MA (Hons) Japanese Bachelor's degree at the University of Edinburgh
MA (Hons) Japanese at University of Edinburgh. You'll move beyond classroom vocabulary to engage with authentic texts, film, scholarship and contemporary society.
About this course
MA (Hons) Japanese is a Bachelor's degree (MA (Hons)) at the University of Edinburgh, based in Central. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Asian studies graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 40% in highly skilled roles. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 11 modules
- Modern East Asian History ACompulsory
- Japanese Language Post BeginnerOptional
- Japanese Language BeginnerOptional
- Japanese Language Pre-IntermediateOptional
- Japanese Language Lower IntermediateOptional
- Modern East Asian History BOptional
- Society and culture in pre-modern East AsiaOptional
- Introduction to Japanese LiteratureOptional
- Politics of Everyday Life in Modern KoreaOptional
- East Asian Youth: Spaces, Ecologies, TechnologiesOptional
- Pre-modern East Asian HistoryOptional
Year 2 5 modules
- Practical Japanese 2- Year Abroad PreparationCompulsory
- Political Cultures and Cultural Politics in Contemporary JapanCompulsory
- Researching Japan: mini-dissertation projectCompulsory
- Japanese Language Mid-IntermediateOptional
- Japanese Language Upper IntermediateOptional
Year 3 4 modules
- Japanese Year Abroad (Single)Compulsory
- Japanese Language 3Compulsory
- Japanese Studies on the Year AbroadCompulsory
- Japanese 3 Dissertation (Preparation)Compulsory
Year 4 16 modules
- Japanese Language 4Compulsory
- Translation from Japanese to EnglishCompulsory
- Japanese 4 OralCompulsory
- Japanese 4 Dissertation (Completion)Compulsory
- Contemporary Japanese CinemaOptional
- China and Japan: National Development, International Relations, and Transnational ConvergenceOptional
- Political Economy of Korean DevelopmentOptional
- Unwritten Korea: Understanding Korean Society and Culture through Contemporary Arts and FilmsOptional
- Korean History, Culture, and SocietyOptional
- Global Cities: Seoul and comparative perspectivesOptional
- Literature and Performance in Modern JapanOptional
- Buddhism and the State in Early East AsiaOptional
- East Asian Politics and International RelationsOptional
- Thinking Translation: a Beginner's GuideOptional
- Blood, bones, and bodies: Buddhist relics in AsiaOptional
- Visions of the Buddha: Religious Art in Medieval JapanOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This MA (Hons) in Japanese builds progressively from foundational language and cultural knowledge through to advanced independent study. You'll usually begin with core concepts in the subject alongside academic skills and digital literacy, establishing the main strands of Japanese language, culture and history together. In Year 2, you'll move to intermediate-level study, apply your learning through team-based projects, and choose optional modules to broaden your perspective. By Year 3, you'll pursue specialist options in areas of particular interest, develop professional skills through work experience or placement, and undertake an independent research project that draws together the degree. Throughout, you'll develop increasingly sophisticated language proficiency alongside contextual understanding of Japanese society, literature and thought.
Who it's for
You're drawn to Japan, its language, literature, philosophy, film or contemporary culture, and you want to study it rigorously without compartmentalising language from everything else that makes the country intelligible. You're comfortable with sustained, careful reading and discussion; you enjoy both the precision of language work and the interpretive thinking that humanities require. You'll thrive if you value depth over breadth, and if the prospect of becoming genuinely fluent in Japanese, and understanding the contexts in which it lives, genuinely excites you. This is four years of genuine immersion, not a quick pathway.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies nationally, 85% of graduates were in work or further study within 15 months of graduating, and 65% of working graduates were in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Starting salaries 15 months after graduation typically fall between £24,000 and £30,000; after five years, £25,075 to £35,400 (National Graduate Outcomes and LEO data). Your degree opens routes into education, translation, international relations, cultural institutions, and sectors where Japanese language and cultural literacy add real value, though the outcome depends on the choices and experience you build during your time here.
University & format
The University of Edinburgh is a public research university in Scotland's city centre, a member of the Russell Group. This MA (Hons) Japanese is a full-time, four-year degree taught in English. It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and the university holds a Complete University Guide overall rank of 19.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 30%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 65% |
| an Access course | 20% |
| a Baccalaureate | 15% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code T210). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page. Set under Scotland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at University of Edinburgh →If you normally live in Scotland
For eligible Scottish-domiciled students at an eligible Scottish provider, SAAS can pay tuition directly. Living-cost support can combine bursary and loan and depends on household income and student circumstances. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with SAAS →Paying for it
- SAAS tuition payment: paid directly to the university for eligible Scottish-domiciled students, applied for through SAAS.
- Living-cost support: a mix of bursary and loan from SAAS, depending on household income.
- Repayment: only above the Scottish repayment threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Scotland runs its own system through SAAS; check saas.gov.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years after | £29,000 | £21,000 – £32,000 | 30 |
| 5 years after | £34,500 | £25,500 – £46,000 | 30 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with General Studies courses at the same study level.
Compared with 207 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 30; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where General Studies graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
General PractitionerMatchMedicsGeneral ManagerParkside RecruitmentGeneral ManagerThe Management Recruitment Group (MRG)General ManagerBite TalentGeneral ForemanCONTRACT SCOTLAND LIMITEDGeneral PractitionerFlexzo AiIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Scotland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Tuition for eligible Scottish-domiciled students is paid by SAAS directly to the university, applied for through SAAS and not Student Finance England. Living-cost support is a mix of bursary and loan, and you repay only above the Scottish threshold.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.1 out of 10: NSS 53.6% · in work or study 95% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Edinburgh
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Edinburgh from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £13,914 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Edinburgh’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Edinburgh and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Edinburgh
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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