Japanese Studies (with Year Abroad)
Durham University
UCAS Code: T202 | Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Students taking the History route of Japanese Studies must have an A in A2 History or equivalent qualification. Specific subjects excluded for entry: General Studies and Critical Thinking. Information: Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.
Access to HE Diploma
We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent). Applicants may be required to meet additional subject-specific requirements for particular courses at Durham. History is required for students taking the History route of Japanese Studies.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
History is required for students taking the History route of Japanese Studies.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
General information on subjects/grades required for entry: Seventeen points (6, 6, 5) in Higher Level subjects. History is required for students taking the History route of Japanese Studies.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
History is required for students taking the History route of Japanese Studies.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
History is required for students taking the History route of Japanese Studies.
Scottish Advanced Higher
History is required for students taking the History route of Japanese Studies.
Scottish Higher
Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis.
At Durham we welcome applications from students of outstanding achievement and potential from all educational backgrounds. We will consider applicants studying T level qualifications for entry to many of our courses. Where a course requires subject specific knowledge and this is not covered within the T level being studied, you may need to supplement your T level studies with a suitable qualification to meet this requirement, for example at A level. Where this is needed this will be clearly stated in our entry requirements. Detailed entry requirements can be found on individual course entries on our courses database.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
This multidisciplinary degree will develop advanced knowledge and the understanding of Japanese language and culture.
You will study a core language module in each of your three years. You don’t need to have any previous knowledge of Japanese, but a pathway is available if you already have an A level or equivalent qualification in Japanese.
You will also have the chance to choose from a selection of other modules relevant to the study of Japan from other departments. This includes Anthropology, Education, Government and International Affairs, Economics, and Theology and Religious Studies. In addition, you may choose to take additional language modules, including European languages, Chinese and Korean.
You will spend your third year studying the Japanese language at a university in Japan. This is an amazing opportunity to experience Japanese culture first-hand and to put your language skills into practice and context. You can also apply to add a placement year to your degree, increasing the course from four years to five.
In your final year, you will bring together all your learning and experience to write a dissertation on an aspect of Japanese studies.
**Year 1**
You will take a double module in Japanese language, including the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, a module in Japanese culture introducing the philosophy, art and literature of Japan, a module in Japanese history and two option modules from an extensive list.
Core modules: Japanese Language 1 or Japanese Language 2B for post-A level entrants (double module) / Introduction to Japanese Culture / A module on Japanese history taught by MLaC or History.
**Year 2**
You will take a double module in Japanese language, including the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, a module in Japanese culture, a module in Japanese history and two option modules from an extensive list.
Core modules: Japanese Language 2 (double) or Japanese Language 2A (single) / The Body and the Extremity of the Senses: Through Japanese Literature, Performance and Media Arts / A module on Japanese history taught by MLaC or History.
**Year 3**
The third year is spent in Japan studying the language full-time at a Japanese university. You are required to take all the examinations specified by your host university, but the marks for these do not count towards the final degree mark. You will complete a 5,000-word project in English with a 1,000-character abstract in Japanese on some aspect of Japan, at your choice with guidance from Durham staff.
**Year 4**
You will take a double module in Japanese language, a single text reading module in Japanese and a 40-credit Dissertation plus one other module
Core modules: Japanese Language 4 (double) / Japanese Historical and Literary Texts / Dissertation in Japanese Studies.
We review course structures and core content (in light of e.g. external and student feedback) every year, and will publish finalised core requirements for 2020 entry from September 2019.
**Study Abroad**
School of Modern Languages and Cultures
We attach great importance to your time abroad, during the third year of your degree, which most students spend as a student at a university in Japan. This is a time of enormous linguistic and personal development from which you should gain a high level of fluency in your language(s) and enjoy a unique opportunity to make new friends, appreciate new cultures and learn to work and study in new ways. Employers at home and abroad are impressed by the lasting benefits, especially in increased linguistic confidence, intercultural agility and general self-motivation. During the year abroad you will complete an academic assignment related to each of the countries in which you stay. You will need to pass these in order to fulfil the requirements of the BA in Japanese Studies with Year Abroad.
