BA East Asian Studies

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

This programme equips students with a broad knowledge and in-depth understanding of the politics, economies
and societies of the contemporary East Asian region. In their first year, students will take modules which provide
them with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the history, geography and culture of both Northeast and
Southeast Asia. The approach of the level 1 modules is comparative and thematic, while also allowing for country-
specific focus on Japan, China and Southeast Asian countries, providing a strong foundation for upper-level
modules.

Modules at level 2 and 3 enable students to deepen their knowledge of particular aspects of the region, again
largely from a comparative perspective. The economic development, international politics and history of the region are key elements of the programme at this level, but other issues such as culture and society, nationalism, democratisation, security, regionalism and globalisation are also covered. On completion of the degree students should be capable of drawing on a wide range of sources of information to analyse and construct arguments about the region and its component states. The programme will enable students to develop an awareness of the significance of East and Southeast Asia in global affairs. We would expect some of our graduates to take up jobs in the region, while others might continue their studies at MA level. Students on this programme may apply for transfer to the International variant which enables them to study at one of a range of universities with which the University of Leeds has established links. The opportunity to apply for a work placement degree involving a year in industry is also available.

Year 1

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

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
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)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1110	Modern China: History and Culture	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1252	Modern Japan	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1030	Beginners Chinese	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1280	Intermediate Japanese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1290	Beginners Japanese	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1460	Intermediate Chinese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST1720	Beginners Thai	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

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

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST1035	Post-Beginners Chinese	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST1281	Intermediate Japanese (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST1295	Post-Beginners Japanese	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST1461	Intermediate Chinese (2)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST1725	Post-Beginners Thai	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of the following optional modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
MODL1050	Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1060	Language: Structure and Sound	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL1070	World Histories	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL1090	Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
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)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

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

Optional Modules

[Basket 1- EAS] Candidates will be required to study 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2008	The Making of Modern Thailand	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2025	Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2128	Contemporary East Asian Culture	20	Not running in 202627
EAST2713	Buddhism: a Lived Tradition	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2718	Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

[Basket 2- China] Candidates will be required to study 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2006	China Since 1979	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2148	Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2360	Chinese Cinema	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2711	Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2717	Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

[Basket 3 - Japan] Candidates will be required to study 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2007	Japan's International Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2480	Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World	20	Not running in 202627
EAST2714	Death in Japanese Society and Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2715	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Not running in 202627
EAST2716	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

[Basket 4 - language] Candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST2300	Intermediate Japanese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2305	Intermediate Japanese 2	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST2550	Intermediate Chinese (1)	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST2570	Intermediate Chinese (II)	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of the following optional modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
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)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3

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

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory Final Year Project module

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

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study a minimum of 40 credits from the following optional modules in Baskets 1 and 2:

Basket 1:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3015	Religion in China	20	Not running in 202627
EAST3016	East Asian Performing Arts	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3020	Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3148	Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3156	Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3271	East Asia's Regional Political Economy	20	Not running in 202627
MODL3130	Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3410	Contemporary World Literature	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
MODL3620	Decolonial Approaches	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3650	Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it

Basket 2:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
EAST3017	Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3018	Death in Japanese Society and Culture	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
EAST3201	Modern Japanese History	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
EAST3350	Japanese Cinema in the World	20	Not running in 202627
EAST3525	Globalising China and the Developing World	20	Not running in 202627
EAST3707	Buddhism: A Lived Tradition	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules

Last updated: 08/05/2026 16:48:29

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