Japanese Studies
From the culture of traditional Japan to contemporary Manga, Anime and J-Pop Japan is of fundamental importance to Australia and Asia for political, strategic and economic reasons. Therefore, regardless of your undergraduate field, you will find Japanese intercultural communication skills and knowledge of Japan beneficial in your professional life.
Japanese Studies at UNSW
UNSW’s Japanese Studies Program has been recognised nationally and internationally as one of the best in Australia. We produce graduates with practical and professional Japanese language skills as well as a detailed understanding of the development of Japanese civilisation and Japan’s place in East Asia. You will be taught by academics who have expertise in Japanese language education, Japanese linguistics, business Japanese, Japanese popular culture and Japanese area studies. UNSW provides its students, from the beginner’s through to the Postgraduate levels, with a learning community in which to use Japanese to collaborate and interact with native speakers in Sydney and in cyber space. Classes are typically divided into lectures and smaller tutorial groups to maximise individual attention from staff and provide you with ample opportunities to interact in Japanese.
Students of Japanese Studies at UNSW have the opportunity to:
- Develop Japanese language skills to prepare them for engagement in professional in both global and domestic arenas
- Acquire a strong awareness of Japan’s culture, history and society
- Graduate with the skills to use a variety of technological media
- Become a part of our supportive community of Japanese studies graduates
Download the Japanese Studies Information Brochure (PDF) (1 Mb)
Careers
Japanese linguistic, socio-linguistic, and socio-cultural skills are highly sought after in the Australian and international context and potential career opportunities for students are diverse. Japanese Studies graduates can be found working in the United Nations, the government e.g. Department of Foreign Affairs, the corporate and tourism sectors and in language education, law and research.
International Opportunities
Students are able to participate in yearly or half-yearly exchange programs with leading Japanese universities as a way of experiencing the culture first-hand and improving their intercultural and communicative skills. UNSW has exchange programs in place with a number of prestigious universities in Japan, including Kyoto, Waseda and Keio Universities.
Ritsumeikan Winter Short Term Program
Program Information
Which degrees can I study Japanese in?
Japanese can be studied as a major or minor within the Bachelor of Arts or you can combine it with other areas of study, for example:
- Major within the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Economics
- Stream within the four-year Bachelor of International Studies
- Minor in the Bachelor of Science
- Elective courses for most degrees
Honours and postgraduate study are also available.
Practical Experience
- All students are encouraged to engage in practical cultural, social and academic activities outside of class, such as email correspondence with a Japanese student, Japanese cultural festivals, speech and essay competitions and the Japanese language proficiency test.
- Visitor sessions that provide students with opportunities to communicate with Japanese in language classes of all levels.
- Internship with Japan-related organisations in Sydney
Program Coordinator: Dr Kazue Okamoto
View Japanese Studies options in the UNSW Handbook
Resources
2012 Courses
View course descriptions and course outlines.
