East Asian Studies Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

This degree allows you to shape your studies across China, Japan, and Korea while developing practical analytical and intercultural skills valued by employers. You will also have the opportunity to spend a year abroad which will prepare you to engage with a region central to global affairs.

Explore the rich and intertwined cultures of Japan, Korea and China at the School of Languages, Arts and Societies. Our academics use their expertise of the individual countries and the wider region in both their teaching and research across East Asia.

East Asian studies offers you a wide range of modules taught by lecturers who do cutting-edge research on the region. You could study Chinese, Japanese and Korean language through our rigorous language specialist pathway, follow a non-specialist programme, or focus on critical studies work in disciplines such as anthropology, history, film, sound and media studies, literature and politics. A number of modules link theory with practice and use real-world case studies to help you apply your learning and enhance your employability.

Taking a transnational approach, the course prepares you to engage with global issues in a variety of professional contexts. In your final year, you'll bring your training together to research and write a dissertation project on a topic of your choice, supported by world-leading researchers.

Why study this course?

* Top 10 in the UK for Asian Studies - Complete University Guide 2026


* A long history of teaching across the region - Sheffield is the only major university outside London with expertise in all three countries. We have more than 60 years of experience researching and teaching about East Asia


* You have flexibility and choice - Two distinctive pathways available; the Language Specialist Pathway and the Cultural Studies Specialist Pathway. This creates greater flexibility in your language learning journey, while also allowing you to explore the subjects you're passionate about.


* Year abroad in East Asia - The year abroad in East Asia is a life changing experience where you will be able to utilise your language skills while immersed in a completely new environment and develop genuine intercultural confidence, curiosity and adaptability.