BA Asia Pacific Studies and International Relations (No longer recruiting from 2024/25)

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

The programme will:
- enable students to work across more than one discipline by providing the flexibility to study three disciplines at level one;
- allow the study of two disciplines to the same depth as any single honours student but with less breadth in each discipline;
- provide a basis for further advanced study in either of the disciplines or in a cognate interdisciplinary area.

General
- The distinctiveness, appeal and strength of University of Leeds joint honours programmes lie in the unusual combination of depth, breadth and flexibility which they offer, as well as in the exceptional range of degree combinations available.
- They permit students to study two disciplines, in depth and to degree level while acquiring a broader range of skills than is typically possible within a single honours degree.
- They are emphatically joint honours programmes, rather than integrated programmes: students can therefore make the links they choose from the wide choice of optional modules available within each discipline. Within certain parameters, they thus effectively make connections and devise pathways according to their own preferences, rather than being faced with a prescribed combination of modules chosen for them by others.
- The students must acquire the flexibility of mind and variety of learning techniques needed to switch between the two disciplines.
- A further element of distinctiveness is the flexibility of the programme structure, which allows joint honours students to change direction more easily, and more radically, than single honours students.
- Many of these programmes also allow the opportunity to undertake a work placement, field work or study abroad.

Year 1

(No longer recruiting from 2024/25)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

In Level 1 students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take 60 credits in Asia Pacific Studies, 40 credits in International Relations and a 20 credit cornerstone module.

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL1100	Politics, Culture and Society	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PIED1110	Comparative Politics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED1511	International Politics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits form the following modules
- Students are strongly encouraged to take EAST1450 Foundations of East Asia as one of their Optional modules in Level 1.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1110	Modern China: History and Culture	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1241	Premodern East Asia	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
EAST1450	Foundations of East Asia	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
EAST1510	Introduction to East Asian Religions and Philosophies	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Other relevant East Asian language or FLTU modules may be allowed with permission of Programme Manager

Candidates will be required to study 40 credits from the following Asia Pacific Studies optional modules.
Please note that EAST1051 is mutually exclusive with both EAST1052 and EAST1053

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1010	Basic Chinese Language 1	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1020	Basic Chinese Language 2	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST1210	Basic Japanese Language (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1220	Basic Japanese Language (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST1450	Foundations of East Asia	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
EAST1703	Basic Thai Language and Culture 1	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1704	Basic Thai Language and Culture 2	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Year 2

(No longer recruiting from 2024/25)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

In Level 2 students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in each of their main subjects. Of the remaining credits, 20 credits should be taken in one of the named subjects; the final 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or in either of the named subjects.

In order to be eligible for an Honours degree, students must meet the normal Rules for Award by passing all modules which are designated to be passed for award or progression and by passing the required number of credits at each level as specified in the Curricular Regulations (at least 200 credits at level 2 or above, of which at least 100 should be at level 3).

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED2501	Theories of International Relations	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP
PIED2559	Global Security Challenges	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 40 credits from the following modules over level 2 and level 3:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2008	The Making of Modern Thailand	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2128	Contemporary East Asian Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2717	Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2718	Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3017	Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Not running in 202526

NB: Not all modules will be available every year.

Candidates will be required to study between 60 and 80 credits from the following optional modules over levels 2 and 3:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2006	China Since 1979	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2008	The Making of Modern Thailand	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2025	Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2128	Contemporary East Asian Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2182	Cantonese for Mandarin Speakers 1	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2192	Cantonese for Mandarin Speakers 2	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2300	Intermediate Japanese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2305	Intermediate Japanese 2	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2480	Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2550	Intermediate Chinese (1)	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2570	Intermediate Chinese (II)	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2717	Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2718	Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3015	Religion in China	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3020	Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3252	Modern Japanese History	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Not running in 202526
MODL2075	Global Environmental Humanities	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

- Level 2 students are strongly advised to take EAST2XXX-coded modules.
- Students may also take East Asian language modules with the permission of the Director/Programme Manager.
- Not all modules will be available every year.

