Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
This programme combines the study of East Asian languages with the study of East Asia-related subjects in various disciplines. Compared to the existing single-subject BA East Asian Studies degree, there is less emphasis on language learning. Compared to the existing 2-degree BA Chinese/Japanese/Korean and… degree, there is more space to study East Asia-related courses in a range of disciplines. The programme also differs from the existing offerings in that there is no year abroad included.
Through the course of the three years, students take modules in modern East Asian languages at the appropriate level. They can start as complete beginners, or they can start from higher levels. Progression through a total of four levels is offered, whereas for those who exceed the highest level, language-based courses in literature and film, as well as a language-based dissertation, are available. The programme also offers courses in regional languages.
The programme will be attractive both to students who wish to study East Asia-related subjects without a strong emphasis on language and to students who wish to work at an advanced language level within a more traditional framework, as it is offered at most other universities.
Additionally, the nature of the Combined Honours Degree enables you to develop a specialist niche for yourself by studying another subject.
May be combined with:
Development Studies
Economics
History
History of Art
International Relations
Law
Linguistics
Music
Politics
Social Anthropology
World Philosophies
Employment
As a graduate who specialised in East Asia, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.
Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic 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. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
Allen and Overy LLP
BBC
China-Eu School of Law
ChinaContact Consulting
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dah Sing Financial Holdings Ltd.
Embassy of Belgium
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
German Embassy Tokyo
Goldman Sachs International Halo Associates (Asia) Ltd
Independent Power Corporation PLC
Oxford University Press
SiChuan WenJun Spirits Company
the International Herald Tribune
The University of Hong Kong
United Nations Population Fund
University of Cambridge
Washington State House of Representatives
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
Editor and Translator
Under Secretary
Director of Corporate Social Responsibility
Solicitor
Medical Secretary
Press Attache
Regional Chief of Photography
Project Manager
Economic Counsellor
Lecturer Professional Translator
Director of Research for China
Social Worker
Head, Asia Programme
Photographer
Professorial Research Associate
Senior Lecturer in Chinese Archaeology
Energy Consultant
Independent Columnist and Reporter
Art Curator
Structure
Year 1
Students will take 60 East Asian Studies credits
Option 1
Students can take a 60 credit module from the Language module list below.
NB 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.
or
Option 2
Students will take modules to the value of 30 credits form the Language module list below.
and
East Asian Civilizations
and
Second Subject
Students will choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject
Year 2
Students will take the compulsory module:
East Asian Imperialisms
and either
Option 1
Students can take modules to the value of 45 credits from the Language module list or List A below.
or
Option 2
Students will take a 15 credit module from the Language module list or List A below.
and
East Asian Civilisations (155901464) if not taken in Y1
and
Second Subject
Students will choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject.
Year 3
Students will take modules to the value of 45 from credits from the Language List and/or List B below.
and
History and Memory in East Asian Cultures
and
Second Subject
Students will choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject
List A Guided option modules
Contemporary Chinese Society
Contemporary Japanese Society
Contemporary Korean Society
List B Guided option modules
Japanese Cinema (UG)
Chinese Cinema (UG)
Korean Cinema (UG)
Self, City and Sexuality in Modern Japanese Literature 1868 to present-day
Writing from the Margins: Minority Voices in Modern Japanese Literature, 1945 to the Present
Murderers, Outlaws, and Magistrates in Traditional Chinese Literature
Contemporary Chinese Literary Texts
Modern Chinese Literary Texts
Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature
The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945
Language Modules
Ch 100: Elementary Chinese
Chinese 1 A
Chinese 1 B
Chinese 2
Chinese 3
Chinese 4
Chinese 5
Ch 200 Intermediate Chinese
Ch 400: Advanced Chinese
Chinese for Business
Ch 401: Chinese-English Translation
J100: Elementary Japanese
Japanese 1 A
Japanese 1 B
Japanese 2
Japanese 3
Japanese 4
J200: Intermediate Japanese
J400: Advanced Japanese
K100: Elementary Korean
Korean 1 A
Korean 1 B
Korean 2
Korean 3
K200 Intermediate Korean
K403: Korean-English Translation
Tibetan (Modern) 1 A
Tibetan (Modern) 1 B
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.
Admissions and Applications
To apply for an undergraduate degree at SOAS (including students wishing to transfer from another university) you must apply through the UK's central universities application organization, UCAS. An application form and details of courses can be found on their website. UCAS charges an applicant's fee for handling the application.
You can apply to up to five choices of higher education institutions or course on the UCAS form. How you utilise the choice is up to you. In other words, you could apply to do the same subject, for example, economics, at five different universities, or five different courses at the same university, or any combination of subject and institution. Nor do you have to use up all five choices. Whatever you choose you should list your choices in the order they appear in the UCAS handbook.
Entry Requirements
Languages at SOAS are taught ab initio.
Subjects Preferred: A good pass in a foreign language at A-level, or equivalent, is preferred.
Interview Policy: Candidates with 'non-standard' qualifications may be invited for an interview.
A-Levels: AAB - ABB A-Level language preferred
IB: 35 (6/6/5)
Alternative entry requirements
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
English Language Entry Requirements
You must be able to show that your English is of a high enough standard to successfully engage with and complete your course at SOAS. Please note that we take our English language requirements seriously and failure to meet them exactly may well result in your application to SOAS being rejected. It is not possible to negotiate if your scores are below our required levels, with the expectation that because they are 'close enough' they will be accepted. It is important that you plan appropriately, well in advance, so that your English language test comes in good time and so that you have time to retake the test if necessary. We do not accept reasons of inconvenience or financial hardship for not submitting or retaking an English test.
International students
For EU and International students who need a visa, if unconditional entry scores are achieved we accept qualifications from several countries, as well as a range of international qualifications and tests.
If a Tier 4 entry visa is required then a SELT, such as UKVI IELTS may be needed. For this reason, we recommend all Tier 4 visa students to choose the UKVI IELTS Academic test as the test of first resort.
