Japanese Studies
Japanese Studies (B.A.)
If you are interested in both our Japanese course with the highest level in the German-speaking world and in fascinating social and cultural phenomena from Japan that are not completely westernized and are more of a mix of futuristic and traditional elements, then this course is for you!
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 6
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 50-150
- Subject group
- Economic Sciences, Law, Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- 2-subject Bachelor, Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- No Admissions Restrictions
What is the degree program about?
This degree program aims for students to acquire high-level knowledge of the Japanese language and basic knowledge of Japanese society, theories, methods, and current research topics in order to be able to conduct independent social and cultural science analyses.
The basic education in Japanese studies naturally also includes learning the Japanese language. The language program of the Erlangen Department of Japanese Studies is structured in such a way that students who initially study syllabic writing and special features of pronunciation are gradually introduced to independent communication and use of the target language. Our goal is to train students in such a way that in the 6th semester they are able to deal with Japanese literature for their final thesis.
The goal of this program is for students to conduct original research. To this end, we provide careful supervision by helping students to appropriately narrow down their research objects and select appropriate theories and methods. In supervising the thesis, we go to great lengths to ensure that undergraduate students are also encouraged to make a new contribution to previous research.
Social science research on Japan has become increasingly important in the German-speaking world in recent years. It is against this background that this course was founded, with the expectation that students will acquire a secure command of Japanese and deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and society with reference to previous research. The aim is not only to learn to deal with the German and English-language specialist literature, but also to analyze current Japanese specialist literature and Japanese primary sources such as newspaper articles and social media posts.
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This program consists of two parts: the language courses and the social and cultural studies content modules.
(Info about Japanese courses)
Our language education program spans five semesters and teaches beginner and intermediate level learning materials. Especially in the first two semesters, the proportion of language courses in the Japanese Studies program is quite large, with a total of 8 SWS – „Grammar“ (4 SWS), „Reading and Writing“ (2 SWS), and „Language Activation“ (2 SWS).Through the Japanese courses, students should not only learn to communicate orally and in writing in everyday life, but also acquire the competence to independently comprehend complex facts, e.g. in a newspaper article, using various aids. Our goal is to provide well-founded, broad-based and expandable language skills.
(Info on content modules)
This course teaches the fundamentals of Japanese studies in the first year of study through history classes, a propaedeutic course, and a methods seminar. Beginning in the second year, students are taught the skills necessary to engage with the research literature, analyze a variety of sources (primary and secondary), and present their findings orally and in writing. -
Our content modules focus on the following: social change with a focus on the use of social media (e.g., by radical right-wing activists or the post-Fukushima social movements with left-leaning approaches), energy policy, demographic change, gender roles (equality and misogyny), and ethnic minorities in Japan (e.g., the Korean minority). In addition, we provide students with basic knowledge of the media system, political institutions, and the labor market in Japan.
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Patience in learning a new language, the ability to handle data accurately, and an interest in current social issues, journalism, and politics are desired. Students with an interest in anime and Japanese subcultures are taught the basics of Japanese history and society in our program, which often enables a deeper understanding of the background of Japanese popular culture. Equipped with this knowledge, students can then write academic papers, for example on the analysis of anime.
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Very good Japanese language courses with the goal of independent research using Japanese sources, careful support during the semester abroad, teaching the skills of critical observation of society, knowledge transfer of methods and current research, and careful supervision of theses.
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Possible career paths after graduation include academia, journalism, diplomacy (e.g. at the German Foreign Office, the Japanese Embassy, or the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and the private sector (e.g. German companies in Japan, Japanese companies in Germany and Japan).
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We strongly recommend that students take a year in Japan between their fourth and fifth semesters. FAU’s Department of Japanese Studies maintains partnerships with numerous institutions in Japan (as of 2023: twelve locations) and can send its students there within the framework of these cooperation agreements, who thus benefit from special conditions – waiver of tuition fees, arrangement of dormitory accommodations, scholarships, etc. The secondment for two semesters takes place annually in the fall; for the preceding selection procedure, students of Japanese Studies in particular can apply as the first subject.
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Degree program combinations
- Archaeological Sciences
- Art History
- Book Studies
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural History of Christianity
- Education
- English and American Studies
- French Roman Studies
- German studies
- Greek Philology
- Hispanic Studies
- Islamic Religious Studies
- Italian Romance Studies
- Latin Philology
- Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
- Oriental Studies
- Political Science
- Scandinavian Studies (BA)
- Sociology
- Theater and Media Studies
Das Lehrangebot dieser Kombination ist so aufeinander abgestimmt, dass die Fächer in der Regel überschneidungsfrei miteinander kombiniert werden können.
Limited degree program combinations
- Business and Economics
- Computational Linguistics
- Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
- Geography: Cultural Geography
- History
- Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
- Philosophy
Diese Kombination kann nur nach einer diesbezüglichen Studienberatung studiert werden. Die Überschneidungsfreiheit kann jedoch nicht garantiert werden. Die Studierenden tragen selbst die Verantwortung für die Studierbarkeit der Kombination und die Einhaltung der Fristen des § 10. Der Nachweis einer Studienberatung ist bei der Immatrikulation vorzulegen.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- No Admissions Restrictions
- Application deadline winter semester
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30.09.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- General language skills
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Even though the language forms the basis of Japanology activities, prior knowledge of the Japanese language is not essential.
Language training begins with the teaching of the absolute basics, but then proceeds quite rapidly. Particular emphasis is placed on the acquisition of writing skills. In the course, materials in the original script are used from the beginning. The introduction to the two syllabic scripts, hiragana and katakana, is completed in the first few weeks, and then we move on to the kanji.
Those who want to take on this challenge and open up a new cultural territory for themselves should have a lot of motivation, discipline and perseverance. More information including tips for the preparations can be found on the institute homepage under the menu item „Studienanfänger“.
Nachweis ausreichender Kenntnisse zweier Fremdsprachen, darunter Englisch, bis zum Ende des 4. Semesters
- Details and notes
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The application deadline for the winter semester for international applicants is July 15th.
In addition to the general qualification for university entrance (Abitur), there are other access options for studying at FAU.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.