Undergraduate study - 2025 entry
Edinburgh: Extraordinary futures await.

Subject area: Japanese

Why choose Japanese at the University of Edinburgh?

  • Edinburgh is the only university in Scotland to offer undergraduate honours programmes in Japanese. It is also one of the few in the UK with integrated course offerings in China and Korea. All our four-year honours programmes include a year abroad studying in Japan.

  • We are ranked 3rd in the UK and 7th in the world for modern languages in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

  • You will study in the heart of a world-leading festival city filled with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections. Highlights include the University’s own East Asian Studies Collection, of which over 5,000 holdings are in Japanese.

  • There's lots going on in our tightly-knit community, from our peer support group to film screenings, the Japan Society and an Anime Society. We also host performances and workshops with visiting Noh masters and a regular Asian Studies seminar series featuring visiting speakers from around the world.

Study abroad

Studying Japanese at the University of Edinburgh has been a life changing experience. I have been able to explore and learn a new world that I never thought possible. Through studying at the University of Edinburgh I have been supported by incredibly encouraging staff and they help motivate me to do my best! It's a challenging experience, but definitely a rewarding one!

Cadely Year 4, Japanese MA (Hons)
Cadely Year 4, Japanese MA (Hons)

Introducing Japanese

Over the past 150 years, Japan has experienced change at a rapid pace, but has nevertheless retained its fascinating cultural heritage.

Study with us and you will develop the linguistic and analytical skills to engage critically, and in a truly interdisciplinary way, with this dynamic society.

You will also learn about Japan's place in East Asia, now one of the world's most important and influential regions.

We specialise in teaching students with little or no prior knowledge of Japanese, but it is also possible to join us with some previous experience of the language. You can take Japanese as a single honours degree programme, or jointly with Linguistics or International Business.

Helping you bridge the gap between school and university learning, we introduce skills and knowledge step-by-step, encouraging you to see the connections between language, history, politics, culture and international relations.

Language classes are active, innovative, inclusive, and always informed by the best practice in the field.

We have received Edinburgh University Students' Association awards for innovative teaching, use of student feedback, and overall course excellence.

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2 degrees in Japanese

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