Japanese Studies
BA (Hons)
UCAS code: T200
Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026
Full time: 4 years
Part time: up to 8 years
Location: Headington
Department(s): School of Education, Humanities and Languages
Overview
Take our Japanese Studies degree and you'll truly discover Japan. Immerse yourself in the language and culture of a country with rich traditions and vibrant modern life. And find out for yourself that there’s more to this incredible country than cherry blossoms, bullet trains and sushi.
Mastering the language is a key part of the course. Our language programme, designed for complete and near-beginners, will help you learn to read and write kanji and communicate effectively. Teaching from native and fluent non-native speakers will help you gain confidence and overcome any challenges you face. You’ll also be able to take advantage of our unique Japanese room.
You’ll spend your third year at a university in Japan. While learning about the culture first hand, you’ll also return with superior Japanese language skills. While you’re away, you can turn to us whenever you need support.
We’ll make sure you meet recruiters and hear about opportunities in industries such as tourism and translation. Your language skills and cultural insight will be sought after by employers globally.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Exciting career paths
You’ll graduate ready to kickstart a career in areas such as education, tourism and translation.
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Diverse study
You’ll be able to discover and shape your interests as you study a wide range of subjects, from history to manga and anime. You’ll explore contemporary topics like gender roles and the experience of minorities in Japan.
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Innovative language learning
Become a skilled and fluent Japanese speaker through our innovative language programme.
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Confident communicator
Sharpen your language skills and become a bridge between 2 cultures.
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Free language courses
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
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Study abroad
Immerse yourself in everyday life in Japan, use Japanese in real-life situations, and experience the culture first-hand.
Course details
Study modules
Teaching for this course takes place face to face and you can expect around 10 hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.
Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Careers
With top communication and interpersonal skills, you’ll stand out in the global job market. Your confidence presenting information and working as part of a team and your critical thinking skills will make you the perfect fit for the international workplace.
As a graduate, you’ll find roles in global professions such as tourism, international management and the media, as well as fields such as translation or language teaching.
Our graduates have secured roles at the Japanese Embassy, the Japan Foundation, and within Japanese businesses such as All Nippon Airways, So-net Media Networks and Daiwa House Group.
Student profiles
Our Staff
Dr Kerri Russell
Kerri’s research is mainly concerned with the origins and development of the Japonic language family, which consists of the varieties of Japanese spoken in Japan and the Ryukyuan islands. She has also worked on Ainu, Middle Korean, and several Altaic languages spoken in East Asia.
Read more about KerriRelated courses
Entry requirements
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 104
A Level: BCC
IB Points: 29
BTEC: DMM
Contextual offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 88
A Level: CCD
IB Points: 27
BTEC: MMM
Further offer details
Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Specific entry requirements
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.
Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
How to apply
Application process
Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
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Two day trips that cost around £60 each. | £120 |
Students at most universities in Japan are required to register with the Japanese National Health Insurance Scheme. | About £130 |
Students at most Japanese universities are required to attend medical appointments and medical tests as part of their application process. |
From £150-250 |
Travel and accommodation costs associated with work or study placements. |
About £1500 per placement |
Optional costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Information from Discover Uni
Full-time study
Part-time study
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.