BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies
About this course
BA Honours in Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies, an undergraduate degree focused on the language, society, culture, politics and history of China and Japan. Core topics include Research Methods. The course includes a compulsory year abroad. The first year covers academic foundations through Academic Study and Research Skills, alongside optional modules in language levels and cultural topics such as Introduction to Chinese Culture and Society, Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I, Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese II, and Introduction to Japanese History and Culture. The second year expands linguistic and regional knowledge through modules like Contemporary Chinese Society: Issues and Challenges, Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture, Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese I, and Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I. Further optional modules across the course span subjects such as Chinese Cultural History and Urban Development, Buddhism and Society in Medieval Japan, and China and its Peripheries: Repression, (In)stability and Conflict in the 21st Century, culminating in a Dissertation/T&I 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 IB: 32 points
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Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies (TT12) at Newcastle University for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is ABB at A level.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 73%: 91 offers from 124 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 15 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 89%
- Assessment and feedback: 86%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 92%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 46 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 64%
- Working and studying: 7%
- Further study: 11%
- Unemployed: 8%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 22%
- Teaching Professionals: 14%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 110 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 23%
- North West: 10%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 10%
- East Midlands: 6%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 1%
- London: 31%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 2%
- Scotland: 2%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 90%
- A degree: 5%
- Other qualifications: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Chinese Cultural History and Urban Development
- China and its Peripheries: Repression, (In)stability and Conflict in the 21st Century
- Chinese Independent Documentaries: Alternative Archive and Video Activism
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese II
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese I
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese II
- Buddhism and Society in Medieval Japan
- Literary and cultural expressions in contemporary Japan
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese II
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Japanese I
- Level D (HE Further Advanced) Japanese II
- Memory and Storytelling Across Borders
- Dissertation/T&I Project
- Academic Study and Research Skills
- Introduction to Chinese Culture and Society
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese II
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese II
- Interconnected World
- Global Middle Ages
- Global Ancient Histories
- Introduction to Japanese History and Culture
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese I
- Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese II
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese) I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese II
- Key Concepts in International Politics
- Introduction to International Film
- Introduction to Cultural Studies
- Language and Cross Cultural Communication
- Politics and Society
- Contemporary Chinese Society: Issues and Challenges
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese II
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese II
- Political Geography
- Destroying Nature: Disasters, Diseases and Environmental Injustice
- Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese) I
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese II
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese I
- Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese II
- Translation for Singing
- A Global History of Political Thought
- Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity
- Reading in Translation
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £35,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £29,000 and £50,500. The £35,500 median after five years is £4,500 more than the UK median for Asian studies.
What do graduates of BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University do next?
82% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 128 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University?
73% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 91 offers from 124 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Chinese Studies OR Japanese Studies at Newcastle University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.