For more information on this course, please see our website.
Modules
Year 1
Core modules:
Either Japanese Language 1A (for post-A level entrants). This module will consolidate and extend your grammatical knowledge, to enhance your communication skills in written and oral Japanese.
Or Japanese Language 1B which will provide an introduction to all aspects of the Japanese language. You will get a thorough grounding in the major grammatical features of Modern Japanese, build up your vocabulary and develop skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Introduction to Japanese Culture: From Antiquity to the Present will introduce you to the cultural history of Japan and its philosophy, art and literature. It will help foster a consciousness of Japan's role in and experience of globalisation over the long term. You will also learn about critical concepts and methodologies for the analysis of textual and visual artefacts.
Imagining East Asia in the Modern World covers cultural, social and political history of modern East Asia and the lives and experiences of different people living in and migrating to and from East Asia during the past five centuries.
Examples of optional modules:
People and Cultures
Introduction to Chinese Culture
French/German/Italian/Russian/Spanish Language
International Security, Interdependence and Organisation
Global Regions in International Relations
Worldview, Faith and Identity
Gallery 101: Designing an Art Exhibition.
Year 2
Core modules:
Either Japanese Language 2A. This module will further your knowledge of the Japanese language, including grammar and lexis. It will enhance your communicative proficiency in Japanese, in both writing and oral presentation and interaction, and further develop your listening and reading skills. You will also broaden your knowledge of traditional and contemporary Japan, and develop your intercultural awareness.
Or Japanese Language 2B. This module will further develop your linguistic skills across the full range of reading, writing, listening and speaking. It will also prepare you for living abroad in terms of language, practical knowledge and cultural competence.
Examples of optional modules:
The Body and the Extremity of the Senses: Through Japanese
Political Culture in Japan since 1688
Science and Technology in Modern Japan: A Cultural History
Kinship and Religion
Politics and Economics
Chinese Cinema
Classical Chinese
French/German/Italian/Russian/Spanish Language
Death, Ritual and Belief.
Year 3
The third year is spent in Japan studying the language full-time at a Japanese university.
Year 4
Your Dissertation will give you valuable experience and understanding of self-directed learning and the importance of choosing appropriate methodology when approaching a research project. It will help you to expand your data collection, analysis and presentation skills, and to develop your critical faculties in relation to existing literature on your topic area.
Japanese Language 4 focuses on proficiency in oral and written Japanese. It aims to develop an ability to write and speak correct Japanese, in expressing ideas in a broad range of topical issues in historical and cultural context. To encourage individual talents and proclivities and help students to achieve their maximum potential.
Critical Methods for the Study of Japanese Literature and History introduces you to advanced concepts and methodologies in literary and historical studies and their potential for reshaping scholarship on Japan and develops higher-level language skills for reading contemporary scholarship in Japanese.
Examples of optional modules:
Anthropology, Art, and Experience
Anthropology of Sport
Poison, Pollution and the Chemical Anthropocene
Chinese Historical and Literary Texts
East Asia in Historical Perspective: The Making of the Two Koreas
China in Global Political Economy
China in the Asian Century
Emotion and Identity in Religion
Polygraphing Japonisme
The Work of Art: Professional Skills and Work Placement in the Visual Arts.
Assessment methods
Language modules are assessed by a mixture of oral, listening and written examinations. Optional modules are assessed by essays, commentaries, projects and examinations. You will also complete a 12,000-word dissertation in your final year. During your year abroad you will complete a Year Abroad assignment.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
Durham City
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What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
In 2015, only 150 students graduated from the UK with degrees in Japanese, so anyone studying the subject will get a very rare qualification — so take that into consideration when drawing conclusions from the data above. This subject does seem to have a higher unemployment rate than the average, but this may be more to do with the very small number of graduates than any lack of demand for the degree. A third of graduates went to work abroad, and those working in the UK tended to be in London and in jobs in business and the media. Employers rate graduates who have more than one language, but you'll need to have them as part of a whole package of good skills.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Asian studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£25k
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Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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