Traditional East Asia

In the first year, you will prepare a 2,000-word essay every two weeks.

You should have some proficiency in an East Asian language (Chinese, Korean or Japanese). A three-hour qualifying examination in a modern language is held at the end of the third term. If your proficiency in your main language is not up to academic standards you will prepare for an examination in that language. If on arrival your proficiency is up to academic standards you will choose a different modern East Asian language for research purposes and prepare for the examination in the selected language.

You will be required to follow a general course in Classical Chinese, Classical Japanese or Middle Korean for another three-hour qualifying examination at the end of the third term. Instruction may take the form of lectures, text classes or some combination of the two. You will prepare and present English translations in text classes. Depending on your ability you may be permitted to follow more than one classical language, but you must choose only one classical language for your qualifying examination.

You will attend a general overview graduate seminar, for which you receive a reading list and write four 2,000-word essays per term. Students meet together every two weeks in a 90-minute seminar to present the gist of their essays and discuss the topic at hand. The qualifying examination for the seminar consists of an assessment of your three best essays from the twelve prepared over the year. No marks are given, and you must choose and submit one essay at the end of each term that you feel presents the best of your work.

In the second year, you will spend a good portion of your time researching and writing your dissertations.

There are no modern language requirements in the second year, but you may opt to monitor or audit classes in a modern or classical language that you were unable to study or for which you would like further study.

The classical language requirement consists of reading prescribed texts in Classical Chinese or Classical Japanese or Middle Korean. Texts are chosen in consultation with one of the Course Coordinators and drawn from canonical literature in the areas of history, literature, and philosophy. The final examination is a three-hour written examination at the end of the second year. You have eight one-hour classes spread over three terms.

For the Bibliography and Methodology requirement, you will choose a country specialisation (Korea, China or Japan) and prepare answers to a series of exercises requiring you to find specific and general information in the classical bibliography of one of the three countries. You have eight one-hour classes spread over three terms.

You will also prepare a thesis of between 20,000 and 30,000 words, using information gathered through at least one East Asian language. You will present your interim research results at one public colloquium held at the end of the fifth term. The dissertation is due during the sixth term.

At the end of the sixth term, you will sit examinations in your chosen classical language and in bibliography and methodology on your chosen specialism.

Further information on the course and examinations can be found in the Course Handbook, which can be accessed via the faculty's course webpage.

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Oriental Studies and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Oriental Studies.

Oriental studies graduates have found employment in many and diverse fields including museology, libraries, journalism, diplomacy, but also international banking, business, law, government service, secondary education and non-governmental organisations.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the faculty

Contemporary Chinese Studies MSc
Modern Chinese Studies MPhil
Korean Studies MSt
Oriental Studies DPhil

All graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Oriental Studies

Bible Interpretation MSt

Buddhist Studies MPhil

Classical Armenian Studies MSt

Classical Hebrew Studies MSt

Classical Indian Religion MPhil

Contemporary Chinese Studies MSc

Cuneiform Studies MPhil

Eastern Christian Studies MPhil

Egyptology MPhil

Islamic Art and Archaeology MSt

Islamic Art and Archaeology MPhil

Islamic Studies and History MPhil

Islamic Studies and History MSt

Japanese Studies MPhil

Japanese Studies MSc

Jewish Studies MPhil

Jewish Studies MSt

Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period MSt

Jewish Studies in the Graeco-Roman Period MPhil

Korean Studies MSt

Modern Chinese Studies MPhil

Modern Middle Eastern Studies MSc

Modern Middle Eastern Studies MPhil

Modern South Asian Studies MSc

Modern South Asian Studies MPhil

Oriental Studies DPhil

Oriental Studies MSt

Syriac Studies MSt

Tibetan and Himalayan Studies MPhil

Traditional China MSt

Traditional East Asia MPhil

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Entry requirements