The BA Korean programme provides students with the highest level of competence in all aspects of the written and spoken language, as well as an introduction to both classical and modern Korean culture - from the study of pre-modern Korean literature and history, to contemporary Korean cinema and TV. The BA Korean is suitable for both absolute beginners as well as those with some knowledge of the Korean language.
Students will spend the third year of study in Korea furthering language proficiency and understanding of the local business practices and culture.
See Japan and Korea Department
Programme Code: T415 BA/K
Start of programme: September
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Email: eastasia@soas.ac.uk
BTEC: DDM
Access to HE: Minimum of 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
Scottish Highers: AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB
Irish LC: 340 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
Advanced Placement: 4 4 5 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
Euro Bacc: 80%
French Bacc: 14/20
German Abitur: 2.0
Italy DES: 80/100
Austria Mat: 2.0
Polish Mat: Overall 75% including 3 extended level subjects
Dr Anders Karlsson Convenor
Students take 120 credits per year composed of core and guided modules, which allows for students to design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
This module must be passed in order to progress to the following year of study.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| K100: Elementary Korean | 155900842 | 60 | Full Year |
*Lifeboat Option: If a student is struggling with K100, they will move to Korean 1B (155906029) in the 2nd semeseter & write an extended essay (155901421), then move to the BA East Asian Studies Programme
Students must take the modules below:
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-Culture | 155901441 | 15 | Term 2 |
| East Asian Civilizations | 155901464 | 30 | Full Year |
| Reading and Writing East Asian Studies | 155901439 | 15 | Term 1 |
This module must be passed in order to progress into the following year of study.
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| K200 Intermediate Korean | 155901472 | 30 | Full Year |
Students must take the modules below
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary Korean Society | 155901480 | 15 | Term 1 |
| East Asian Imperialisms | 155901481 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Introduction to Hanja | 155901442 | 15 | Term 2 |
Choose a module from Year 2 - List A to the value of 15 credits.
Choose modules from Year 2 - List A or Central options (at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) to the value of 30 credits.
Year 3 of this programme is normally spent on your Year Abroad. For information on the year abroad in Korea, please see the Teaching & Learning tab.
Students must take the modules below
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| K400: Advanced Korean | 155901473 | 15 | Term 1 |
| History and Memory in East Asian Cultures | 155903015 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Independent Study Project in East Asian Studies | 155901483 | 30 | Full Year |
Choose a module(s) from Year 4 - List A to the value of 30 credits.
Choose modules from Year 4 - List A/List B or Central options to the value of 30 credits.
FHEQ Level 5
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myths, Legends and Folkways of East Asia | 155901460 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Gender in East Asian Literature (UG) | 155901482 | 15 | Term 2 |
| East Asian Cinema (UG) | 155901475 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Fieldwork methods in language and culture | 155901417 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Extended Essay in East Asian Studies | 155900854 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature and Film | 155901390 | 15 | Term 1 |
| K401: Korean-English Translation | 155901414 | 15 | Term 2 |
| The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945 | 155901356 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Readings in Mixed Script Korean | 155901443 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Korean Cinema (UG) | 155901477 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Culture and Society in Traditional Korea | 155901431 | 15 | Term 1 |
FHEQ Level 6
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modernity, Nation and Identity in Japanese History (1853-1945) | 155900882 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Culture and Society of Taiwan | 155903020 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Chinese Cinema (UG) | 155901474 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Identity and social relations in Japanese | 155901418 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Japanese Traditional Drama | 155901422 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Japanese Cinema (UG) | 155901476 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Murderers, Outlaws, and Magistrates in Traditional Chinese Literature | 155901459 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Literature, Politics and National Identity in Modern China | 155903017 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese 1 A | 155906022 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Chinese 1 B | 155906023 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Chinese 2 | 155900829 | 30 | Full Year |
| Japanese 1 A | 155906026 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Japanese 1 B | 155906027 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Japanese 2 | 155900875 | 30 | Full Year |
| Tibetan (Modern) 1 A | 155906024 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Tibetan (Modern) 1 B | 155906025 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Chinese 3 | 155901097 | 30 | Full Year |
| Chinese 4 | 155901144 | 30 | Full Year |
| Chinese 5 | 155901409 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Chinese for Business | 155903010 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Japanese 3 | 155901345 | 30 | Full Year |
| Japanese 4 | 155901346 | 30 | Full Year |
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.
Modern language teaching involves classroom work and independent study. A few non-language modules are taught through a formal lecture. The single and combined degree programmes are examined through oral and written examinations and coursework or reports.
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.
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.
Students will be required to enrol in the Korean Regular Course for three terms, sit and pass the local examinations at the Korean partner university. Students will also be required to complete a particular level by the end of the Language Year Abroad (LYA).
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.
Studying this programme will provide students with competency in language skills as well as intercultural awareness and understanding.
BA Korean graduates leave SOAS not only with language and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
The types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
Find out more about Graduate destinations.
Hannah Kang, Georgetown UniversityBeing a city girl, I thought life in London wouldn’t be too much of a culture shock but it actually was! London is very different from cities like New York or Tokyo. It really is one of a kind.
If you still have questions about this programme or studying at SOAS get in touch.
Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS.