Japanese Studies (Dual Degree Programme)

The Department of Japan and Korea at SOAS University of London and Sophia University's Graduate Program in Global Studies (GPGS) have launched this Dual Degree Programme (DDP) which allows students to benefit from the combined resources of two of the world's leading institutions in Japanese Studies, located in two major global cities – Tokyo and London.

Students making use of this possibility widen their intellectual horizons by taking classes at two of the world’s leading institutions in Japanese Studies. Supervision of student theses or graduation projects by prominent scholars at both institutions encourages multiple perspectives on Japanese Studies.

The MA Japanese Studies dual degree is based at Sophia University – Japanese Master’s programmes are typically two years long, and SOAS contributes to it by offering its MA in Japanese Studies as an option for students originally enrolled at Sophia University. For SOAS students there is the opportunity to continue studying in Japan for a further year after first completing the MA in Japanese Studies at SOAS. Students proceeding to Sophia University can add any one degree within the GPGS at Sophia University, while students coming from Sophia must choose the MA Japanese Studies from SOAS.

Students will study 1-year at GPGS and 1-year at SOAS. Only upon successful completion of both the MA Japanese Studies at SOAS and the corresponding 1-year element at Sophia will students receive two MA degrees, one from each institution.

Global Partnerships

This programme can be offered as part of a dual masters degree with Sophia University.

Through the dual masters, students can spend the first year studying at Sophia on the Graduate Programme in Global Studies and second year at SOAS studying MA Japanese Studies or vice versa and gain a masters from each institution. For more information on the dual masters, please see the SOAS-Sophia partnership on the Global Partnerships website.

Enrolment through SOAS

Applications to the 1-year MA Japanese Studies programme are made at SOAS. The continuation at Sophia is an optional add-on that has no impact on how the MA Japanese Studies is taught at SOAS and its normal rules and regulations apply. For students considering enrolment through SOAS, this is an opportunity to add 1-year of study at Sophia University, after they have completed the taught elements of their MA in Japanese Studies with SOAS.

However, students should indicate interest in the possibility to continue to Sophia University upon the point of application. Only upon being accepted by Sophia University in a separate application procedure (please see below), can the students proceed to Japan. The fees for the MAs are to be paid separately to each institution.

Application procedure

Prospective students should begin to apply for the MA programme at the institution where they intend to commence their studies. Applicants for the MA must fulfil the criteria for acceptance adopted by both institutions:

• SOAS how to apply (postgraduate)
• Sophia University Programme admissions

After having been accepted by one of the two institutions, applicants must then make a formal application to the partner institution, indicating that they wish to be considered for the Dual Degree Programme.

Application deadlines

Different deadlines apply for both institutions

For SOAS students applying for entrance into Sophia University, the deadline will be in April (the application period is normally from 1-27 April). Students are permitted to apply during the spring break and before having completed the dissertation, but in order to qualify for the degree, the requirements for the completion of the MA Japanese Studies still need to be fulfilled by the appropriate SOAS deadlines

For Sophia students applying to SOAS the deadline is 30 June, though the earlier the application is made, the easier it will be to facilitate acceptance and arranging a visa, accommodation, etc.

Once students have met the requirements and been accepted onto the second half of the programme, the receiving institution will liaise with the student concerning visa issues, accommodation etc.

Students entering the Graduate Program in Global Studies (GPGS) at Sophia University in April typically apply for admission to SOAS during their 1st semester, spend their 2nd and 3rd semesters at SOAS, and return to Sophia in their 4th semester to complete their GPGS requirements.

Students entering the GPGS at Sophia University in September typically apply for admission to SOAS in their 2nd semester, spend their 3rd and 4th semesters at SOAS, and return to Sophia in their 5th semester to complete the GPGS requirements.

Students entering SOAS can only do so in September.

• More about Japanese Studies at Sophia University
• More about Japanese Studies at SOAS