MSc in Japanese Studies at University of Oxford

The MSc in Japanese Studies is a twelve-month full-time course offered jointly by the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. It combines courses about Japan, an intensive Japanese language programme, a research methods course and a dissertation, and serves as a foundation for work with Japan or further research.

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: 12 months, full time  |  Intake: 4 October 2027 (2027-28 entry)  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Oxford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Students take a core research methods course, two option courses and a Japanese language course across three terms (native-competence speakers take an additional option instead), and write a 12,000-word dissertation. Options include Japanese Politics and International Relations, Economy and Business of Japan, Japanese Society, Japanese Anthropology, Queer Japan, Classical Japanese Language and Media, Journalism and Democracy in Japan.

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