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 Politics (Japanese)
The BA in Modern Languages and Politics will give you the opportunity to explore the political ideas and questions that shape our globalised world. At the same time, you will develop the language skills and cultural competence that will enable you to engage with and understand other peoples and societies.
Studying for a Joint Honours degree allows you to gain an in-depth knowledge of two subjects, through first-class teaching and including a period of residence abroad.
The programme offers you a broad grounding in the academic study of politics, both domestically and globally. You will also be provided with conceptual and methodological tools to enable you to critically analyse political events and phenomena. The programme provides you with a solid grounding in the core areas of political studies, including political theory, comparative politics, international politics and British politics. In addition, you are given the opportunity to pursue more specialist modules on a broad range of crucial topics including, but not limited to: the media and democratic politics, gender, race and culture, the far right, British political parties, human rights, foreign policy, contemporary political theory, national identity, African politics, US politics and Chinese politics.
Having begun your studies with anything from beginner to post-A-level competence in, your language of choice, you will graduate with the ability to communicate and defend your views clearly in this language, either orally or in writing. In addition, you will have strong research and organisational skills and be confident working independently or in a team. You will also have a strong understanding of cultural diversity, allowing you to work effectively with people whose backgrounds differ from your own.
You will also have the opportunity to pursue study in the wider set of courses offered in your schools, including within development studies and international relations. In the third and final year, you undertake a dissertation on an in-depth and specialised topic with advice from tutors.
The programme gives you a diverse skillset, useful for career development in a broad range of fields and professions, including journalism, research, advocacy, the civil service, and roles in local and national government. Other language-based careers such as translating or interpreting or training in these, will also be open to you. What is more, this programme will help you to become a better citizen, equipping you with the skills and confidence required to successfully navigate the increasingly challenging political landscape we face.
(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
At Level 1, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take 40 credits in Politics and 80 credits in Japanese
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) | |
| MODL1100 | Politics, Culture and Society | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| PIED1110 | Comparative Politics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| PIED1601 | Freedom, Power and Resistance: An Introduction to Political Ideas | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
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 |
(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL9500 | LCS Year Abroad | 120 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take 40 credits in Politics and a minimum of 60 credits in Japanese.
The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with Japanese.
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 |
Students will be required to study 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 1 AND Basket 2). Students can take only ONE module per Basket:
Basket 1
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2601 | Revolution and Reaction: Political Problems in the 20th Century | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED2602 | Justice, Community and Conflict | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Basket 2
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED2161 | Media and Democracy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2301 | Politics and Policy in the EU | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2455 | State and Politics in Africa | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED2463 | United States Politics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED2721 | Approaches to Analysis | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Students are required to study a minimum of 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits of 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 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) |
Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.
(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
At Level 3, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in Japanese and a minimum of 40 credits in Politics. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects. The remaining 20 credits may be taken as discovery modules or as further options with Japanese.
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 Politics OR Japanese).
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 |
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 |
| PIED3750 | Dissertation | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Students who take their FYP in Japanese (MODL3050) are required to take 40 credits and rom the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2). Students can take only ONE module per Basket.
Basket 1
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3158 | British Foreign Policy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3342 | Gender and Security in Global Politics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3402 | American Foreign Policy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3565 | Terrorism: Concepts, Debates, Cases | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3810 | Video Games: Politics, Society and Culture | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Basket 2
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIED3261 | Violence and Reconciliation in Africa | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3325 | Europe in the World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PIED3408 | Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3590 | The Global Politics of Climate Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PIED3650 | Global Political Economy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Students who take their FYP in Politics (PIED3750) are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 40 credits from the following list of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 3 OR Basket 4). Students can take only ONE module per Basket.
Students who take their FYP in Japanese (MODL3050) may take up to 20 credits from the following list of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 3 OR Basket 4).
Basket 3
| 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 4
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |
| 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) |
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) |
Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 21/07/2025 14:30:30
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