Candidates may choose to study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED2100	British Central Government	20	Not running in 202526
PIED2139	The Labour Party Since 1945	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2301	Politics and Policy in the EU	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED2448	Politics of Contemporary China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2455	State and Politics in Africa	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED2463	United States Politics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2711	Analysing Data in Politics, Development and International Relations	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students may choose to study the below Careers Service module:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
CSER2206	Developing Your Professional Identity: Preparing for a Career in Within The Arts, Heritage and Creative Industries	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students may also choose to study the below module as long as they are not already enrolled onto Linguists into Schools

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
FOAH2020	Towards the Future: Skills in Context	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates may choose to study up to 20 credits of discovery modules in a third subject, pursue additional modules in the two named subjects or take the above CSER module or FOAH module

Year 3

(No longer recruiting from 2024/25)

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

In Level 3 students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in each of their main subjects, plus a Final Year Project module which can be taken in and count towards either subject. Any remaining credits can be taken in either of the named subjects or as discovery modules. A maximum of 20 credits of discovery modules may be taken in level 3. Finalists may only take level 1 modules which are listed as discovery skills modules (skd) and only to the value of 20 credits.

In order to be eligible for an Honours degree, students must meet the normal Rules for Award by passing all modules which are designated to be passed for award or progression and by passing the required number of credits at each level as specified in the Curricular Regulations (at least 200 credits at level 2 or above, of which at least 100 should be at level 3).

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following Final Year Project modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL3050	Final Year Project	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
PIED3750	Dissertation	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Candidates will be required to study 40 credits from the following modules over level 2 and level 3:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2008	The Making of Modern Thailand	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2128	Contemporary East Asian Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2717	Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2718	Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3016	East Asian Performing Arts	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3017	Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Not running in 202526

- Students who fail one or more of these modules may only proceed on an ordinary degree.
- Not all modules will be available every year.

Candidates will be required to study between 60 and 80 credits of optional modules over levels 2 and 3. The following will be available at level 3:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2006	China Since 1979	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2008	The Making of Modern Thailand	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2128	Contemporary East Asian Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2182	Cantonese for Mandarin Speakers 1	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2192	Cantonese for Mandarin Speakers 2	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2300	Intermediate Japanese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2305	Intermediate Japanese 2	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2480	Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2550	Intermediate Chinese (1)	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2570	Intermediate Chinese (II)	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2718	Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3015	Religion in China	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3020	Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3156	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3252	Modern Japanese History	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3350	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3355	Death and Religion in Japan	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3525	Globalising China and the Developing World	20	Not running in 202526
FOAH3150	Religion and Violence	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3410	Contemporary World Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3600	Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption	20	Not running in 202526
MODL3610	Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents	20	Not running in 202526
MODL3620	Decolonial Approaches	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3630	Social Movements across Cultures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3650	Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

- Students may also take East Asian language modules with the permission of the Director/Programme Manager.
- Not all modules will be available every year.

Candidates will normally study 40-60 credits from the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED3158	British Foreign Policy	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3325	Europe in the World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3402	American Foreign Policy	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3504	Critically Analysing The Responsibility to Protect	20	Not running in 202526
PIED3565	Terrorism: Concepts, Debates, Cases	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Candidates may choose to study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED3160	Prime Ministers and British Politics	20	Not running in 202526
PIED3170	The End of British Politics?	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3171	The Politics of national identity in the UK	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3199	The Labour Party Since 1945	20	Not running in 202526
PIED3207	International Development and Social Policy	20
PIED3261	Violence and Reconciliation in Africa	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3302	Extreme Right Parties in Contemporary Europe	20	Not running in 202526
PIED3305	The Far Right in Europe and Beyond	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3310	Britain and the EU	20	Not running in 202526
PIED3342	Gender and Security in Global Politics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3617	Reimagining Politics: Gender, Race, and Popular Culture	20
PIED3810	Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates may choose to study up to 20 credits of discovery modules in a third subject or pursue additional modules in the two named subjects.

Last updated: 15/07/2025 16:57:04

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team