BA Modern Languages and Philosophy (Japanese) For students entering from September 2024 onwards

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2024. For students who entered the programme before September 2024, you can find the details of your programme:

BA Modern Languages and Philosophy (Japanese)

On this Joint Honours course, you'll combine Philosophy with your chosen language.

On the philosophy side of your degree, your first year will introduce you to topics such as moral philosophy and the history of western philosophy, and you will learn to construct and analyse philosophical arguments.

You will be expected to maintain a balance over a few key areas of philosophy such as value philosophy, the history of philosophy, or theoretical philosophy (such as theories of knowledge and being). You will also be able to specialise in topics that interest you through optional modules such as feminist philosophy, ancient philosophy, continental philosophy, and philosophy of language. Some of these philosophy modules are undergoing revision, but the list below will give you a flavour of what is likely to be available on this course.

Whether you’re starting your language from beginners’ level, or with prior knowledge, you’ll reach a professional standard in your chosen language through intensive learning practice and year abroad. Depending on the language that you are studying, you will spend either Year 2 or Year 3 in a country where your chosen language is spoken.

If you are taking your language as a beginner, you'll focus on building up quickly your language skills through your compulsory language modules. If you're an advanced learner, your compulsory language module will allow you to consolidate and broaden your language skills.

You will complement your language studies by exploring the cultures and societies of the countries where your chosen language is spoken as well as other countries around the world, choosing from a range of topics, including literature, cinema, popular culture, history, and politics.

In your final year, you will be able to choose to take your Final Year Project either with philosophy or with your chosen language. Depending on your choice of Final Year Project, you'll also have the flexibility to choose from a range of more specialised philosophy or cultural modules to deepen your knowledge.

You can enhance your professional language skills through modules on translation, interpreting or languages for business.

Combining rigorous thinking with communication and professional skills, this degree prepares you for an international career in many sectors.

Year 1

For students entering from September 2024 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1252	Modern Japan	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PHIL1260	How To Do Philosophy	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study ONE of the following modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL1100	Politics, Culture and Society	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1150	Worlds of Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1401	Discourse, Culture and Identity	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Students will be required to study at least ONE of the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PHIL1080	The Good, The Bad, The Right, The Wrong	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL1090	Knowledge, Self and Reality	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Students with no prior knowledge of Japanese will be required to study the following modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1210	Basic Japanese Language (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1220	Basic Japanese Language (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Students with prior knowledge of Japanese will, subject to a placement test, be required to study the following modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1280	Intermediate Japanese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1281	Intermediate Japanese (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Year 2

For students entering from September 2024 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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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.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL9500	LCS Year Abroad	120	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory module

Year 3

For students entering from September 2024 onwards

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

Compulsory Modules

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2719	Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 1	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2720	Japanese 2: Pre-Advanced Communication Skills 2	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Students will be required to study at least 40 credits and may study up to 60 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PHIL2615	How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL2631	God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL2906	Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL2915	How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL2925	Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2025	Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2480	Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2714	Death in Japanese Society and Culture	20	Not running in 202526
EAST2715	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2716	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

All students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules: 

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL2001	Linguists into Schools	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2003	Global Queer Politics and Cultures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2015	Black Europe	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2070	Reception, Transmission and Translation: The Global Circulation of Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL2075	Global Environmental Humanities	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
MODL2250	Digital Communications Across Cultures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 4

For students entering from September 2024 onwards

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in each subject. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. All students must take 40 credits as a Final Year Project module, which can be taken in - and count towards - either of their two subjects.  
All students must take 40 credits as a Final Year Project (FYP) module, which can be taken in - and count towards - either of their two subjects (EITHER Philosophy OR Japanese).

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

Students will be required to study the following compulsory module

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3285	Japanese 3: Advanced Communication Skills	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

All students will be required to study ONE of the following Final Year Project (FYP) modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL3050	Final Year Project	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
PRHS3000	Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
PRHS3001	Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
PRHS3700	External Placement: Beyond the University	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP

Students who take their FYP in Philosophy are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2)

Students who take their FYP in Japanese may take up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2).


Basket 1:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3018	Death in Japanese Society and Culture	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3156	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3286	Advanced Japanese in Context: Culture and Identity	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3287	Advanced Japanese in Context 5: Japanese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy in Historical Context	20	Not running in 202526
EAST3580	Advanced Japanese in Translation	20	Not running in 202526

Basket 2:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3016	East Asian Performing Arts	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3252	Modern Japanese History	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3350	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Students who take their FYP in Japanese are required to take a minimum of 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 3 OR Basket 4).

Students who take their FYP in Philosophy may take up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 3 OR Basket 4).

Basket 3

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PHIL3310	Philosophy of Sex and Relationships	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3723	War, Terror and Justice	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Basket 4

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PHIL3011	Philosophy of Language	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3125	Continental Philosophy	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PHIL3700	Feminist Philosophy	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PHIL3855	Philosophical Issues in Technology	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

All students may choose to take 20 credits of the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL3200	Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
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)
MODL3800	Linguists into Schools	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 21/07/2025 14:30:30

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