2024/25 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA Modern Languages and International Relations (Japanese)

Total credits: 480

Entry requirements:

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Languages, Cultures and Societies

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Languages, Cultures and Societies outlined here:

https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/sbs/sbs-languages-cultures-and-societies-23.pdf?sfvrsn=3c71a881_10
The programme will meet the QAA Benchmarks defined for Politics and International Relations outlined here:
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements/subject-benchmark-statement-politics-and-international-relations

Programme specification:

The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2023/2024 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2024 or after, you can find the details of your programme:

BA Modern Languages and International Relations (Japanese)(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)

The BA in Modern Languages and International Relations will give you the opportunity to understand how states interact and co-operate in an increasingly globalised and interdependent world. At the same time, you will develop the language skills and cultural competence that will enable you to engage with and understand the interaction between different 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.

This particular programme offers you the chance to learn about how states interact with each other, as well as the impacts and contributions of organisations such as the UN. You will combine core modules on key topics such as security and the concepts, theories and research methods of international relations with a range of optional modules. You can explore topics that interest them, from the politics of aid to the complexities of Middle Eastern politics and the rise of extreme right parties in Europe. This will be complemented by the study of a cultural and linguistic context outside the United Kingdom. You will gain an additional perspective on the United Kingdom’s position on the world stage by both the academic study of another culture and by the experience of living and working/studying elsewhere. This will enrich your understanding of the global context.

Having begun your studies with anything from beginner to post-A-level competence in their language of choice, you will graduate with the ability to communicate and defend their 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. 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.

Year1 - View timetable

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

Compulsory modules:

At Level 1, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take 40 credits in International Relations (IR) and 80 credits in Japanese.

Students will be required to study the following compulsory modules 

Optional modules:

Students with no prior knowledge of Japanese will be required to study the following modules:

Students with prior knowledge of Japanese will, subject to a placement test, be required to study the following modules:

Year2 - View timetable

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

Year Abroad in Japan. Students will spend this year of their programme in a country or region where the language of interest is used both in official contexts and as a daily means of communication. Where this period of residence abroad involves studying at a University, a list of approved locations and institutions will be provided for you during Level 1. Where you are able to choose a location, you must have this approved by the Year Abroad Tutor in your language area.

Compulsory modules:

Students are required to study the following core residence abroad module. Please note that the appropriate Level 1 module(s) in the language needs to be passed in order progress to the Year Abroad.

Year3 - View timetable

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

In Level 2 students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in International Relations and a minimum of 60 credits in Japanese. The remaining 20 credits should be taken as Discovery modules or in further International Relations or Japanese optional modules.

Compulsory modules:

Students are required to study the following compulsory modules:

Optional modules:

Students may choose to take a module from the list below instead of a Discovery module:

Students are be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:

Discovery modules:

Students may choose to take up to 20 credits of Discovery modules in a third subject or pursue additional modules in International Relations or Japanese.

Year4 - View timetable

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

At Level 3, students must study 120 credits. Students are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in International Relations and a minimum of 40 credits in Japanese. Overall, students must take 100 credits across their two subjects.


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 International Relations or Japanese.).

In order to be eligible for an Honours degree, students must meet the normal Rules for Award by passing all modules which are designated to be passed for award or progression and by passing the required number of credits at each level as specified in the Curricular Regulations (at least 200 credits at Level 2 or above, of which at least 100 should be at Level 3).

Compulsory modules:

All students will be required to study the following compulsory module:

Optional modules:

All students are required to take ONE of the following Final Year Project (FYP) modules.

Students who take their FYP in Japanese are required to take a minimum of 40 credits in option list A and may take a further 20 credits from Option list B.
Students who are taking their Final Year Project in International Relations may select further options from Option list A and/or Option list B.

Optional List A:

Optional List B:

Students will be required to study between 40-80 credits in Japanese. The number of credits you have available for options modules will depend whether you choose to take your Final Year Project in Japanese or International Relations. if you take your Final Year Project in Japanese you will be able to take fewer option modules in this subject.

Students will be required to study up to 40 credits from the following optional module. Students who take their FYP in International Relations are required to take a minimum of 20 credits from the following Japanese optional modules and may take a further 20 credits from this list.

Students who take their FYP in Japanese may take up to 20 credits from the list of Japanese optional modules.

Discovery modules:

All students may choose to spend up to 20 credits of Discovery modules in a third subject or pursue additional modules in International Relations or their chosen language.
Finalists may only take Level 1 modules that are listed as Discovery Skills modules (skd) and only to the value of 20 credits.

Last updated: 17/06/2024 05:33:23

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