BA Korean
SOAS University of London
Key Information
Campus location
London, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full-time fees per academic year: UK £9,250; Overseas £20,350
Introduction
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
From the study of pre-modern Korean literature and history to contemporary Korean cinema and TV. The BA Korean programme 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, and is suitable for both absolute beginners as well as those with some knowledge of the Korean language. Students will spend the second year of study in Korea furthering language proficiency and understanding of the local business practices and culture.
Why study Korean at SOAS?
- We are home to the largest concentration of Korean specialists in Europe.
- You will not only learn the essential language skills but also an in-depth understanding of the region’s culture covering subjects from literature, history, cinema, and politics.
- You will spend your second year in Korea furthering language and cultural proficiency.
- You will be able to flexibly structure your programme using our Open Options modules to take advantage of the expertise of our other departments.
- We are specialists in the delivery of more than forty African and Asian languages. Your command of a language will set you apart from graduates of other universities.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
Students take 120 credits per year composed of a core and guided modules, which allows for students to design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
In year 1, students concentrate on language study complemented by introductory modules on history and culture and academic writing skills.
In year 2 students will take further modules on language and history/culture.
In 2020, year 3 will be spent at SOAS. Students will take further language and history/culture modules. From 2021, the third year will be spent abroad at Korea University or Sogang University in Seoul, where they focus on intensive language training which is essential to any further study of the subject.
In year 4 students will further their language skills and take modules in history/stroke culture and write an independent study project.
Year 1
Core Module
This module must be passed in order to progress to the following year of study.
- K100: Elementary Korean 155900842 60 Full Year
*Lifeboat Option: If a student is struggling with K100, they will move to Korean 1B (155906029) in the 2nd semester & write an extended essay (155901421), then move to the BA East Asian Studies Programme
Compulsory Modules
Students must take the modules below:
- K-Culture
- East Asian Civilizations
- Reading and Writing East Asian Studies
Year 2
Core Module
This module must be passed in order to progress into the following year of study.
- K200 Intermediate Korean
Compulsory Modules
Students must take the modules below:
- East Asian Imperialism
- K-Culture
- Introduction to Hanja
Guided Option
Choose a module(s) from List A (at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) below to the value of 30 credits
and
Choose modules from List A/List B or Central options (at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) to the value of 30 credits
Year 3
*Year 3 (from 2021) Year Abroad: For information on the year abroad in Korea, please see the Teaching & Learning tab.
Compulsory Language Modules
Students choose modules below to the value of 60 credits
- K301 Korean Readings A
- K301 Korean Readings B
- K302: Korean Composition
- K303: Korean Conversation
- Introduction to Hanja
- Readings in Mixed Script Korean
Guided Option Modules
Choose modules from above or List A (at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) below to the value of 30 credits
and
Choose further modules from List A (at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) OR Central options below to the value of 30 credits
Year 4
Compulsory Modules
Students must take the modules below
- K401 Advanced Korean Readings I: Nation Building and Social Transformations
- K402 Advanced Korean Readings II: Gender, Culture and Society
- History and Memory in East Asian Cultures
- Independent Study Project in East Asian Studies
Guided Module
Choose a module(s) from List A (at the relevant FHEQ level for your academic year of study) below to the value of 30 credits.
and
Guided Options
Choose modules from List A/List B or Central options below to the value of 30 credits
Year 2/Year 3 - List A Guided option modules
FHEQ Level 5
- Gender in East Asian Literature (UG)
- East Asian Cinema (UG)
- Fieldwork methods in language and culture
Year 4 - List A Guided option modules
- Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature
- K403: Korean-English Translation
- The Other Korea: North Korea since 1945
- Readings in Mixed Script Korean
- K500: Directed Readings in Advanced Korean
- State and Society in Traditional Korea
Year 2/Year 4 - List B Guided Option Modules
FHEQ Level 5/6
- Nation and Identity in Contemporary Japan
- Gender and Society in Contemporary Japan
- Japanese Cinema: a Critical Survey
- Japanese New Wave Cinema: Youth, Sex and Protest
- Culture and Society of Taiwan
- Contemporary Chinese Society
- New Taiwan Cinema and Beyond
- Chinese Cultures on Screen and Stage
- Identity and social relations in Japanese
- Survey of Modern Japanese Literature in Translation
- Japanese Traditional Drama
- Modern Japanese Literature
- Self, City and Sexuality in Modern Japanese Literature 1868 to present-day
- Writing from the Margins: Minority Voices in Modern Japanese Literature, 1945 to the Present
- Contemporary Chinese Literary Texts
Year 2/ Year 4 - List B Language Modules
FHEQ Level 5
- Chinese 1 A
- Chinese 1 B
- Chinese 2
- Japanese 1 A
- Japanese 1 B
- Japanese 2
- Tibetan (Modern) 1 A
- Tibetan (Modern) 1 B
- Chinese 3
- Chinese 4
- Chinese 5
- Chinese for Business
- Ch 200 Intermediate Chinese
- Ch 400: Advanced Chinese
- Japanese 3
- Japanese 4
- J400: Advanced Japanese
Important notice
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department.
Career Opportunities
Employment
Studying this programme will provide students with competency in language skills as well as intercultural awareness and understanding.
Skills gained include:
- you will have gained competency in language skill
- intercultural familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion
- communication and presentation skills
- analytical skills
- the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources
Graduates from the Department leave SOAS not only with language and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
- Bloomberg L.P
- British High Commission
- British Council Seoul
- Deloitte Management Consulting Ltd.
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Korea Trade Organisation
- Korea Broadcasting Corporation
- Oxford University
- The British Embassy
- The British Museum
- Wall Street Associates
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Production
- US Marketing Executive
- Senior Research Executive
- Director of Development and Alumni Relations
- Project Leader, Strategic Planning
- Solicitor
- Architect
- Interactive Designer
- Freelance Korean Translator
English Language Requirements
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