MA Japanese
About this course
MA (Hons) in Japanese, an undergraduate arts degree centred on Japanese language acquisition combined with the history, politics, culture, and literature of Japan. A compulsory year abroad is included in the course structure. The first year covers language options alongside breadth courses such as linguistics and language sciences, business, economics and informatics, and art and architectural history. The second year introduces modules including Pre-Modern East Asian History, Society and Culture in Pre-modern East Asia, Modern East Asian History B (which looks at China in particular), and Introduction to Japanese Literature. The third year consists of a compulsory year abroad. The final year focuses on advanced proficiency and specialized study through spoken and written Japanese, translation from Japanese to English, history, politics, religion, culture, contemporary cinema, and literature.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 38%: 45 offers from 120 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 72%
- Learning opportunities: 64%
- Assessment and feedback: 66%
- Academic support: 82%
- Organisation and management: 44%
- Learning resources: 78%
- Student voice: 61%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 30 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- London: 40%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 5%
- Scotland: 40%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 50%
- Baccalaureate: 15%
- Access course: 15%
- No formal qualifications: 15%
Modules
- beginner
- post-beginner
- pre-intermediate (advanced)
- linguistics and language sciences
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- philosophy, divinity and law
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- the law in everyday life
- gender and the family
- art and political activism
- religion and death
- animation and nationalism
- big business and bureaucracy
- ethnic diversity and political representation.
- turning ideas into questions
- using library databases
- evaluating the literature
- selecting and applying relevant theories and methods
- writing a coherent and persuasive piece of research
- Pre-Modern East Asian History
- Society and Culture in Pre-modern East Asia
- Modern East Asian History B (which looks at China in particular)
- Introduction to Japanese Literature
- Politics of Everyday Life in Modern Korea
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
- spoken and written Japanese
- translation from Japanese to English
- history
- politics
- religion
- culture
- contemporary cinema
- literature
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Japanese at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 3 years, £34,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £46,000. The £34,500 median after five years is £3,500 more than the UK median for Asian studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Japanese at University of Edinburgh?
72% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Japanese at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 207 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA Japanese at University of Edinburgh?
38% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 45 offers from 120 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Japanese at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Japanese at University of Edinburgh?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.