StudyQA — Master: Asian Studies (2 Years): Japanese Studies

Photos of university / #universiteitleiden

Description Contents Requirements Funding More

This unique specialisation, taught by internationally renowned staff, will provide you with in-depth insights into a comprehensive range of important aspects of modern and pre-modern Japan.

This two-year programme is international and cosmopolitan, drawing students from around the world. This gives the programme an outward-looking and creative atmosphere that seeks to foster 'world citizens' as well as first-class scholars. A two-semester stay at a prominent Japanese university will be an important part of your training and education during the programme.

September until March- Leiden

The first year of the programme is split into two periods, with the first period spent at Leiden. You will follow intensive language and disciplinary training in Japanese and Asian Studies to prepare you for your year abroad.

You will be free to follow a variety of academic courses-known as Master Classes in Asian Studies and State of the Field seminars.

These include classes in:

* History (modern and pre-modern)
* Politics and international relations
* Philosophy
* Religion
* Literature

Because you must reach at least the equivalent of JLPT level 2 in Japanese in order to undertake courses at Japanese universities, if you do not reach the required level by March, you will not be permitted to progress to the year in Japan.

Year 2:

As in year one, the second year of the programme is split into two periods, with the first semester spent in Japan. Upon your return to Leiden in the second semester you will continue to further develop your language skills and concentrate on your chosen specialist area(s) in preparation for writing-up your final thesis. The aim is that you will be able to integrate your language and academic skills to allow you to write your final thesis using primary sources in Japanese.

You are free to choose the topic of your thesis from any subject supported within the department-although we would recommend that the topic closely mirror one or more of the classes you followed while in Japan. Your thesis supervisor will be available to advise you.

Currently the department can supervise theses from the following specialisations:

* History
* Philosophy
* Religion
* Literature
* Politics and International Relations
* Cultural Studies
* Anthropology

During the final stages of the programme you will also concentrate on honing your language skills to a level that will be efficacious in your professional life (post graduation). For example, the study of legal, commercial and political language use.

One of the central tenets of the MA in Japanese Studies is that you master the Japanese language. However, language skills are a tool rather than an end in themselves. Hence, the MA programme emphasises disciplinary specialisation, capitalising on the range of academic expertise available in Leiden. MA students should be able to develop graduate-level competencies in Japanese History, Philosophy, Religion, Literature, Social Science and others. Your tutor will advise you on which disciplines are available in specific years.

Research/PhD

Anyone with a Master´s degree can, in principle, apply for a PhD track. The procedure for admission to the PhD track is conducted by means of job applications. However, students with aparticular interest in an academic career are advised to choose for an MPhil programme, since these programmes explicitly prepare students for research at PhD level.

This programe has a workload of 120 ECTS.

Knowledge minimum: Sufficient command of Japanese. See website for details. Previous education: BA degree in Japanese Studies or its equivalent, with a relevant regional or disciplinary specialisation (see website Additional language requirements: * IELTS overall band: 7 * TOEFL paper based: 600 * TOEFL computer based: 250 * TOEFL internet based: 100 English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL paper-based test score : 600 TOEFL iBT® test: 100