Program Overview

Key Information

Duration: 4 years Start of programme: September 2025 Attendance mode: Full-time Location: Campus Fees:

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

Entry Requirements

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

Course Overview

The BA Korean combined honours degree provides students 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.

This Korean degree programme 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. Additionally, the nature of the combined honours degree will allow you to create a specialist pathway for yourself by studying another subject. All students will spend year three in South Korea at either Korea University or Sogang University.

Why Study Korean Combined Honours at SOAS?

• We are 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)
• gain essential language skills but also have an opportunity to study modules on culture, history, literature, cinema, politics.
• spend your third year in Korea furthering language and cultural proficiency

Combined Courses

• BA History of Art and Korean (Year Abroad)
• BA International Relations and Korean (Year Abroad)
• BA Korean and Economics (Year Abroad)
• BA Korean and Global Development (Year Abroad)
• BA Korean and History (Year Abroad)
• BA Korean and Linguistics (Year Abroad)
• BA Korean and World Philosophies (Year Abroad)
• BA Law and Korean (Year Abroad)
• BA Music and Korean (Year Abroad)
• BA Politics and Korean (Year Abroad)
• BA Social Anthropology and Korean (Year Abroad)

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

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

Fees and Funding

Fees for 2025/26 Entrants per Academic Year

• Home students: £9,535
• Overseas students: £22,870

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.

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
• United Nations Development Programme