BA Japanese Studies and History

Complex, unique, endlessly fascinating, Japan embraces modernity and technology while maintaining its rich traditional culture. To truly understand Japan, you have to experience it. You have to immerse yourself in it.

We teach Japanese intensively, from scratch. You will study the phonetic scripts (kana) from the outset, picking up the 2000 Sino-Japanese characters (kanji) over the course of your degree.

The history side of your course covers past societies from the Roman to the Modern period. Outside the seminar room, you’ll work on projects that bring history to life, like our student-run New Histories blog and WikiAmerica.

You will spend your third year studying at one of our partner universities in Japan. More than just a chance to put what you’ve learned into practice, this year is an experience you won’t forget.

Energised and inspired, you’ll return to Sheffield for your final year. The language training continues, now at a more advanced level. Supervised by an academic, you’ll research and write a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Modules

A selection of modules are available each year – some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course.

For Japanese, In your first year you will begin your language learning by focusing on reading, writing, listening and speaking, working with qualified native-speaker language teachers, using specially designed course material.

For history, the first year programme is designed to help you to make the transition from studying History at school or college to studying it at degree level. Building your confidence and broadening your knowledge.

It introduces you to core academic skills and provides a solid grounding in historical study and research, giving you the foundations you’ll need to deepen your understanding of historical events and processes throughout your degree and setting you off on the path to becoming an independent historian.

Our first year history option modules introduce you to our main areas of teaching and research and give you insight into what you can study in the coming years, so that you can better shape your degree to your individual interests.

You will take one core module and have 40 credits available to use on guided modules.

In your Japanese language classes you will build on what you have learnt in your first year and focus on language which will help you on your year abroad. 

For history, the second year programme builds on what you’ve learnt so far and introduces you to new and exciting topics. It’s designed to help you hone your research skills and start to look outwards beyond your degree.

You’ll choose from two core modules designed to enhance your independent research skills with a focus on ‘theory and practice’, reflecting on the intellectual development of our discipline and its place in the world today. You’ll learn to challenge assumptions and appreciate the bigger picture. If you choose to take the Uses of History, you’ll also diversify your employability skills through group work and creating a pitch for a historical artefact such as a TV documentary, a podcast, or a journal article. 

These modules will lay the groundwork for the in-depth research involved in our final year special subject and dissertation modules.

Our wide range of option modules mean you can explore key periods, themes and events in history and develop your knowledge and interests ahead of choosing a specialist topic in your final year. 

You’ll spend this year studying abroad in Japan.

During the Japan Year Abroad students take the intensive Japanese language classes provided by our partner universities with the aim of developing their Japanese competency to approximately level N2 as measured by the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, supplemented by familiarity with the 2136 Chinese characters in general use.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to take a wide variety of Japanese Studies subjects, taught in English and Japanese, and take part in a range of structured and informal learning experiences to develop their familiarity with the Japanese social, cultural and physical environments.

Where extenuating circumstances prevent a cohort, or a large portion of a cohort, from completing a complete academic year abroad, the School of East Asian Studies will provide alternative arrangements for students to meet the language learning outcomes.

In your Japanese language classes you will be introduced to advanced topics such as translation, interpretation and workplace language skills such as CV writing and presenting.

For history, the final year is designed to support you to become an expert in your chosen area and hone how you present your findings.  

All students have the opportunity to take a Special Subject and a dissertation, as we think that they are important staples of a history degree. These modules are where you can focus on one of the areas of history that you’re most passionate about and have the opportunity to become an expert in your chosen topic. You’ll use the academic skills and historical knowledge you’ve gained in years one and two to undertake focussed primary source research supported by one of our internationally renowned tutors.

Our thematic modules give you the opportunity to enhance your ability to look at history from different perspectives: you’ll engage with the study of change over time and consider the comparative dimensions of a topic across time and space.

While our presentation module offers you the chance to further develop your employability skills by creating a digital artefact, such as a video presentation, podcast, virtual exhibition or dynamic poster, designed to communicate your research to a non-specialist audience. 

You will normally take 60 credits in history.

Entry requirements

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
ABB
typically including History or Classical Civilisation

A Levels + additional qualifications BBB, typically including History or Classical Civilisation + B in a relevant EPQ

International Baccalaureate 33, typically with 5 in Higher Level History

BTEC Extended Diploma DDM in a relevant subject + B at A Level typically in History or Classical Civilisation

Scottish Highers + 1 Advanced Higher AABBB + B typically in History

Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels B + AB, typically including History or Classical Civilisation

Access to HE Diploma 60 credits overall in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 credits at Distinction (to include History units) and 15 credits at Merit

Other requirements

• No prior knowledge of Japanese is required (up to A Level Japanese is acceptable)

• Evidence of interest in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) demonstrated through a personal statement is also required

Fees and funding

Fees

Applications for places on courses starting the following September (except Medicine and Dentistry) should be submitted to UCAS between:

• 1 September and 25 January to be guaranteed equal consideration with other applicants
• 26 January and 30 June for further consideration, although we may not be able to consider your application if all the places on the course you’ve applied for have been filled

Applications for places on Medicine and Dentistry courses must be submitted between 1 September and 15 October.