Interested? See

BA (Hons)

Asia Pacific Studies

Attendance

Campus

Start

Interested? Click to find out more about how to apply

Duration

3 Years

Start

September 2022

UCAS Code

See individual language details

Delivery

Campus Taught

Foundation Entry

Explore the culture, politics and international role of the Asia Pacific while becoming fluent in language from the region – laying the foundation for a huge variety of exciting career paths.

Asia Pacific countries have a huge influence in today’s global economy. The modules you’ll study on this course will offer a well-rounded appreciation of why. You’ll study your chosen language – whether Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Russian – intensively at our campus in Preston, before gaining invaluable experience with a year spent in the region.

While the course is built on a foundation of advanced language skills, it brings together expertise from a wide variety of different areas. You’ll gain insight into the culture, society, history, economy, international relations and politics of the Asia Pacific, giving you the fullest picture of the character and way of life in the region.

It’s this mix that sets our graduates apart from others. You don’t need any previous knowledge of the language to get started. But by the time you graduate, you should leave us a confident communicator, with a range of transferrable skills and a good understanding of the region – ready for work in a multitude of industries in or engaged with the Asia Pacific.

Why study with us

Asian Studies at University of Central Lancashire is ranked 2nd in the North West and top 10 nationally for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2022)
Our Confucius Institute is a partnership between ourselves, Beijing International Studies University and Hanban, promoting Chinese culture and language.
We’re home to the only Institute of Korean Studies outside London, together with the Northern England Policy Centre for the Asia Pacific, the Northern Institute of Taiwan Studies and the Centre for Austronesian Studies.

Interested?

Download

Lynn Everson gives her advice to language students

What you'll do

Each year, you’ll study the region’s history, economy and culture, together with modules following your chosen language pathway.
You’ll have the option of spending a year studying abroad, learning the language and culture through total immersion.
You’ll study using the latest industry-standard equipment in our professional interpreting suites, together with our Worldwise Learning Centre.

Level
Chinese (ab initio), for students who have limited or no knowledge of the language and will be able to learn the basics.

UCAS code

Chinese T100

Studying Chinese
Learning Chinese (Mandarin) at the University of Central Lancashire is a truly transformative process. You’ll be able to grasp the language spoken by most people in the world, explore its fascinating history and culture, and embrace the wide-ranging opportunities offered by the second largest economy. It will lead you down a path where you meet experts in Chinese studies, experience various cultural activities, and understand the outside world from different perspectives such as cultures, politics and histories.

Learning Chinese could be a big challenge for you, but it will also be one of the most rewarding experiences that you gain.

As the world’s second largest economy, China is a new land of opportunities, attracting growing attention on the world stage. With Chinese language competence and cross-culture communication skills, you will widen your horizon. You will also gain related important soft skills that many employers are looking for, such as ‘a strong work ethic’ and ‘adaptability’.

Another notable highlight is the opportunities to visit China. The Chinese courses draw on the support of our Confucius Institute and our extensive links with China to include an intensive summer study tour in Beijing at the end of Year 1, and a full year abroad at the end of Year 2.

Why choose Chinese?

We offer a wide range of Chinese modules at the University for intensive and non-intensive learning. The contact hours of language and content lessons are very generous. For example, you will have 8-14 contact hours of Chinese language and content lessons per week in Year 1 and Year 2. Sufficient help and support from teachers are available inside and outside classroom. With the content-based modules, you’ll also develop a real understanding of how the Chinese language and civilisation have evolved over time to reflect the world views it takes today.
The year abroad keeps the cohesion of the two parts of Chinese language and business studies by including a study placement at a Chinese university and an internship in an international company based in China, the only undergraduate course with an embedded work placement in the UK.
We provide 360-degree support on your Chinese learning journey. You will not be alone in our learning community. You can gain advice from senior students at Peer Assisted Study Session, academic and personal guidance from your academic advisors and other support from a broader university student support network. We also offer wide-ranging extra-curricular activities organised by the Confucius Institute, the China Research Centre and student-led Chinese Society.

No matter whether you are a total beginner or someone with prior Chinese learning experience, we are happy to accommodate your learning needs. If you are ready to explore the world of Chinese, join us and we will work with you to get where you aim to be.

Level
Japanese (ab initio), for students who have limited or no knowledge of the language and will be able to learn the basics.

