BA Japanese
About this course
BA in Japanese, a Chinese degree centred on language acquisition alongside the study of Japanese society, history and culture. Core topics include Research Methods. The course includes a compulsory year abroad spent studying in Japan, and is designed specifically for non-native speakers entering at absolute beginner or intermediate levels. The first year introduces foundational elements of Japanese language proficiency alongside modules such as Modern Japan, Premodern East Asia and Language: Structure and Sound. The second year builds competence through Upper-Intermediate Japanese 1 and 2, complemented by modules including Japan's International Relations and Japanese Cinema in the World. The third year consists of a residence abroad period in Japan. The final year focuses on advanced mastery through modules such as Japanese 3: Advanced Communication Skills and Specialised Japanese in Context, culminating in a choice between a dissertation, extended translation, or digital documentary project.
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 BTEC: DDM IB: 34 points overall including 16 at Higher Level.
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What students say
Based on about 35 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 79%
- Learning opportunities: 70%
- Assessment and feedback: 68%
- Academic support: 79%
- Organisation and management: 64%
- Learning resources: 84%
- Student voice: 56%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 70%
- Left higher education: 30%
What graduates do next
Based on about 76 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 66%
- Working and studying: 13%
- Further study: 8%
- Unemployed: 9%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 22%
- Administrative occupations: 16%
- Teaching Professionals: 9%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 6%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 78%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 57%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 42%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 360 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 13%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 16%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 38%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 4%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 5%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Modern Japan - The module introduces the students to key terms and developments in modern Japanese history, and in contemporary Japanese society and culture. The aim is to critique the common stereotypical conceptions of a monolithic and unchanging ‘Japan’ and ‘Japaneseness’ by exploring the rich dynamics of political, social and cultural change. Students will learn about major challenges experienced by Japan and the Japanese since the Meiji period up to the present day.
- Beginners Japanese
- Post-Beginners Japanese
- Intermediate Japanese 1
- Intermediate Japanese 2
- Modern China: History and Culture
- Premodern East Asia
- Foundations of East Asia
- Introduction to East Asian Religions and Philosophies
- Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture
- Language: Structure and Sound
- World Histories
- Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application
- Politics, Culture and Society
- Worlds of Literature
- Discourse, Culture and Identity
- Intermediate Japanese 1
- Intermediate Japanese 2
- Upper-Intermediate Japanese 1
- Upper-Intermediate Japanese 2
- Japan's International Relations
- Japanese Cinema in the World
- Death and Religion in Japan
- Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images
- Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics
- Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World
- China Since 1979
- Contemporary East Asian Culture
- Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World
- Chinese Cinema
- Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies
- Buddhism: A Lived Tradition
- Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature
- Global Environmental Humanities
- Digital Communications Across Cultures
- LCS Year Abroad
- Japanese 3: Advanced Communication Skills - This module aims to develop both written and spoken communication skills at the highest level to deal with a wide range of social and academic issues. Grammatical and lexical knowledge will be reinforced through both intensive and extensive reading. Writing skills will be enhanced through compositions and essay-writing exercises. Oral-aural skills will be also consolidated by speech presentations, discussions and listening practice.
- Final Year Project
- Final Year Project: Dissertation
- Final Year Project: Extended Translation
- Final Year Project: Digital Documentary (Podcast)
- Specialised Japanese in Context
- Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images
- Modern Japanese History
- Japanese Cinema in the World
- Death and Religion in Japan
- Religion in China
- Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China
- East Asian Performing Arts
- Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World
- East Asia's Regional Political Economy
- Globalising China and the Developing World
- Buddhism: A Lived Tradition
- Contemporary World Literature
- Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption
- Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents
- Decolonial Approaches
- Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present
- Linguists into Schools
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Japanese at University of Leeds earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £27,500 after 3 years, £34,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £28,500 and £45,000. The £34,000 median after five years is £3,000 more than the UK median for Asian studies.
What do graduates of BA Japanese at University of Leeds do next?
87% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Japanese at University of Leeds?
79% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Japanese at University of Leeds?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 141 UCAS points.
Does BA Japanese at University of Leeds include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Japanese at University of Leeds?
70% of students continued into their second year, and 30% left higher education.