Japanese Studies

Complex, unique, endlessly fascinating, Japan embraces modernity and technology while maintaining its rich traditional culture. Our Japanese studies course will develop both your Japanese language skills and your understanding of Japanese culture and society. You'll also spend part of your degree studying in Japan, immersing yourself in Japanese society.

Combine intensive language training with in-depth study of Japanese society, politics, and culture over four years, graduating as an expert with deep, lived experience of the subject.

Study on one of the UK’s longest running Japanese studies programmes, with over 60 years of experience creating leaders within the field. Our award-winning teaching staff will give you the insights, language skills and disciplinary knowledge to critically appreciate Japanese society, history, politics and culture.

From day one, you’ll go deep into the language of the country, studying the phonetic scripts (kana), picking up the 2,000 Sino-Japanese characters (kanji) over the course of your degree – all while developing subject expertise in the humanities and social sciences. Thanks to our intensive language training approach, you’ll graduate with a high level of proficiency in written and spoken Japanese.

You’ll spend a year studying at a Japanese university, putting what you've learned into practice and gaining life-changing experience. In your final year, you will develop a dissertation project on a topic of your choice, supported by world-leading researchers.

The degree gives you the skills to truly unpick every aspect of your chosen subject, acquiring both critical approaches to the study of Japan, and first-hand experience of the country and its peoples.

Why study this course?

Voted number one: Ranked 1st in National Student Survey (NSS) results 2023 across Asian studies in the UK, our staff are UK leaders in supporting your studies and career goals.

One of the first Japanese studies programmes: Japanese Studies at Sheffield has a 60-year history and a thriving research culture, giving you endless opportunities to tap into world-leading expertise.

Life-changing year abroad: Practise your language skills in the real world, and stretch yourself in ways you couldn’t have imagined at one of our 28 Japanese partner universities.

Strong emphasis on skills development, careers and employability: Right from the start, you’ll be encouraged to develop and track the skills you’ll need to turn your degree into a career.