StudyQA — Bachelor: Oriental Studies

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

Arabic, Chinese, Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Hebrew Studies, Japanese, Jewish Studies, Persian, Sanskrit, Turkish.

Among subjects in the humanities, Oriental Studies is unique in introducing students to civilisations that are different from the Western ones that form the basis of the curriculum in most British schools and colleges. The courses present both the major traditions of the regions studied and, in most cases, their modern developments. All courses include language, literature, history and culture and there is a wide range of options in such fields as art and archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, religion and modern social studies.

Oriental Studies has a long history in Oxford. The Bodleian and other libraries have acquired magnificent collections. The Oriental Institute, Institute for Chinese Studies, Bodleian Japanese and Indian Institute Libraries are all specialists in their respective fields. Around the corner from the Oriental Institute is the Ashmolean Museum, which houses superb collections. The Sackler Library contains the renowned Griffith Library, one of the finest libraries in the world for the study of ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East.

OS Careers

The skills developed whilst studying for a degree in Oriental Studies are greatly appreciated by a wide range of employers. Career options include finance, the media, commerce, the Civil Service, law, accountancy and the arts. Around 30% of Oriental Studies graduates go on to further study.

Andi, who graduated with a BA (OS) in Japanese, is Director of International Business Development at Ping Identity. He says: ‘My time at Oxford gave me a good foundation for the varied demands of both small and large companies, and the skills required to handle the constant change and learning required in the software industry. I’ve had the opportunity to do business in Japan on several occasions through my career.’

Iason, who graduated with a BA (OS) in Arabic, is a photojournalist, film-maker and lecturer currently working for the UN in Libya. He says: ‘I have lived in Cairo, Damascus, Sanaa and Tehran, and covered events like the 2011 Arab revolts and the Greek economic crisis. After studying for a master’s in Persian and Contemporary Iranian Studies, I was a Nieman fellow at Harvard.’

Arabic and Islamic Studies T601 Arabic with subsidiary language T6T9 Persian T613 Persian with subsidiary language T6TX Turkish T600 Turkish with subsidiary language T6TY
1st year	2nd year	3rd and 4th years
Courses Elementary language Islamic history and culture	Courses Year abroad: approved course of language instruction	Project Core work on language and literature History Specialisation or subsidiary language Options listed are only illustrative of what is available. A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations after term 3: Three written papers; an oral exam (Arabic only)	Assessment Qualifying examination at the end of the course	Assessment Final University examinations: Oral exam and eight or nine written papers (one of which may be a dissertation)

Chinese (T101)
1st year	2nd year	3rd and 4th years
Courses Elementary language in classical and modern Chinese History and culture	Courses Year abroad at Peking University	Courses Extended language classes and historical study Options: Ancient history; Literature; Modern society and politics; or subsidiary languages: Tibetan, Japanese or Korean Options listed are only illustrative of what is available. A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations: Three written papers; an oral exam		Assessment Final University examinations: Oral examination; eight written papers; dissertation

Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies Q401 Egyptology Q400 Ancient Near Eastern Studies Q402
1st year	2nd year	3rd year
Courses Broad survey of civilisations of Egypt and the Ancient Near East Language teaching in Egyptian or Akkadian	Courses Addition of second language, or Archaeology and Anthropology Language options: Akkadian, Egyptian, Arabic, Aramaic and Syriac, Coptic, Hebrew (Biblical and Mishnaic), Old Iranian, Sumerian or Hittite (if available) Literary and historical topics through study of texts and essay writing Intensive class work Artefact classes Subject to acceptance, students may also have the option of Classical Greek or Latin within the Classics with Oriental Studies degree.	Courses Essay writing and dissertation work Intensive classes in the first and second terms Artefact classes Field of concentration Options listed are only illustrative of what is available. A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations: Four written papers		Assessment Final University examinations: Ten units

Hebrew Studies Q480 (primarily languages, literature, culture and history)
1st year	2nd year	3rd and 4th years
Courses Intensive study in Hebrew language in all periods Introduction to Jewish history and culture	Courses Handling Hebrew texts and developing knowledge of historical and cultural background Choice of options from Jewish Studies	3rd year can optionally be spent abroad Courses Texts Historical and cultural background Options listed are only illustrative of what is available. A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations: Four written papers		Assessment Final University examinations: Seven written papers; dissertation 4-year course only: oral examination

Japanese T201
1st year	2nd year	3rd and 4th years
Courses Elementary Japanese language History and culture	Courses Year abroad at Kobe University	Courses Extended language classes Options (five subjects to be chosen): Classical literature; Modern literature; Linguistics; History; Politics; Economics; Subsidiary language (counts as three subjects): either Chinese, Korean or Tibetan Options listed are only illustrative of what is available. A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations: Three written papers	Assessment Test at end of course	Assessment Final University examinations: Oral examination; eight written papers; dissertation

Jewish Studies QV91 (primarily focused on the history, religion and culture of the Jews from biblical to modern times)
1st year	2nd year	3rd year
Courses Intensive study in Hebrew language in all periods Introduction to Jewish history and culture	Courses Options (three subjects to be chosen)	Courses Options (two subjects to be chosen) A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations: Four written papers		Assessment Final University examinations: Seven written papers; dissertation

Sanskrit Q450
1st year	2nd year	3rd year
Courses Intensive language teaching	Courses Preparation for Final University examinations in final year Study of Sanskrit grammar Subsidiary language options: Hindi, Old Iranian, Pali, Prakrit and Tibetan	Courses Sanskrit literature Special subject Options listed are only illustrative of what is available. A full list of current options is available on the Oriental Studies website.
Assessment First University examinations: Three written papers		Assessment Final University examinations: Nine papers: seven in Sanskrit and two in subsidiary languages

Attestat o Srednam Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) would not be sufficient for candidates to make a competitive application. If your qualification is listed as being insufficient to make a competitive application to Oxford, then you will need to undertake further study if you wish to apply.You could take British A-levels (the British Council may know where you can take A-levels in your country), the International Baccalaureate (IB), or any other qualifications listed as acceptable on this page. The first year of a bachelor's degree from another university could also be an acceptable alternative.
IELTS: overall score of 7.0 (with at least 7.0 in each of the four components)
TOEFL (paper-based): overall score of 600 with a Test of Written English score of 5.5
TOEFL (internet-based): overall score of 110 with component scores of at least: Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, and Writing 24.
Cambridge English: Advanced, also known as the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): grade A if taken before January 2015, or a score of at least 185.
Cambridge English: Proficiency, also known as the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grade B if taken before January 2015, or a score of at least 185.
English Language GCSE, or O-level: grade B (for IGCSE, please see below)
International Baccalaureate Standard Level (SL): score of 5 in English (as Language A or B)
European Baccalaureate: score of 70% in English.

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