Major Programmes

The major programme in Japanese Studies is an intensive and rigorous undergraduate programme that includes training in both Japanese language and in Japanese culture and society. The highlight of the program is a year of study at a university in Japan as an exchange student. The Department has exchange partner relationships with over 19 top universities in Japan in areas such as Kyushu, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Students may apply for scholarships to help cover expenses of the exchange program. In addition to attending classes in Japan, all students are expected to complete a major field-research project and, based on this research, to submit a final-year project in their third-year of study. In the first and second years of study, major students are required to take courses in Japanese language (available for students with different levels of previous training), Japanese culture and society, and field-research methods. The third-year is spent in Japan. In their forth year of study, students return to the Chinese University where they meet with their research supervisors to write their final-year project, and take elective courses in Japanese language and studies, along with other courses required by the University.

Minor Programmes

To get the most current information of JAS minor programmes for your curriculum, please refer to the Browse Program Information section in CUSIS.

Help on the Browse Program Information section in CUSIS as of 2013/09/12.

Direct link to the Browse Program Information section in CUSIS as of 2013/09/12.

Other Short-Term Exchange Programmes

The Department hosts several summer exchange programme every year.

2019 Oita Homestay Programme	2019 Karaimo Homestay Programme	2019 KAPIC Programme

Related Download:

(Chinese Language Only)

Points to note

Online Application

What do our graduates say?

Kimmey Ho

2008 Graduate Senior Administrative Officer (Strategy Development), Office of the Government Chief Information Officer

Lap Man

1997 Graduate Chief Executive Officer, Diyixin.com Ltd.

Luk Sau Man, Ashley

Between September 2011 and August 2012, I was in Tokyo University of Foreign Studies for an exchange.

Yung Sui Na, Iris

Ms. Iris Yung, 2012 graduate, studied how people with intellectual disabilities (ID) find work in the city of Nagoya.

Cassini Cheung

Working in Japanese company, Mitsui & Co. (H.K.) Ltd., was a great opportunity. Even though the internship programme only lasted a few weeks, the lessons that I have learnt will last a lifetime.

Taught Programme - Master of Arts in Japanese Studies

Taught Programme – Master of Arts in Japanese Studies

Master of Arts in Japanese Studies
(Study Mode: Part-time)
The Programme aims to provide a rigorous education in Japanese studies from inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary perspectives for students who have not majored in Japanese studies or Japanese language programmes, and for students who have majored in Japanese studies and who would like to build upon their knowledge with advanced study in specialized topics. The Programme offers language-related courses for students who have already achieved high levels of Japanese language proficiency (N1 on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test).

At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:

identify and critically analyze major social science theories and approaches in the study of Japanese society and culture
identify and articulate key social and cultural issues affecting modern Japan
recognize and apply appropriate approaches in understanding a variety of social and cultural issues in Japan, think critically and constructively about Japan, and be able to apply critical thinking to analyze other societies and take positive actions in everyday situations

Qualifications for Admission

All applicants shall have:

graduated from a recognized university and obtained a Bachelor’s degree, normally with honours not lower than Second Class; or
graduated from an honours programme of a recognized university with a Bachelor’s degree, normally achieving an average grade of not lower than “B”; or
Completed a course of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.

English Language Proficiency:

To fulfill the University’s minimum English language requirements for admission to postgraduate programmes, applicants should have:

1. obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong¹ or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English; or

2. achieved scores in the following English Language tests² as indicated:

1. TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based)/79 (Internet-based);

2. IELTS (Academic): 6.5;

3. GMAT (Verbal): Band 21; or

3. obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:

1. Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level);

2. Hong Kong Higher Level Examination;

3. CUHK Matriculation Examination;

4. General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level); or

4. achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination; or

5. obtained a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English.

