Japanese Studies

About

This is a four-year multidisciplinary degree where the compulsory Japanese language and culture modules will be taught at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures (MLaC) and in the Department of History.

You will choose a selection of other modules relevant to the study of Japan from other departments, including Anthropology, Education, Government and International Affairs, Economics, and Religious Studies. Alternatively, students may choose to take additional modules in MLaC including European languages and Chinese. All students will spend their third year studying the Japanese language at a university in Japan. Students are not expected to have any previous knowledge of Japanese. 

Content

Year 1

Core modules:
• Japanese Language 1 (double)
• Introduction to Japanese Culture
• Introduction to Japanese 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)
• Japanese Culture: The Body and the Extremity of the Senses.

One of the level 2 Japanese history modules currently: 
• Translation and the making of Modern Japan
• Power and Primacy: Sino-Japanese Relations in the Long Twentieth Century.

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.

Study Abroad

We attach great importance to your time abroad, during the third year of your degree, which you may spend as an English assistant in a school, as a student in a foreign university, or perhaps in employment with an overseas organisation. 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 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 Modern Languages with Year Abroad.

Subject requirements, level and grade

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• We welcome applications from those with other qualifications equivalent to our standard entry requirements and from mature students with non-standard qualifications or who may have had a break in their study. Please contact our Admissions Selectors for more information. 
• We look for aptitude in language study but there is no requirement for an A2 foreign language or equivalent qualification
• Students taking the History route of Japanese Studies must have an A in A2 History or equivalent qualification.
• We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking as part of our offer
• Key skills qualifications are welcomed, but are not taken into account as part of the entry requirements
• We are pleased to consider applications for deferred entry.

Preferred Tests:

a. IELTS: 6.5 (no component under 6.0)

b. TOEFL iBT (internet based test): 92 (no component under 23)

c. Cambridge Proficiency (CPE): Grade C

d. Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Grade A

e. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at Grade C or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

f. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at Grade B or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

g. GCSE English Language at grade C or above

h. Pearson Test of English (overall score 62 (with no score less than 56 in each component))

Alternative accepted tests when those listed in a.-h. above are unavailable to the applicant (if the applicant requires a Tier 4 visa to study, advice on the suitability of these alternatives must be sought from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office):

i. Certificate of Attainment (Edexcel)

j. GCE A-levels (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR, WJEC) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

k. International Baccalaureate with a minimum of grade 5 in Standard Level English or a minimum of grade 5 if taken at Higher Level.

l. NEAB (JMB) Test in English (Overseas)

m. Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

n. Singapore Polytechnic Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at GPA 3.0 or above

o. WAEC and NECO Grade B3 or above from Nigeria and Ghana