The School of Asian Studies is located in the  Arts 2 Building,  corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd.

The School of Asian Studies currently offers BA majors and minors in Chinese, Japanese and Korean, while retaining expertise in Indonesian. It also caters to the interests of students from all faculties by offering courses in Asian Studies. Asian Studies can be taken as a BA major or minor either separately or in conjunction with Asian languages.

Students undertake the study of Asia for a variety of reasons, and learning another language can be one of the best ways to understand a culture other than one's own. However, the School also offers a whole range of courses at all levels that do not require knowledge of an Asian language, including courses in history, literature, religion, gender studies and philosophy. All these offerings are complemented by active exchange programmes that allow students the opportunity to live and study in Asian countries.

The School's interests and expertise are supplemented by a number of other Asia-related institutions. In 1995 the university established the New Zealand Asia Institute to help co-ordinate teaching and research as well as to promote Asia-related outreach in the community. The Institute sponsors seminars and other activities throughout the year. New Zealand's national APEC Study Centre is also established at the university as a research and consultative body. Nationwide, the Asia New Zealand Foundation  provides a focus for discussion and promotion of interchange with our neighbours to the north. The Foundation continues to provide generous support for the student and other exchanges and for research projects at the University.

The School of Asian Studies currently has a permanent staff of over 20 lecturers and scholars, while part-time tutors and other members bring the total to more than 30 people.