Japanese Studies
| Degree: | Master of Arts in Japanese Studies |
|---|---|
| Mode of Study: | Full-time |
| Duration: | 2 years |
| Start date: | September |
| Language of instruction: | English |
The two-year MA programme Japanese studies is unique in the Netherlands. With a world-class teaching and research portfolio that covers East Asia and looks at the region from a multi-disciplinary standpoint, the programme provides you with unique insights into a comprehensive range of cutting-edge topics in modern and pre-modern Japan.
The MA programme in Leiden is an international and cosmopolitan one, drawing students from around the world. This gives the programme an outward-looking and creative tone that seeks to foster ‘world citizens’ as well as first-class scholars.
Building on the uniquely long and intimate relations between The Netherlands and Japan, Leiden University has one of the oldest and most established centres of Japanese Studies in the Western world.
The information about this programme is available in the following languages:
Programme
One of the central tenets of the MA in Japanese Studies is that you master the Japanese language. However, language skills are a tool rather than an end in themselves. This MA programme therefore emphasises disciplinary specialisation, capitalising on the range of academic expertise available in Leiden. MA students should be able to develop graduate-level competencies in Japanese History, Philosophy, Religion, Literature, Politics, Sociology, Anthropology and others. Your tutor will advise you on which disciplines are available in specific years.
The MA in Japanese Studies is a two-year programme. You will spend the second semester of the first year and the first semester of the second year in Japan. The remaining two semesters will be spent at Leiden.
Year 1
September until March— Leiden
The first year of the programme is split into two periods, with the first period spent at Leiden. You will follow intensive language and disciplinary training in Japanese and Asian Studies to prepare you for your year abroad.
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.
Year 2
As in year one, the second year of the programme is split into two periods, with the first semester spent in Japan. When you return to Leiden in the second semester you will continue to further develop your language skills and concentrate on your chosen specialist area(s) in preparation for writing your final thesis. The aim is that you will be able to integrate your language and academic skills to allow you to write your final thesis using primary sources in Japanese.
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 also concentrate on honing your language skills to a level that will be effectivein your professional life (post graduation). This includes for example, the study of legal, commercial and political language use.
For the most up to date course overview, see the e-Prospectus.
