Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University

The Japan Centre offers the three-year Bachelor of Asian Studies degree and the four-year specialist Bachelor of Asian Studies (Japanese) degree, as well as courses to students enrolled in other Faculties.

The four-year Bachelor of Asian Studies (Japanese) degree requires students to undertake one-year in-country training in Japan. This degree is designed to enable students to reach a higher level of competence in Japanese language and culture than can be achieved in the three-year degree. Selection for the Year in Japan is based primarily on academic performance. The program currently involves participation in an initial intensive language and culture course and subsequent language and disciplinary study at a Japanese university.

Higher level language courses focusing on academic Japanese and translation are available to returning students in their fourth year. The ANU has exchange agreements with seventeen Japanese universities and about 20 students per year proceed on exchange programs.

Japanese language courses

The Japanese language program offers a 48 unit major, spread over a minimum of 4 semesters (2 years). Spoken and written language are taught in separate sequences. In the first year, the beginning student takes Spoken Japanese 1 and 2 and Written Japanese A and B (6 units each), a total of 24 units. Students who already know some Japanese are placed in course(s) corresponding to their ability. The second year consists of Spoken Japanese 3 and 4, and Written Japanese C and D (6 units each), for a total of 24 units. Students who wish to study Japanese beyond this level have a number of advanced courses to choose from, focusing on both written and spoken Japanese.

The Japan Centre also offers a major in Japanese Linguistics and courses in Japanese Literature, and a postgraduate program in Japanese Applied Linguistics in conjunction with the School of Language Studies (Linguistics) in the Faculty of Arts.

The Undergraduate Handbook provides a comprehensive list of courses offered by the Faculty of Asian Studies.

Other Japan-related courses

The Centre for Asian Societies and Histories in the Faculty teaches non-language courses in Japanese history, religion and society. Courses in Japanese politics, economics and law are available in other Faculties.

Graduate studies in Japanese

Japanese studies may be undertaken for the Graduate Diploma, Master of Asian Studies, Master of Arts (Asian Studies), the MPhil and PhD.

The Japan Centre offers a graduate program in Japanese Applied Linguistics in conjunction with the School of Language Studies (Linguistics) in the Faculty of Arts.

Graduate programs at the ANU are administered by the Graduate School. Please refer to the Faculty Graduate Programs page for more information about the specialised graduate programs in Asian Studies.

Japan Club

The large and active Japan Club, for students of Japanese, organises events of various kinds throughout the academic year. Its activities are enriched by the presence of some 15 to 20 Japanese exchange students each year at the ANU.