Japanese Studies (MA) (120EC)
About the programme
The two-year master's programme in Japanese Studies, a specialisation of the MA in Asian Studies, offers teaching by leading academics and a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the East Asian region.
Mastering the Japanese language
A central focus of the MA in Japanese Studies is on mastering the Japanese language. Your fluency in Japanese will complement the knowledge you develop in other disciplines, which you will select from the wide range of academic perspectives available at leiden. These academic disciplines include Japanese History, Philosophy, Religion, Literature, Politics, Sociology, Anthropology and many others.
Programme structure
The first 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;
- Electives with a focus on Japan;
- Advanced Japanese language courses.
You will be free to follow a variety of academic courses – known as Master Classes in Asian Studies and State of the Field seminars. These include classes in:
- History (modern and pre-modern)
- Politics and International Relations
- Philosophy
- Religion
- Literature
- Social science
- Linguistics
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 this study trip is to strengthen your language skills while developing your understanding of the country and its society.
Upon your return to Leiden, you will continue to develop your language skills while developing knowledge in your area(s) of specialisation. 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.
You are free to choose the topic of your thesis from any field supported within the department – although we recommend that the topic closely mirrors one or more of the classes you followed while in Japan. Your thesis supervisor will be available to advise you. Currently the department can supervise theses from the following specialisations:
- History
- Philosophy
- Religion
- Literature
- Politics and International Relations
- Anthropology
- Sociology
- Linguistics
- Material Culture
During the final stages of the programme you will concentrate on honing your language skills to a level that can be applied in your professional life (post graduation). This includes, for example, learning how to use language in a legal, commercial and political setting.
Course overview
| Course | EC |
|---|---|
| Academic Year in Japan B | 25 |
| Thesis Tutorial 1 | 5 |
| Academic Year in Japan C | 5 |
| Advanced Japanese 3 (120EC) | 5 |
| Thesis Tutorial 2 | 5 |
| MA Thesis Asian Studies (120 EC) | 15 |
For a more detailed programme, see the Prospectus.
Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
Admission and Application
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