UCAS code

Japanese 6D49

Studying Japanese
Challenging, but rewarding, Japanese is one of the most studied languages. Japanese language skills enable you to dive into a society in which tradition meets modernity. You will learn how to write in three different scripts and experience the beauty of the spoken language. But learning Japanese is not just about learning a language, but rather experiencing a culture with a rich history and world-famous literary tradition.

You’ll learn how to communicate efficiently in written and spoken Japanese with an appropriate degree of fluency and accuracy in a range of situations. Get to grips with translating/interpreting between English and Japanese texts/speeches of a varied nature in a number of registers and genres. You’ll get to demonstrate your language skills through interactive portfolios, presentations and creative writing.

You’ll also get the opportunity to take part in lectures given by staff and guest speakers representing major disciplines in the sphere of Japanese Studies. You are encouraged to get actively involved in Japan-related events and student-led associations. Working with your peers you’ll practise your Japanese skills with native speakers, including exchange students at the University.

And don’t miss our Classical Japanese reading group and lots of other Japanese language related sessions.

Why choose Japanese?

You can experience many facets of Japanese culture on campus before heading to one of our almost 30 partner universities in Japan for your period abroad. We cooperate with Japanese culture associations at the University and on a national level.
We offer a comprehensive exploration of Japanese language, culture and history with immediately applicable employment skills and competences (translation/interpreting, business Japanese).
We take pride in our research-led teaching approach: our lecturers are active in research and incorporate their own expertise into teaching a variety of modules (discourse analysis, gender and language, translation theory and practice, history and politics).

In addition to our extensive study abroad opportunities at a vast selection of partner institutions in Japan, you’ll be encouraged to apply for Japanese government scholarships to support your postgraduate studies. We have also referred candidates to the DAIWA foundation and the European Association for Japanese Studies. There is also the opportunity to be considered for academic prizes, such as the Ivan Morris Prize.

Level
Korean (ab initio), for students who have limited or no knowledge of the language and will be able to learn the basics.

UCAS code

Korean 2R49

Studying Korean
The Korean subject offers you a variety of modules including not only language learning, but also Korean history, culture, linguistics and politics.

Language learning starts from the absolute beginner level and conveys all four skills of speaking, reading, listening and writing. The classes are featured with interactive activities, together with conversation classes run by Korean native students, giving our students sufficient opportunities to practice and communicate using the language.

Besides the module setting, we provide many different experiences in the area of Korean studies. Korean speaking/poetry-making contests are held regularly every year, allowing you to explore more possibilities with your language.

Conferences and seminars invite scholars to bring in new frontier knowledge to share with you. We also organise the Korean Festival which students take a great part in making Korean food, trying traditional Korean dresses and K-pop.

In addition, the Korean Society is one of the largest student societies at the University. Liaising with them, we offer a buddy system for our students to connect with a Korean native student or students of different years in the Korean subject. It formulates a great learning-help environment for every one of our students.

Why choose Korean?

We have a strong teaching team and diverse Korean modules to choose from.
We offer a great exchanging programme with our partner universities in South Korea.
Get involved with our dynamic student activities to promote every student’s learning and extra-curricular experience.

Many students of the Korean subject will have the opportunity to go to top universities in South Korea as exchange students. Currently, we hold great partnerships with 15 universities, nine of which are located in Seoul and others in Pusan and other exciting cities.

Before going on the year abroad, you’ll be prepared by step-by-step guidance from staff and multiple experience talks from students who returned from their year abroad. We engage to help students maximise their learning and life experience in the Korean culture.

Level
Russian (ab initio), for students who have limited or no knowledge of the language and will be able to learn the basics.

UCAS code

Russian T301

Studying Russian
Learning the Russian language doesn’t just involve expanding your vocabulary and conversational skills – you’ll also get to immerse yourself in Russian culture.

Expand your linguistic horizons by taking part in our vast programme of Russian events which will introduce you to the art, culture, geography, politics and people of the Russian-speaking world. And you’ll have opportunities to travel overseas and experience the wonders of Russia for yourself.

We’ll help you transform language learning into a truly creative process. As soon as you’ve grasped the structural principles – the ‘skeleton’ of the language - we’ll teach you how to dramatically enhance your vocabulary using a range of creative techniques. So you might find yourself inventing memorable mnemonics or drawing parallels with other languages to help you master complex grammar structures and commit thousands of new words to memory. You’ll get a real understanding of how the Russian language has evolved over time to reflect the cultural world surrounding it.

