Program Overview

---

Key information

Start date

September

Duration

3 years

Start of programme

September 2025

Attendance mode

Full-time

Location

On Campus

Fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £22,870

Course code

T41A

Entry requirements

• ABB
• Contextual: BBB

International entry requirements

• Austria: Reifeprufungszeugnis / Maturazeugnis: four subjects at 1, 2, 2, 2
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs: 75% (7.5/10, 15/20) overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie: 5.3 and 5.0 in two State Maturity Exams
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Canada: High School Diploma: 80% with 5 acceptable Grade 12 subjects (most territories). British Columbia: AABBB in Grade 12 courses.
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• China: Senior Secondary Graduation Certificate + Gaokao: 78% overall in Gaokao PLUS 85% overall in Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate (year 11 and 12)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Croatia: Matura Certificate: 4.5 overall with 5 in 1 Higher level subject
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Cyprus: Apolytirion with 2 A-Levels: Apolytirion 18/20 + A-level grades BB
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Czech Republic: Matura Certificate: 1, 2, 2, 2
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Denmark: Studentereksamen; Hojere Forberedelseseksamen; Hojere Handelseksamen; Hojere Teknisk Eksamen: 7 plus 10, 7, 7 in three Level A subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Estonia: Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus: 4.0 with 85%, 80%, and 80% in 3 state exams
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Finland: Ylioppilastukint / Studentexamen: four subjects at 6, 5, 5, 5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• France: French Baccalaureat or Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB): 13/20
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Germany: Abitur: 1.8
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Greece: Apolytirion of Geniko Lykeio with Pan Hellenic exams: 18/20
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 544 in two electives and one core (all other subjects grade 3)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Hungary: Matura (Erettségi): 4.5 overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Iceland: Stúdentspróf: 7.5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• India: Standard XII: 75% (CBSE, CISCE, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & West Bengal boards), 80% (all other state boards)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H2, H2, H3, H3
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Israel: Bagrut: Overall grade of 7, 80% with 3 subjects at 5-unit level
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Italy: Diploma Consequito con L’Esame di Stato: 80% overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Latvia: Certificate of General Secondary Education: 88% in four State subject exams
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas: 8.5/10 and 90%, 85%, 85% in three State Exam
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Malta: Advanced Matriculation Certificate: AB (Advanced) + BBB (Intermediate)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs: 7.5 overall with 8, 8, 7, 7 in four subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Norway: Vitnemål vidergaende opplaering: 4.3 overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Poland: New Polish Matura: 75% in three Advanced Level subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Portugal: Diploma de Ensino Secundario: overall 17.5/20
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat: 8.5 overall
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Singapore: Polytechnic Diploma (Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Singapore, Temasek and Republic Polytechnic): GPA 3.3
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Slovakia: Maturitná skúška / Maturita / Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške: four subjects at 1, 2, 2, 2
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• South Africa: National Senior Certificate: 77666
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Spain: Curso de Orientación Universitaria / Título de Bachillerato: 7.5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Sweden: Slutbetyg / Examensbevis från Gymnasieskolan: A in 1200 credits and no grades below D / 18 / mainly B overall (MVG/VG)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Switzerland: Federal Maturity Certificate: 4.5
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Tanzania: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education: ACSE with BBB in 3 principle subjects
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Trinidad and Tobago: CAPE: Six CAPE units with grade 2 (+two double-unit courses)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• Turkey: Lise Diplomasi: 78-83% (depending on high school)
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB
• USA: High School Diploma plus ACT, SAT, or AP exams:
  • High School Diploma GPA 3.0 plus SAT 1280 or ACT 27 and 2 AP's at 4,4 or
  • High School Diploma GPA of 3.2 plus 2 AP's at 4,4 or
  • High School Diploma GPA 3.4 plus SAT 1300 or ACT 29 or
  • 2-year Associate degree GPA 3.1
• A Level equivalent: ABB
• Contextualised offer: BBB

Course overview

The BA East Asian Studies combines the study of both East Asian languages and East Asia-related subjects in various disciplines.

In this degree, there is a far greater emphasis on gaining a broader understanding of East Asia as a region, across a wide range of disciplines, than in our region-based degrees.

In addition to the disciplinary modules, you will be also able to study a Chinese, Japanese or Korean language module each year. The flexible structure of the degree allows you to study a different language each year or to progress through a sequence of levels in just one language. We can accommodate complete beginners or more experienced learners.

Progression through a total of four levels of language (up to approximately C1 in the CEFR) is offered, whereas for those who exceed the highest level, language-based modules in literature and film, as well as a language-based dissertation, are available.

Why study East Asian Studies at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked 13th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2025)
• We are ranked 6th in the UK for Asian Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)
• SOAS is home to the largest concentration of East Asian specialists in Europe

Structure

Students take 120 credits per year composed of core, compulsory and guided modules.

• Year 1: students take 30 credits of East Asian history, 15 credits of academic writing, 30-60 credits of language, and 15 to 45 credits of popular culture.
• Year 2: student continue with language learning, either on the same language as studied in Year 1 or on another East Asian language module at an approved level. Modules on culture, history, literature are also available this year.
• Year 3: student continue with language learning, either on the same language studies previously or on another East Asian language module at an approved level. Student will write an Independent Study Project in their final year. Further modules on culture, history, literature are also available this year.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Teaching and learning

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 60, 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are taught over one term or the full year. It also shows which modules are compulsory and which are optional.

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others.

Year abroad

The BA East Asian Studies does not include a year abroad.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Fees and funding

Fees for 2025/26 entrants per academic year

Programme| Full-time
---|---
Home students| Overseas students
BA, BSc, LLB| £9,535| £22,870BA/BSc Language year abroad| £1,385| £11,430

See undergraduate fees for further details.

Employment

Graduates from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures develop competencies in intercultural awareness, analysis and communication. Demand for specialists with advanced proficiency in the languages of China, Japan and Korea has significantly increased in recent years, and graduates with these skills are highly sought after by employers.