East Asian Religions and Cultures and Thai Studies

A Joint Honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each Single Honours course, but you’ll take fewer options and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects. You’ll study one of our Cornerstone modules in Year 1 to draw your two subjects together, and apply your knowledge and skills to a major research project in either subject in your final year.

East Asian Religions and Cultures

You’ll be introduced to East Asia’s main religious traditions and the texts that have underpinned them in Year 1, with optional modules giving you a broader understanding of approaches to studying religion and its role in the modern world. You’ll build on this in the following year with core modules on Buddhism and the religious landscape of China or Japan, and select optional modules to suit your interests. Your final year will give you further choice of modules on topics such as sociology of religion or religion and gender.

Thai Studies

In your first year intensive core language modules will develop your spoken and written Thai, and choose from optional modules on topics such as development in South East Asia or Japanese cultural history. Then you’ll travel to Thailand, where you’ll sharpen your language skills and experience Thai culture. When you return you’ll spend the next two years in advanced language classes and choose from further optional modules, where you’ll learn about recent Thai history and explore the fascinating cultures, societies and politics of countries across East Asia.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Introduction to Religious and Philosophical Texts of East Asia 20 credits
• Introduction to East Asian Religions 20 credits
• Basic Thai Language and Culture 1 20 credits
• Basic Thai Language and Culture 2 20 credits

Optional modules

• History and Culture of Early Imperial China 10 credits
• World Histories 20 credits
• Religion, Politics and Society in the Modern World 10 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Year Abroad in Thailand 120 credits

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• The Making of Modern Thailand 20 credits
• Intermediate Thai Language and Culture 1 20 credits
• Intermediate Thai Language and Culture 2 20 credits

Optional modules

• Religion in China 20 credits
• Religion in Japan 20 credits
• Buddhism: A Lived Tradition 20 credits

Year 4

Compulsory modules

You are required to study ONE of the following Final Year Project modules.

• Advanced Thai Language and Culture I 20 credits
• Advanced Thai language and Culture II 20 credits
• Final Year Project: Extended Essay 20 credits
• Final Year Project: Translation 20 credits

Optional modules

• Religion in China 20 credits
• Religion in Japan 20 credits