PhD  in Japanese and Korean Studies

    PhD in Japanese and Korean Studies

    Duration3 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 31,455 / Year
    Next IntakeSeptember 1, 2026
    PhD in Japanese and Korean Studies

    About

    Course overview

    The Japan and Korea Department is able to supervise MPhil and PhD degrees by research and thesis in a wide range of cultural and linguistic subjects.

    Intending research students should not feel constrained to limit their choice of topics to those indicated against the names of current staff members (postgraduate students have recently been working on a range of topics that include Japanese cinema, Kabuki texts, modern Japanese linguistics and literature, Meiji historical texts, Korean linguistics and literature, Korean colonial and eighteenth century history).

    Research undertaken at MPhil and PhD level is based on literary, documentary, and archive material available at SOAS and also gathered during fieldwork in Japan and Korea.

    Why study Japanese and Korean Studies at SOAS?

    • SOAS is ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2023)
    • we are ranked 10th in the UK for East Asian Studies (Complete University Guide 2022)
    • we are home to the largest concentration of Japan and Korean specialists outside of Japan and Korea

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    We normally require a 2.1 bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) plus a Masters degree in appropriate subject area plus one reference. In exceptional cases we may accept applicants who do not meet these criteria if they show evidence of a strong Masters degree and/or appropriate level of relevant work experience. International applicants should also see Doctoral School English language requirements

    Career

    Employment

    Graduates from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures develop competencies in intercultural awareness, analysis and communication. Demand for specialists with advanced proficiency in the languages of China, Japan and Korea has significantly increased in recent years, and graduates with these skills are highly sought after by employers.

    Recent graduates have been hired by organisations including:

    • Accenture
    • Amazon
    • Bloomberg LP
    • Department for Work and Pensions
    • European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea
    • European Commission
    • Google
    • ITN
    • Japanese Government
    • Korea Trade Centre (KOTRA)
    • KPMG
    • Mizuho Bank
    • Nagahama Board of Education
    • Nanjing Museum
    • Pinsent Masons LLP
    • PwC
    • Seoul Metropolitan Government
    • Shelterbox
    • UNDP

    Find out about our Careers Service.

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    31,455 / year
    PhD in Japanese and Korean Studies
    SOAS University of London
    SOAS University of London
    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, London

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