2025/26 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Japanese and Russian A

Programme overview

Programme code
BA-JAP&RUSA
UCAS code
RT72
Duration
5 Years
Method of Attendance
Full Time
Programme manager
Maria Chiara La Sala
Contact address
m.c.lasala@leeds.ac.uk
Total credits
605
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme
School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Examination board through which the programme will be considered
School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups
languages, Cultures and Societies:
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/subject-benchmark-statements/sbs-languages-cultures-and-societies-15.pdf?sfvrsn=2098f781_12

Entry requirements

For entry requirements for this course please visit: Coursefinder

Programme specification

The programme will:

- Allow students to study the disciplines of Japanese and Russian to the same depth as Single Honours students of the disciplines, but with less breadth in each. This means that Joint Honours students will normally be required to take compulsory and a subset of the optional modules that are also part of the corresponding Single Honours degree programmes, and that they will be assessed on those modules using criteria identical to those applied to Single Honours students. Joint Honours students will reach the same levels of fluency and accuracy in their subjects as Single Honours students.
- At Level One, allow students the flexibility to extend their intercultural and interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, EITHER by means of a 'cornerstone' module, exploring a particular aspect of the field of modern languages and cultures with reference to a range of global cultures, OR by studying a further language.
- At Levels Two and Three, allow students to choose, within certain parameters, optional modules from the full range available within each discipline, and thereby devise pathways of their own choosing.
- Require students to undertake two Years Abroad between Levels One and Two. Both periods of residence abroad will normally take the form of two courses of study, one in a Japanese-speaking country and one in Russia.
- Allow students the option at Level Three of undertaking an autonomous research project in either discipline, potentially linking the two disciplines by bringing knowledge and understanding gained in one discipline to bear in the other.
- Require students to acquire the flexibility of mind and variety of learning techniques needed to switch between the two disciplines.
- Provide a basis for further advanced study in either Japanese or Russian, or in a cognate interdisciplinary area.
- Have the flexibility to allow students to change programme upon successful completion of Level One, subject to approval. It is normally possible to switch from Joint Honours Japanese & Russian into Single Honours in either discipline.

Year 1

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

In Level 1 students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take 60 credits in Japanese and 40 credits in Russian, plus a 20 credit cornerstone module (or 20 credits of language modules).

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST1210Basic Japanese Language (1)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1220Basic Japanese Language (2)20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
SLAV1101Core Russian Language 120Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
SLAV1120What is Russia? An Introduction to Russian Studies20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students with prior knowledge of Japanese may, subject to a placement test, study more advanced language modules as appropriate in their first year (40 credits from EAST2300, EAST2305, FLTU1026, FLTU1030).

Optional Modules

Candidates are required to take 20 credits from the following optional modules (and are strongly recommended to take either EAST1270 or EAST1271):

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST1241Premodern East Asia20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
EAST1252Modern Japan20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
EAST1510Introduction to East Asian Religions and Philosophies20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students are required to study 20 credits from the following cornerstone modules. However, they may choose to substitute one of the language modules in the list of options in the subsequent subset.
A. If a language is named on the degree programme, the student may not take cornerstone or discovery language modules in that language.
B. Candidates choosing a language module should ensure that they also enrol onto any co-requisite modules as part of their discovery credits.
C. Candidates thinking of changing programme at the end of level 1 should seek advice before choosing their cornerstone and discovery modules. Subject- areas in SMLC require students to have taken 40 credits in a language.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL1050Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1060Language: Structure and Sound20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL1070World Histories20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1090Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL1100Politics, Culture and Society20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1150Worlds of Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1401Discourse, Culture and Identity20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ARAB1006Turkish for Beginners20Not running in 202526
ARAB1015Arabic for Beginners20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1200Intermediate Ancient Greek20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1250Intermediate Latin20Not running in 202526
CLAS1810Beginners Ancient Greek (Level 1)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
CLAS1910Beginners Latin20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
EAST1703Basic Thai Language and Culture 120Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
FREN1010French Language Awareness and Skills (Common European Framework B2)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GERM1010German Language Awareness and Skills20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
ITAL1015Intermediate Italian (B1 of the CEFR)20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
ITAL1030Beginners Italian (A1 of the CEFR)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SPPO1010Practical Language Skills in Spanish 120Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SPPO1080Portuguese Language for Beginners 1A20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SPPO1091Pre-Intermediate Spanish Language (A2 of the CEFR)20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SPPO1092Intermediate Spanish (B1 of the CEFR)20Not running in 202526
SPPO1093Spanish for Beginners (A1 of the CEFR)20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
SPPO1145Catalan Language and Culture I20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Year 2

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

Candidates will spend the second year of their programme in Japan.