This course offers lots of opportunities to immerse yourself in Russian culture as you develop your language skills with native speakers.

You can get involved in themed events which run throughout the year. In recent times we’ve welcomed more than 60 visiting speakers and performers to the University, including a BAFTA award-winning Russian film director, poets, translators, classical musicians, rock bands, theatre groups, and even a Russian Orthodox icon-painting workshop delivered by Belorussian nuns.

As a regular host of international conferences featuring leading Russian academics, we also collaborate with Russian institutions. Our students have been to Russia to compete in international competitions for young scientists, and we regularly hold online events with Russian students.

Why choose Russian?

Immerse yourself in Russian culture by getting involved in everything our Russian Society has to offer – from tasting Russian cuisine to watching Russian movies, discussing Russian books and celebrating major Russian festivals.
Our School is home to the Vladimir Vysotsky Centre for Russian Studies, which seeks to bring Russian culture to western audiences and carries out research in the field of Russian thought, literature, music, history and art.
You’ll have the chance to experience Russia for yourself by spending time studying there in leading Russian universities.

The very best way to become a fluent speaker in Russian is by spending time living and breathing Russian culture and getting to know the Russian people. During this course you’ll have opportunities to travel to Russia and spend time studying at an institution there. We have links with some of the top universities in Moscow, St Petersburg and Kazan.

Module Overview

Course Delivery

This course is taught face-to-face at one of our UK campuses.

100%Face-to-face

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

View the course facilities

Future Careers

By combining language skills with a broad-based understanding of the region’s culture, economy and politics, our Asia Pacific Studies BA (Hons) course can prepare you for a range of careers in – or connected to – the region.

While the main focus of this degree course is developing fluency in your chosen language, we believe you can’t learn a language without getting an insight into the cultural context. As such, you’ll develop a range of transferrable skills and a well-rounded understanding of the Asia Pacific – the kind of knowledge that offers a competitive advantage in the jobs market.

Your career prospects will be widely varied after you graduate. You could pursue translation and interpretation, journalism, travel and tourism, or even work with embassies and local governments to facilitate international trade with Japan, China, Taiwan or South Korea.

Fees and Funding

2021/22

Full-time£9250 per year

Sandwich year£1000 for the sandwich year

Part-time£1540 per 20 credits

Full-time£13000 per year

Part-time£1540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£13000 per year

2022/23

Full-time£9250 per year

Sandwich year£1000 for the sandwich year

Part-time£1540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£14250 per year

Scholarships and Bursaries

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country and see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country

Our intensive language programmes are designed to build up your oral, aural and written competence, helping you become a confident communicator in both conversation and in writing. You’ll also study modules giving you an all-round knowledge of the relevant country and the region as a whole. As such, you’ll find a range of different teaching methods with us, from lectures and seminars, to practice sessions and tutorials. We’ll also expect you to do just as much work on your own, away from the classroom.

If you choose to take the four-year route, you’ll spend a year studying with one of our partner institutions abroad – honing your language skills, getting a first-hand appreciation of the country’s culture and helping your CV stand out to potential employers.

On campus, you’ll also have access to our Worldwise Learning Centre, which offers the latest language-learning technologies including Rosetta Stone and a programme of activities designed to give you global experiences on campus.

During your studies, we’ll measure your progress through various assessment techniques, from seminar presentations, essays and in-class tests, to oral tests and an unseen examination.

The Period Abroad, undertaken in the third year of the course, is an integral component of your degree. It consists of a minimum of 24 weeks, which is either spent in the country of the main foreign language or split between the countries of your two equal languages.

You can choose to spend your period abroad on a work or study placement or as an English Language Assistant. Even in the first year of your course, you should be thinking about where you will go, and in what capacity you wish to spend this time abroad. We encourage our students to undertake their preparation for the Period Abroad with a sense of enterprise and independence, although you will of course be supported and helped throughout.

We have built a network of almost 60 academic partnerships that stretches across the Asia Pacific, from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and Busan University of Foreign Studies, to Moscow Humanities and Linguistics University and Akita International University. These connections not only inform our in-depth understanding of the region, but also allow us to provide students like you with some fantastic opportunities for studying abroad.

Interested?

Download

This course is based in the School of Humanities, Language & Global Studies located in the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries

For information on possible changes to course information, see our Essential and Important Course Information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Central Lancashire on our Student Contract page