Bachelor of Arts (BA)

BA East Asian Studies

Gain a critical appreciation of cultures, histories, societies, economics and politics in East Asian countries.
  • Duration: 3 years
  • Year of entry: 2026
  • UCAS course code: T300 / Institution code: M20

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Overview

Course overview

  • Gain an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the East Asian region's cultures, histories, societies, economics and politics, while studying in Western Europe's most linguistically diverse city.
  • Take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of East Asia with a course that can be tailored to your needs.
  • Have the option to study Chinese, Korean or Japanese
  • Ranked a UK Top 10 for East and South Asian Studies by The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
Telephone
+44 (0)161 509 2871
Email
Website
http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk
School/Faculty overview

See: About us

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

A-level

ABB including one essay based/humanities subject.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

A-level contextual offer

BBC including one essay based subject.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

Contextual offers are available for applicants who:

  • live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
  • live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
  • have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

UK refugee/care-experienced offer

BBC including one essay based subject.

Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.

Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.

UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:

  • have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
  • have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).

See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.

International Baccalaureate

34 points overall. 6,5,5 in Higher Level subjects

Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.

GCSE/IGCSE

Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.

Other entry requirements

Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.

Academic entry qualification overview

Grades ABB

Country-specific entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see accepted entry qualifications from your country .

English language requirements

All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:

GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade 6/B, or;

IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component, or;

An acceptable equivalent qualification.

Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of  our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications  or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.

If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found  here .

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years.

Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Fees and funding

Fees

Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Application and selection

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

Home-schooled applicants

If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.

You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.

We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.

If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice, please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.

Non-standard educational routes

Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.

Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.

The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates.If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.

Further information for mature students can be found on our How to apply page.

Returning to education

Applications from mature students are welcomed and considered on an individual basis.

Overseas (non-UK) applicants

We warmly encourage overseas applicants to apply. We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see accepted entry qualifications from your country .

Deferrals

We welcome applications for deferred entry and feel a gap year benefits many students.

We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possibleif they are intending to defer.

This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in orderto achieve the required number of students in a given year.

Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications

If you have re-sat individual modules to improve your grades, we will consider your application according to the standard selection process.

If you are planning to re-sit the final Year 13 examinations, or have already done so, the University will consider your application, but we may require further information in order to make an informed judgment on your application.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.

In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.

We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course.

If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements.

In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.

Transfers

We will consider applications to transfer to Manchester from other universities and would normally ask for a letter explaining why a transfer was needed,relevant transcripts, a copy of the applicant's UCAS form and a confidential reference from one of the applicant's current university tutors.

We will consider applications to transfer from other degrees within the University of Manchester but applicants are required to have the A-level grades (or other qualifications) needed for entry to that degree programme.

Both of the above are subject toour having enough places to accommodate such applicants.

Enquiries should be made to the admissions administrator for the subject (see contact details).

Course details

Course description

BA East Asian Studies will provide you with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the East Asian region, with a focus on China and Japan, and the region's cultures, histories, societies, economics and politics.

You will gain a critical appreciation of the complex contemporary realities in East Asian countries, as well as the changing position of these countries in an ever-changing international context.

This course aims to provide you with the knowledge and critical tools needed to understand East Asia in the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as an appreciation of the major historical events and social movements that have made East Asian countries what they are today.

East Asia is studied both as an economically connected region with overlapping histories, languages and cultural identities and as a diverse group of countries and peoples with divergent political systems and contemporary cultures.

By the end of your degree, you will possess the socio-cultural understanding and analytical skills needed to embark upon more long-term professional or academic engagements with the East Asian region and will have acquired a more international perspective on the world as it stands today and as it has developed over the course of history.

You will have the option of learning some Chinese, Japanese or Korean language as part of your studies, although East Asian Studies is not a language-intensive degree programme.

You can tailor your degree according to your interests and professional ambitions, and from the second year onwards can choose from a wide range of courses on topics including:

  • contemporary art;
  • literature;
  • religion;
  • media;
  • popular culture;
  • business;
  • anthropology;
  • history;
  • economics;
  • politics.

Aims

We aim to provide you with:

  • the knowledge and critical tools to understand East Asia in the 20th and 21st centuries;
  • appreciation of the major historical events and social movements that have made East Asian countries what they are today;
  • an understanding of East Asia as both an economically connected region with overlapping histories, languages and cultural identities, and a diverse group of countries and peoples with divergent political systems and contemporary cultures;
  • the socio-cultural understanding and analytical skills needed to embark upon more long-term professional or academic engagements with the East Asian region;
  • a more international perspective on the world as it stands today and as it has developed over the course of history.

Special features

Placement year option

Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a placement year in Year 3, enabling you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals and build external networks.

Study abroad

You may be able to study one semester abroad in a country in East Asia. It will strengthen your languages skills and employability in many ways and provide a valuable and inspirational life experience.

