MSc in Japanese Studies

at University of Oxford

The MSc in Japanese Studies is intended to be both a stand-alone course for those seeking to improve their language skills and an interdisciplinary introduction to the study of modern Japan. It is taught by full-time members of the Nissan(within the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies) and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and all the courses are designed for master's-level students.

The department does not teach Japanese language for beginners. However, it does offer language teaching which will equip you to do research about Japan. The levels range from JLPT Level 3 up to and beyond Level 1.

The course acts as either a foundation for those intending to seek employment working in Japan or with Japan, or as a preparation for further research on Japan either on the follow-on MPhil course or on a doctoral programme at Oxford or elsewhere. It is taught over three terms.

There are five components to the MSc degree:
 

• a core course on research methods
• two courses about Japan chosen from the following options (please note that not all options may be offered every year):
  • Modern Translational History of Japan
  • Japanese Linguistics (The History and Structure of Japanese)(There are prerequisites to study this option)
  • Modern Japanese Literature
  • Texts in Modern Japanese Literature
  • Japanese Politics: Domestic Institutions and International Relations
  • Economy and Business of Japan
  • Japanese Social Anthropology
  • Sociology of Japanese Society
  • Classical Japanese Literature
  • Classical Japanese Language (There are prerequisites to studying this option)
  • Texts in Japanese Linguistics (There are prerequisites to studying this option)
  • Classical Japanese Texts (There are prerequisites to studying this option)
• the Japanese language course or, if you have native speaker language competence, a further course about Japan
• a dissertation of 12,000 words.

The courses about Japan have been designed for students at the graduate level and most students will be on the Japanese studies programme. Some courses may also be taken by students who are studying elsewhere in the university. For example, the course on Japanese politics is an option for both students in Japanese studies and students on the MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government).

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
 

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any subject or discipline, although it is preferable to have some social sciences or humanities background.

Preference may be given to those who have previously studied social sciences or humanities.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
 

• For non-native speakers of Japanese, Japanese language proficiency equivalent to the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Proficiency Level N4 is required, and in general, an aptitude for Japanese language learning. Please submit a copy of your test certificate with your application. If you have no certificate of your language proficiency, and were unable to take the test because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you will be asked to take an on-line test and have an interview in Japanese so that we can assess your level. The offer of a place on the programme will be conditional on you having an acceptable language competence equivalent to JLPT Level N4 or above.

• Evidence of training in the Japanese language is required.

• Research or working experience in Japan may be an advantage.

• Publications are not required.

English language proficiency

Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement

IELTS Academic

 7.5  

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

110

Home    
£13,550

Overseas    
£30,910

There are three typical career courses that the department’s graduates pursue. The first is further study on discipline-based graduate programmes either in Oxford, elsewhere in the UK or overseas, including the US and Japan.

The second career pattern of the department’s graduates is to work in Japan or with Japanese employers. Recent examples include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Fuso (Daimler Trucks) and Mitsui-Sumitomo Bank. Not only Japanese native speakers but also non-native-speaker graduates obtain employment in Japan or with Japanese companies outside Japan, making full use of their enhanced Japanese language skills and social science knowledge of Japan.

The third route is to professional careers with such companies as Accenture, KPMG, and Ernst & Young, in which the department’s alumni can utilise their presentation skills both in English and Japanese, and their critical thinking skills.