The first semester and the first block of the second semester of the programme is held at Leiden and consists of the following courses:

• The core course Introduction to Asian Studies that explores the place of Asian Studies in the larger field of Area Studies and among the many disciplines represented in Asian Studies;
• Two electives from the Japanese studies specialization;
• Advanced Japanese I and II.

You have to reach at least the equivalent of JLPT level 2 in Japanese in order to follow courses at Japanese universities. Students who do not reach the required level by March, will not be allowed to progress to the year in Japan.

Two semesters of your degree will be spent studying at a university in Japan, where you will follow relevant courses in your chosen field of research and conduct research for your MA thesis. The purpose of the year abroad is to strengthen your language skills, to conduct academic research at a university in Japan, and to develop your understanding of the country and its society.

The Faculty of Humanities offers a partial scholarship for the year in Japan for each applicant who has been admitted to the programme. This is not a full scholarship but only a partial contribution to your expenses in Japan.

In the final semester in Leiden, you continue working on your thesis research, and take am advanced language classes. 

Our goal is that, by the time you are ready to write your MA thesis, you will be in a strong position to integrate your language and academic skills to the point where you can use primary sources written in Japanese as part of your research.