Notes:

1. This is based on the understanding that English is the medium of instruction of degree programmes offered by universities in Hong Kong. Moreover, graduates from universities in Hong Kong should have fulfilled the English language requirements of the institution concerned when they were admitted to the degree programmes. The CUHK Graduate School may request applicants to provide additional supporting documents to prove their English proficiency.

2. TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT is considered valid for five years from the test date.

Please refer to the General Requirements of the Graduate School. Knowledge of Japanese Language is not required.

Graduation Requirements
Students are required:

to complete 24 units of courses with at least 3 units selected from the core course list (* actual course offerings vary from year to year)
to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0

If a student fails a course, s/he must enroll in an additional 3-unit course and receive a passing grade in order to complete the degree. A supplementary course fee is applied.

Duration (Part-time):
Normative Study Period: 2 years
Maximum Study Period: 4 years

Tuition Fee:
HK$115,000 for the whole programme within normative study period (Subject to review)

Continuing Education Fund (CEF) – for students admitted in 2020-21 and thereafter:
This course has been included in the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund.
This course is recognized under the Qualifications Framework (QF Level 6).
CEF Course Title : Master of Arts in Japanese Studies
CEF Course Code : 38M122804
For eligibility and reimbursement procedure of CEF, please refer to https://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/cef.
More information to students who may apply CEF reimbursement, please check HERE.

To Browse Study Scheme 2020-21 version for reference, please click HERE

Inquiries
E-mail: MAJS@cuhk.edu.hk
Telephone: 3943-6479

2021-22 Admission Application Deadlines:

1st round: 1 December 2020

2nd round: 11 February 2021

3rd round: 31 March 2021

4th round: 22 April 2021

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until all places have been filled. Therefore, early applications are strongly encouraged. Applications submitted after 22 April 2021 may be considered, subject to availability of places.

Master of Arts in Japanese Studies 2021-22 Admission Brochure

Master of Arts in Japanese Studies 2021-22 Information Session

Master of Arts in Japanese Studies Course Offering for 2020-21

Research Programme - Articulated M.Phil - Ph.D. Programme in Japanese Studies

Information Session Powerpoint

The Articulated M.Phil.-Ph.D. Programme in Japanese Studies will accept applications for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Programme promotes the integration of teaching and research in Japanese studies at an advanced level. It aims to introduce students to integrate different disciplinary and methodological approaches, allowing them to develop as capable and independent researchers in Japanese studies. Students will be equipped with the necessary theoretical knowledge and research skills to boost their intellectual development and critical scholarship on Japanese, Japan-China and Japan-Hong Kong cultural studies. The Programme builds on the Department’s proven track record of graduate training in historical and contemporary studies of Japan, with the greater goal of advancing the multidisciplinary field of Japanese studies. The acquisition of these skills will be reflected in the course of doctoral studies as well as in the students’ theses.

Graduates of the Programme will acquire broad-based knowledge of Japan as well as expertise in one of the following fields of specialization: anthropology of Japan, Japanese popular culture, Japanese linguistics, history of Sino-Japanese relations, Japan-Hong Kong relations, or Japanese intellectual history; possess the necessary skills to conduct research at an advanced level; complete a thesis based on original research that contributes to Japanese studies; obtain oral presentation skills to fully explain their research aims, methodologies and conclusions; be able to defend their research claims when questioned by experts; and have the ability to present their findings at international conferences.

For more information, please visit the Graduate School Admission Website at https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/programme/arts#mphil-phd-in-japanese-studies.

Interested candidates may apply through the CUHK Graduate School Online Application System at https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/admissions/how-to-apply.

Applicants with strong academic qualifications are encouraged to apply through the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme at https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/scholarships-fees/hkpfs.

* Online Application *

Application Deadlines:

Applications for PhD Programme through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS): 1 December 2020, 12 noon Hong Kong Time.

Applications for M.Phil. – Ph.D. Programme directly with CUHK: 31 January 2021.

For further inquiries, please contact the Department at japanese-studies@cuhk.edu.hk.