SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Structure

In the first year, students concentrate on language study complemented by introductory courses on Korean history and culture. They are required to spend their second year at Korea University in Seoul, where they focus on intensive language training which is essential to any further study of the subject. The third and fourth years are devoted to applying and furthering their language skills through courses that involve reading and analysing advanced texts and literary works, through which they gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture and society.

Single subject students need to take a minimum of 12 units in Korean.

Year 1: Single-subject students normally take 3 or 4 units in Korean (Elementary Korean (2 units), modern culture and society, and/or premodern history), and/or 1 open option (i.e. a course in a subject or language other than those named in the student’s chosen degree title).

Year 2: This is a compulsory year abroad at Korea University in Seoul. (BA Chinese/Japanese and Korean students spend their year abroad in China and Japan respectively, not in Korea.)

Year 3: Single-subject students choose 3 or 4 units in Korean from mixed script Korean, readings in modern society, modern literature, composition, conversation, extended essay, Korean art history and/or 1 open option. Some of these units may be taught in other departments.

Year 4: Single-subject students choose 3 or 4 units in Korean from translation, modern literature, history and structure of the Korean language, advanced readings,  Independent Study Project (10,000-word essay on an approved topic),  Korean art history and/or 1 open option unit. Some of these units may be taught in other departments.

Single-Subject Korean

Students must take a total of four units each year.

Year 1

Compulsory Units

• Elementary Korean - 155900842 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Elementary Korean 2 - 155901256 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Culture and Society in Twentieth Century Korea - 155900809 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Choose 1 Unit

Choose one unit from the following list or an open option unit from another department.

• History and Culture of Korea to the late 19th Century - 155901263 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Year 2: Year Abroad

For information on the year abroad in Korea, please see the Teaching & Learning tab.

Year 3

Choose 3 or 4 Units from the following list

• Introduction to Mixed Script Korean - 155900844 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Higher Intermediate Readings in Korean - 155901392 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea - 155901389 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Trajectories of Modernity in 20th Century Korean Literature - 155901390 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Korean Conversation - 155900915 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Composition in Korean - 155900722 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• History and Structure of the Korean Language - 155901272 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Extended Essay in Korean Language and Culture - 155900676 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945 - 155901356 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Choose 1 Unit

If only 3 units are chosen from the previous list, a further unit is needed. This further unit can be either from the following list or an open option unit from another department.

• History and Culture of Korea to the late 19th Century - 155901263 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Royal Arts of Korea - 154900152 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Buddhist Arts of Korea - 154900158 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Contemporary Korean Arts in East Asia - 154900150 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Year 4

Choose 3 or 4 Units from the following list

• Korean-English-Korean Translation - 155901276 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• History and Structure of the Korean Language - 155901272 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Korean Literature - 155901385 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea - 155901389 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Trajectories of Modernity in 20th Century Korean Literature - 155901390 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Advanced Readings in Modern Korean - 155900968 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Independent Study Project in Korean Language and Culture - 155900795 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945 - 155901356 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Choose 1 Unit

If only 3 units are chosen from the previous list, a further unit is needed. This further unit can be either from the following list or an open option unit from another department.

• Royal Arts of Korea - 154900152 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Buddhist Arts of Korea - 154900158 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Contemporary Korean Arts in East Asia - 154900150 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Programme Specification

• BA Korean - Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 42kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

Students spend Year 2 at Korea University in Seoul.

Teaching & Learning

Most units are taught in small classes. Modern language teaching involves classroom work and independent study. A few non-language units are taught by formal lecture. The single and combined degree courses are examined through oral and written examinations and coursework or reports.

SOAS Library

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How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section