Compulsory Modules

Students are required to study the following core residence abroad module. Please note that the appropriate Level 1 module(s) in the language needs to be passed in order progress to the Year Abroad.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL9500LCS Year Abroad120Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Year 3

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

Candidates will spend the third year of their programme in Russia.

Compulsory Modules

Students are required to study the following core residence abroad module. Please note that the appropriate Level 1 module(s) in the language needs to be passed in order progress to the Year Abroad.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL9501LCS Year Abroad 2120Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Discovery Modules

Over levels 2 and 3 candidates may choose to study up to 40 credits of discovery modules in a third subject or pursue additional modules in the two named subjects.

Year 4

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

In Level 2 students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take 60 credits in Japanese and 40 credits in Russian. The remaining credits should be taken in either of the named subjects or taken as discovery modules.

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST2719Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 120Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)PFP
EAST2720Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 220Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
SLAV2101Core Russian Language 220Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST2006China Since 197920Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2007Japan's International Relations20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2008The Making of Modern Thailand20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2025Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics20Not running in 202526
EAST2128Contemporary East Asian Culture20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2148Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2360Chinese Cinema20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2480Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2717Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China20Not running in 202526
EAST2718Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3015Religion in China20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3017Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3020Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3252Modern Japanese History20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3271East Asia's Regional Political Economy20Not running in 202526
EAST3350Japanese Cinema in the World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL2001Linguists into Schools20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

- Not all modules will be available every year.

Candidates will be required to study between 20 and 40 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL2003Global Queer Politics and Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2015Black Europe20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2070Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075Global Environmental Humanities20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2250Digital Communications Across Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SLAV2103Applied Russian Language 220Not running in 202526
SLAV2111The Sounds of Russian20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SLAV2113The Spaces of Russophone Literature20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SLAV2120The Structures of Russian20Not running in 202526

- FOAR2000 can only be counted as a Russian module if the project undertaken relates to Russian and you have sought prior approval of the Programme Manager.
- Not all modules will be available every year.

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

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
FOAH2020Towards the Future: Skills in Context20Semesters 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 FOAH module.

Year 5

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

In Level 3 students must study 120 credits, which includes a Final Year Project module. Students are required to take 60 credits in both Japanese and Russian: the Final Year Project module can be taken in - and count towards - either of the two languages. The remaining credits should be taken as optional modules in the other language to the Final Year Project or as MODL modules.

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST3285Japanese 3: Advanced Communication Skills20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
MODL3050Final Year Project40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
SLAV3101Core Russian Language 320Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates who choose to complete their Final Year Project in Russian will be required to choose 40 credits from the options below.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
EAST3015Religion in China20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3148Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3156Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3252Modern Japanese History20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3271East Asia's Regional Political Economy20Not running in 202526
EAST3286Advanced Japanese in Context: Culture and Identity20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3287Advanced Japanese in Context 5: Japanese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in Historical Context20Not running in 202526
EAST3525Globalising China and the Developing World20Not running in 202526
EAST3580Advanced Japanese in Translation20Not running in 202526
FOAH3150Religion and Violence20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3800Linguists into Schools20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Candidates who choose to complete their Final Year Project in Japanese will be required to choose 40 credits from the options below.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
SLAV3114Russian Advanced Translation20Not running in 202526
SLAV3117The Sounds of Russian20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
SLAV3118The Spaces of Russophone Literature20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
SLAV3119The Others of Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Culture20Not running in 202526
SLAV3120The Structures of Russian20Not running in 202526


The following modules can be taken in and count towards either Japanese or Russian credits. Students may choose to study up to 40 credits from the modules below instead of EAST/SLAV optional modules.

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
MODL3200Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3410Contemporary World Literature20Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3600Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption20Not running in 202526
MODL3610Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents20Not running in 202526
MODL3620Decolonial Approaches20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3630Social Movements across Cultures20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL3650Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Last updated: 24/07/2025 15:44:29

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