The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme from September 2026.
For students who entered the programme before September 2026, 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.
(For students entering from September 2026 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 Philosophy and 60 credits in Japanese as well as a Cornerstone module.
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) |
Students will be required to study ONE of the following Cornerstone 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) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students will be required to study 20 credits of the following modules (please be aware that this selection influences module choice at Level 2 because of pre-requisites):
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1290 | Beginners Japanese | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST1295 | Post-Beginners Japanese | 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 2026 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
At Level 2, students must study 120 credits. Overall, students must take at least 100 credits across their two subjects. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in Philosophy and a minimum of 60 credits in Japanese.
The remaining 20 credits may be taken as further options in Japanese or Philosophy, or as discovery 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 |
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) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students 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) | |
| EAST2025 | Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| 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.
All students may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL2003 | Global Queer Politics and Cultures | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL2006 | Social Class across Cultures | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep 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) | |
| MODL2090 | Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep 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.
Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.
(For students entering from September 2026 onwards)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Students will be required to study the following compulsory module
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL9500 | LCS Year Abroad | 120 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Students will be required to study the following compulsory module
(For students entering from September 2026 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 Philosophy. Overall, students must take at least 100 credits across their two subjects. The remaining 20 credits may be taken as further options with Japanese or Philosophy, or as discovery modules.
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 Japanese OR Philosophy).
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 |
Students 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 |
| 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 |
Students who take their FYP in Philosophy (PRHS3000 or PRHS3001) are required to take a minimum of 20 credits and may take up to 60 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 1 or Basket 2)
Students who take their FYP in Japanese (MODL3050) may take up to 20 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 1 OR Basket 2).
BASKET 1: JAPANESE OPTIONAL MODULES
| 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 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3018 | Death in Japanese Society and Culture | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3156 | Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3200 | Specialised Japanese Readings in Context | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| EAST3201 | Modern Japanese History | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3350 | Japanese Cinema in the 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.
BASKET 2: TRANSNATIONAL CULTURE AND SOCIETY OPTIONAL MODULES:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOAH3230 | Transnational Feminism and Creative Practice | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL3130 | Languages in Action: from Theory to Practice | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| 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) | |
| 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) |
Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.
Students who take their FYP in Japanese (MODL3050) are required to take a minimum of 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from Basket 3 or Basket 4).
Students who take their FYP in Philosophy (PRHS3000 or PRHS3001) may take up to 40 credits from the following lists of optional modules (from EITHER Basket 3 or Basket 4).
BASKET 3: GENERALIST PHILOSOPHY
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL3011 | Philosophy of Language | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3012 | Ancient Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3015 | Non-Western Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3125 | Continental Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3322 | Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3723 | War, Terror and Justice | 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 4: APPLIED PHILOSOPHY
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3113 | History and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3013 | Bioethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3016 | Philosophy of Work and Play | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3310 | Philosophy of Sex and Relationships | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3855 | Philosophical Issues in Technology | 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.
Students may choose to take 20 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 08/05/2026 16:51:27
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