Overview and entry requirements
The BA East Asian Studies combines the study of both East Asian languages and East Asia-related subjects in various disciplines. Compared to the existing single-subject BA Chinese, BA Korean and BA Japanese degrees, there is a greater emphasis on gaining a broader understanding of East Asia as a region, across a wide range of disciplines.
In addition to the disciplinary modules, you will be able to study a Chinese, Japanese or Korean language module each year too. The flexible structure of the degree allows you to study a different language each year or to progress through a sequence of levels in just one language. We can accommodate complete beginners or more experienced learners. Progression through a total of four levels is offered, whereas for those who exceed the highest level, language-based modules in literature and film, as well as a language-based dissertation, are available.
Note that the BA East Asian Studies does not include a year abroad.
See Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
Why study East Asian Studies at SOAS
- Ranked 10th in the UK in the 2022 Complete University Guide for East Asian Studies
- SOAS is home to the largest concentration of East Asian specialists in Europe
- gain a broad understanding of East Asian culture covering subjects including history, popular culture, literature, society, history, and cinema
- study either one East Asian language or several different languages as part of the degree
- flexibly structure your programme using our central options modules to take advantage of the expertise of our other departments
Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Email: eastasia@soas.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- duration:
- 3 years
Fees 2022/23
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
- UK fees:
- £9,250
- Overseas fees:
- £20,350
Please note that fees go up each year. Further details see 'Fees and funding' (tab on this page) or the Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Structure
- Year 1: students take 30 credits of East Asian history, 15 credits of academic writing, 30-60 credits of language, and 15 to 45 credits of popular culture.
- Year 2: student continue with language learning, either on the same langauge as studied in Year 1 or on another East Asian language module at an approved level. Modules on culture, history, literature are also available this year.
- Year 3: student continue with language learning, either on the same langauge studies previously or on another East Asian language module at an approved level. Student will write an Independent Study Project in their final year. Further modules on culture, history, literature are also available this year.
Programme
Year 1
Year 1: Core Module
AND
Year 1: Compulsory Module
AND
Language Modules
Sudents will take 30-60 credits of Language Modules form the list below.
Students may take the 60 credit language in year 1 only. This will enable them to transfer to the language programme and go on a year abroad.
AND
Guided Options
Students will take 15-45 credits from the Year 1 Options list below
Year 2
Year 2: Compulsory Modules
Students will take the following compulsory modules
AND
Year 2: Compulsory options
Students will choose 30- 45 credits from the modules below.
AND
Year 2: Language Modules
Students will take modules to the value of 30 credits from the Language List below
AND
Year 2: Guided Option Module
Students will take a 15 credit module from either the Guided Options List A, Central Options or the Language lists below
Year 3
Year 3: Compulsory Modules
Students will take the following compulsory modules
AND
Year 3: Language Modules
Students will take modules to the value of 30 credits from the Language List below
AND
Year 3: Guided Option Modules
Students will take 15 credit module from List B or language list below.
Students must also take a further 30 credits from List B/Language List/central options list.
Year 1 Guided option modules
List A Guided option modules
Please note: Introduction to Pre-Modern Japanese; Classical and Literary Chinese 1; and Introduction to Hanja can only be taken with the relevant modern language component (and permission).
List B Guided option modules
(some modules below may have a language requirement)
Language Modules
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Teaching & Learning
All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 60, 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are taught over one term or the full year. It also shows which modules are compulsory and which are optional.
Contact hours
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study (see Approaches to teaching and learning at SOAS). It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others.
More information is on the page for each module.
Year abroad
The BA East Asian Studies does not include a year abroad.
SOAS Library
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Tuition fees
Fees for 2022/23 entrants per academic year
Programme |
Full-Time |
UK Students |
Overseas Students |
BA, BSc, LLB
|
£9,250
|
£20,350 |
BA/BSc Language year abroad |
£1,385 |
£10,175 |
Please note that fees go up each year.
For full details of undergraduate tuition fees, see our Registry's undergraduate tuition fees page.
Scholarships
For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section
Employment
Graduates from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures develop competencies in intercultural awareness, analysis and communication. Demand for specialists with advanced proficiency in the languages of China, Japan and Korea has significantly increased in recent years, and graduates with these skills are highly sought after by employers.
Recent Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures graduates have been hired by organisations including:
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Bloomberg LP
- Department for Work and Pensions
- European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea
- European Commission
- Google
- ITN
- Japanese Government
- Korea Trade Centre (KOTRA)
- KPMGMizuho Bank
- Nagahama Board of Education
- Nanjing Museum
- Pinsent Masons LLP
- PwC
- Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Shelterbox
- UNDP
Find out about our Careers Service.
A Student's Perspective
If I were to describe SOAS in one sentence it would say that you will hear at least six different languages on the same day while you casually walk through the corridors of the university.
Stephanie Koch