BA Asian Studies (Japanese Concentration) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

Japan is a democracy with a robust economy, advanced technology in fields including AI and robotics, and a major role in international relations. Japanese popular culture, from anime to video games, has been influential across the U.S. and across the globe. Friendships with Japanese, travel abroad, enjoying Japanese food locally, as well as the practice of martial arts and the love of Japanese popular media have motivated students to pursue the study of Japanese at Carolina. In the program, students enjoy meeting others with similar enthusiasms and often take part in extracurricular activities such as the Japan Club and the anime club (COUp).

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Required courses include JAPN 305 Advanced Japanese I; JAPN 306 Advanced Japanese II; JAPN 401 Gateway to Mastering Japanese; JAPN 408 Japanese Journalism; JAPN 410 Topics in Contemporary Japanese Literature; JAPN 411 Food and Culture in Japan.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

University-level admission applies (not programme-specific): apply through UNC-Chapel Hill Undergraduate Admissions; international applicants submit an English proficiency score (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge C1/C2) unless they qualify for the waiver, and transcripts translated into English.

Domestic applicants: USD 7,230 a year (2026-27). Full-time (12+ credit hours) undergraduate tuition for the year, stated as the tuition line of the 2026-27 in-state budget; one undergraduate rate band applies to all undergraduate degree programmes (NC resident rate, $3,615 per semester on the University Source

International applicants: USD 47,472 a year (2026-27). Full-time (12+ credit hours) undergraduate tuition for the year, stated as the tuition line of the 2026-27 out-of-state budget; one undergraduate rate band applies to all undergraduate degree programmes (non-resident rate, $23,736 per semester on the Univ Source

First-year applicants apply for fall enrollment (fall 2027 entry); transfer applicants apply through the Common Application with decisions by April 30.

First-year Early Action (non-binding): application deadline October 15, decision by December 20 for North Carolina residents and by February 15 for all other applicants. Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, decision by March 31. Enrollment confirmation deadline for both is May 1. Apply through the Common Application. The non-refundable application fee is $85, with a fee waiver available. SAT or ACT scores are optional with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale; students below 2.8 must submit an ACT of 17 or higher or an SAT of 930 or higher.

Transfer applicants: application and fee or waiver due February 15; supporting materials and residency due March 15; decisions by April 30; enrollment confirmation by May 15. Apply through the Common Application; the non-refundable application fee is $85.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.unc.edu/

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