Equipping you with transferable skills to aid your future career, including:

  • a diverse and knowledgeable worldview;
  • cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability;
  • the ability to rise to new challenges using initiative;
  • enhanced self-confidence and leadership skills;
  • demonstration of effective cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills.

Societies

The University is home to more than 30 international and language-related student societies offering a breadth of cultural activities and experiences.

Learn more about colloquialisms in language through native speakers and take part in discussion groups and socials.

Some of our societies also coordinate trips abroad to language-specific destinations.

Join the Japan Society North West or Manchester University Chinese Students Society and enjoy exciting cultural events, including Japan Day and Chinese New Year celebrations.

Manchester China Institute

Benefit from the expertise which promotes research, teaching, and learning about China across the University, with a focus on the Humanities.

The Institute's vision is to foster a better understanding of China's expanding role in a rapidly globalising world.

Teaching and learning

You will be taught through a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and tutorials.

You will spend approximately 12 hours each week in formal study sessions, and for every hour spent at the University you will be expected to complete a further 2-3 hours of independent study.You will also need to study during the holiday periods.

Your individual study component could be spent:

We will provide individual learning support to help you take control of your learning and develop your confidence.

Our peer support scheme is one of the largest in Europe. Peer mentors are higher-year students on the same degree programme as you, who will help you find your feet when you arrive here and adjust to student life.

As they will have already been a student at Manchester for at least a year, they should be able to help you with anything you might be worried or unsure about.

Study with us and you will also be assigned an academic adviser who is there to give advice about any academic issues throughout the duration of your course.

Your adviser will be able to help you with the transition from school/college to university - and can help you get to grips with studying and learning more independently.

They will also be able to help you develop your skills in academic writing or research, or any other skills that are specific to your degree programme.

Coursework and assessment

You will be assessed in various ways, including:

  • written and oral examinations;
  • presentations;
  • coursework (which may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research);
  • in your final year, a dissertation based on a research topic of your choice.

Assessment methods vary from course unit to course unit - see individual course unit listings for more information.

Course content for year 1

Single Honours students will study between 80 and 120 credits in East Asian Studies.

Core units include Introduction to Chinese Studies and Introduction to Japanese Studies.

With special permission from the Programme Director, you may be able to choose up to 40 credits in Chinese, Japanese or Korean language.

Course units for year 1

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CHIN10050 20 Mandatory
JAPA10030 20 Mandatory
CHIN12521 20 Optional
JAPA10111 20 Optional
JAPA13222 20 Optional

Course content for year 2

Choose from a range of course units on various aspects of East Asia, including politics, business, economics, history, literature, anthropology, society, art and science.

With special permission from the Programme Director, you may be able to choose up to 40 credits in Chinese, Japanese or Korean language.

Course units for year 2

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CHIN12521 20 Optional
CHIN20071 20 Optional
CHIN28572 20 Optional
CHIN51042 20 Optional
JAPA10111 20 Optional
JAPA13222 20 Optional
JAPA20112 20 Optional
JAPA20131 20 Optional
JAPA20211 20 Optional
JAPA20311 20 Optional

Course content for year 3

You will continue developing your interests and can either continue with a similar range of subjects to Year 2 or branch out into new disciplines and topics.

Students are encouraged to take free choice course units related to East Asia within History, Sociology, Business, Economics, Religion and Screen Studies.

With special permission from the Programme Director, you may be able to choose up to 40 credits in Chinese, Japanese or Korean language.

Course units for year 3

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
CHIN32012 20 Optional
CHIN35221 20 Optional
CHIN38682 20 Optional
JAPA33082 20 Optional
JAPA34411 20 Optional
LALC30000 40 Optional

Facilities

The University Language Centre is home to language resources, including a new interpreting suite, purpose-built recording rooms and resources for over 70 languages.

The Centre also offers multilingual word processing, language learning software, off-air recording and AV duplication, multilingual terrestrial and satellite TV, and extensive support and advice for learners.

Learn more on the Facilities page.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

The University of Manchester has an excellent reputation for employability, and we are the second most targeted university by the nation's top employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research).

Employers actively recruit our graduates for their excellent communications skills and in-depth intercultural understanding - each crucial in a range of sectors, from international business to relief work and development.

Study with us, and you will graduate with highly sought-after transferable skills, including:

  • self-motivation;
  • leadership;
  • adaptability;
  • problem-solving;
  • critical thinking.

You will enhance your understanding and appreciation of diversity by learning about the attitudes and values of other cultures.

Studying with us will open the door to an exceptionally broad range of careers, and employers are quick to identify skills in creative communication, observation and analysis, open-mindedness and resourcefulness.

Our graduates also pursue postgraduate study or further vocational training to become accountants, lawyers, teachers (in the UK or abroad) or enter the Civil Service.

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.