MPhil in Japanese Studies at University of Oxford

The MPhil in Japanese Studies is a two-year, six-term taught course offered jointly by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. It combines advanced Japanese language training, research methods and interdisciplinary study of Japan's politics, society, literature and history, and ends with a 30,000-word thesis.

Faculty: Oxford School of Global and Area Studies / Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies  |  Department: Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies (Oxford School of Global and Area Studies)  |  Duration: 21 months, full time (two years, six terms)  |  Intake: 4 October 2027 (2027-28 entry)  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year one: a core research methods course, two option courses and a Japanese language course. Year two: an additional research methods or topics course, one option course, an advanced Japanese language course and a 30,000-word thesis (native-competence speakers take further option courses instead of language). Options include Japanese Politics and International Relations, Economy and Business of Japan, Japanese Society, Japanese Anthropology, Queer Japan and Classical Japanese Language.

Career pathways

Graduates go on to discipline-based graduate study in the UK, US or Japan, to work in Japan or with Japanese employers (e.g. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsui-Sumitomo Bank), or to professional firms such as Accenture, KPMG and Ernst & Young.

Official programme page