East Asian studies for undergraduates

East Asia's rich history, vast population and diverse cultures make it a fascinating area of study. Its growing economic power and influence also make it an important pathway to employment. Study China, Japan or Korea and you'll start to open up these avenues.

Take a degree in East Asian Studies at Sheffield and you'll go one better. You'll join a department famed for its track record in employability and excellent language teaching. As well as language, you'll discover rich cultures, history, business practice and international relations. You'll belong to a warmly welcoming community and make new friends – both in the University and around the city. You'll be able to spend a year in east Asia, living, learning and having the experience of a lifetime.

It's a challenge, but it's a challenge worth taking. And we'll offer you all the support you need to be a success.

 Learn a language, live the culture

Language teaching is one of our biggest strengths. All our staff are fluent in at least one East Asian language. There's a lot of direct contact time between them and our students. We've already pioneered an amazing 'virtual' language lab using networking technology. And now we've built a brand new physical learning space – the East Asian Languages Hub – to complement it.

You don't need any previous knowledge of Korean, Japanese or Chinese languages to study with us. Once you start learning them at Sheffield, though, you'll be surprised how quickly you start to see the results.

Teaching and learning

But at the School of East Asian Studies we don't just talk the talk. Our students learn to understand the people and cultures of the region as well as the languages. Join us and you'll be immersed in societies, histories, politics and economics. (We even offer a degree course specially for students who decide to focus on the cultural angle more than language.)

This means you'll develop cultural agility as well as great language skills. You'll become a citizen of the world, with the confidence to travel and engage with people and organisations across east Asia and beyond. It's a great life skill – and invaluable in the workplace.

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Entry requirements and applying

A voyage of discovery

At home in Sheffield you'll get a chance to test and strengthen your new cultural agility through our links with the city's sizeable Chinese population and growing Korean community. Then you'll get to spend a whole year of your course in east Asia.

You'll join classes at Nanjing University in China, Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, or one of our many partner universities in Japan. Immerse yourself completely in the life and culture of the nation you're studying. Become self-assured and self-reliant, but make new friends. Push your language skills in the fast lane. Our students say it's a life-changing experience.

More about the year abroad

Perfect study space

Your year abroad is an unforgettable time. But as one of our students most of your activity and discovery will go on here in Sheffield. So we've made sure your learning space is the best it can be.

Located in a pretty Victorian cul-de-sac, the School of East Asian Studies has a laid-back but warmly welcoming atmosphere. There's study and teaching space, computing suites, and room to unwind with a cup of tea. It's just a short walk from the city centre and less than five minutes from central University facilities like our lecture theatres, students' union and the stunning Information Commons.

More about the School of East Asian Studies

Making it personal

Even better, you'll get all the support you need to make a success of your time with us. Sheffield's a university where the top academics are always on hand to chat and offer help to students when it's needed. Your personal tutor and student mentor will both be around to give guidance on any personal or academic issues that crop up.

After study, make new friends and have good times with our brand new, student-run East Asian Studies Society, which runs a year-round calendar of social events. And don't miss the wonderful meal cooked by our Korean staff for students at the end of term.

Top-class teaching in a friendly department, with a life-changing year abroad and great career prospects. That's the School of East Asian Studies.