another option towards which I am inclined is Oxford's (though it's a comparatively newer program). Which program would you guys recommend? Keep in mind that I would ideally like to join Foreign office in Pakistan but academia is not any less appealing to me either. Thanks

[Malthusian]

On 20/12/2015 at 2:42 AM, Mutaher said:

I am in penultimate year of Bachelors in economics and have started considering my graduate school options. I would like to do my Masters in South Asian studies and would appreciate any kind of help regarding that. From whatever research I have done, Columbia's program seems to stand out the most. Another option towards which I am inclined is Oxford's (though it's a comparatively newer program). Which program would you guys recommend? Keep in mind that I would ideally like to join Foreign office in Pakistan but academia is not any less appealing to me either. Thanks

Do you have any particular area of interest? Oxford has two courses: MSc in Contemporary India and the M.Phil. in Modern South Asian Studies. The former is one year and tends to have a few graduates every year going into some form of public position. The latter is may be better if you're looking to do a PhD and have a specific research topic (I also believe it's two years instead of the one on the MSc.

As you rightly mentioned, Oxford's course seems to be newer than other programs, but the brand and the academics who teach on it, are fantastic!

I would have a glance at the Cambridge course (M.Phil. in Modern South Asian Studies). It's more established and some very eminent academics teach on it (e.g. David Washbrook). I'll let someone else comment on the American Masters as I don't know much about them.