BA Korean

Program Overview

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The BA Korean programme provides you with the highest level of competence in all aspects of the written and spoken language, as well as an introduction to both classical and modern Korean culture - from the study of pre-modern Korean literature and history, to contemporary Korean cinema and TV.

The BA Korean is suitable for both absolute beginners as well as those with some knowledge of the Korean language.

Students will spend the third year of study in Korea furthering language proficiency and understanding of the local business practices and culture.

Why study Korean at SOAS?

we are ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2023)

gain essential language skills but also an in-depth understanding of the region’s culture covering subjects from literature, history, cinema, and politics

spend your third year in Korea furthering language and cultural proficiency

flexibly structure your programme using our central options modules to take advantage of the expertise of our other departments

Program Outline

Students take

120 credits per year

composed of core and guided modules, which allows for students to design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

Year 1:

students concentrate on language study complemented by introductory modules on history and culture and academic writing skills.

Year 2:

students will take further modules on language and history/culture.

Year 3: t

he third year will be spent at a university in South Korea where the focus will be on intensive language training.

Year 4:

students will further their language skills and take modules in history/stroke culture and write an independent study project.

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.

Year 1

Core module

This module must be passed in order to progress to the following year of study.

Module	Credits
K100: Elementary Korean	60

*Lifeboat option:

If a student is struggling with K100, they will move to

Korean 1B

(155906029) in the second semeseter and write an extended essay (155901421), then move to the BA East Asian Studies Programme

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Compulsory modules

Students must take the modules below:

Module	Credits
K-Culture	15
East Asian Civilizations	30
Reading and Writing East Asian Studies	15

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Year 2

Core module

This module must be passed in order to progress into the following year of study.

Module	Credits
K200 Intermediate Korean	30

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Compulsory modules

Students must take the modules below

Module	Credits
Contemporary Korean Society	15
East Asian Imperialisms	15
Introduction to Hanja	15

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Guided option

Choose a module from

Year 2 - List A

to the value of 15 credits.

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And

Choose modules from

Year 2 - L

ist A or

open options

(at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) to the value of 30 credits.

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Year 3

All students spend their third year in South Korea at one of the universities listed below, following successful completion of their second year. Students indicate preferences, but final allocation will be determined by the department.

Korea University

Seoul National University

Sogang University

Kyung Hee University

Pai Chai University

Kyemyung University

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Year 4

Compulsory modules

Students must take the modules below

Module	Credits
K400: Advanced Korean	15
History and Memory in East Asian Cultures	15
Independent Study Project in East Asian Studies	30

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Guided module

Choose a module(s) from

Year 4

- List A

to the value of 30 credits.

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And

Guided options

Choose modules from

Year 4 - List A, List B or

open options

to the value of 30 credits.

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Year 2 - List A

Guided option modules

FHEQ Level 5

Module	Credits
Myths, Legends and Folkways of East Asia	15
Gender in East Asian Literature (UG)	15
East Asian Cinema (UG)	15
Fieldwork methods in language and culture	15

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Year 4 - List A

Guided option modules

Module	Credits
Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature and Film	15
K401: Korean-English Translation	15
The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945	15
Culture and Society in Traditional Korea	15

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Year 4 - List B

Guided option modules

FHEQ Level 6

Module	Credits
Modernity, Nation and Identity in Japanese History (1853-1945)	15
Culture and Society of Taiwan	15
Chinese Cinema (UG)	15
Identity and social relations in Japanese	15
Japanese Traditional Drama	15
Japanese Cinema (UG)	15
Literature, Politics and National Identity in Modern China	15

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List B

Language modules

Module	Credits
Chinese 1 A	15
Chinese 1 B	15
Chinese 2	30
Japanese 1 A	15
Japanese 1 B	15
Japanese 2	30
Chinese 3	30
Chinese 4	30
Chinese 5	15
Chinese for Business	15
Japanese 3	30
Japanese 4	30

Modern language teaching involves classroom work and independent study. A few non-language modules are taught through a formal lecture. The single and combined degree programmes are examined through oral and written examinations and coursework or reports.

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Contact hours

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.

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.

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Year abroad

All students spend their third year in South Korea at one of the universities listed below, following successful completion of their second year. Students indicate preferences, but final allocation will be determined by the department.

Korea University

Seoul National University

Sogang University

Kyung Hee University

Pai Chai University

Kyemyung University

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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.

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.

Recent graduates have been hired by organisations including:

Accenture

Amazon

Bloomberg LP

Department for Work and Pensions

European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea

European Commission

Google

ITN

Japanese Government

Korea Trade Centre (KOTRA)

KPMG

Mizuho Bank

Nagahama Board of Education

Nanjing Museum

Pinsent Masons LLP

PwC

Seoul Metropolitan Government

Shelterbox

UNDP

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