Master of Arts in Oriental Languages and Cultures (Japan)

Admission to the Master’s programme is possible only after having successfully completed a Bachelor’s degree in Oriental Languages and Cultures, or an equivalent degree encompassing an (at least) intermediate level of the relevant languages and a sufficient number of background courses on the area of choice (China, India, Japan or the Middle East).

The (two-year) Master in Oriental Languages and Cultures offers a combined languages and cultures degree in the academic study of one of the following regional areas: China, India, Japan and the Middle East. We offer our students classes in language varieties from their area of choice (intermediate to advanced level), specialist courses on related socio-cultural issues, and training to carry out academic research. In addition, we offer a wide range of electives.

A major difference with the Bachelor’s programme is a more integrated approach to language, culture and research: students no longer ‘learn’ a language, but study language, text and context simultaneously. Within the Master’s programme, students choose four ‘Language, Text and Context’ courses (in line with the specialisation of the Bachelor’s programme):

• China: Modern Chinese and Traditional Language and Culture;
• India: Language, Text and Context of Modern and Pre-Modern South-Asia;
• Japan: Modern Japanese and Traditional Language and Culture;
• Middle East: Modern Arabic Language Acquisition and Middle East Politics and Society/Culture as well as Islam in the Past and the Present.

The ‘Culture in Perspective’ course unit engages with the variety of approaches in the academic study of various topics.

In the Master’s programme, students can opt for one of the various professionalisation tracks. They have the opportunity to benefit from a professional work experience through an internship at a company, a cultural institution, a government agency or any other relevant organisation. Internationalisation is an important aspect of the Master’s programme in Oriental Languages and Cultures. We encourage our students to spend one or two terms abroad, either in a country from their chosen area or in Europe. The internship can also be taken up abroad. The programme culminates in a Master’s dissertation, by means of which students demonstrate their ability to contribute actively and adequately (including via acquired language skills) to current academic (and wider) understandings of China, India, Japan or the Middle East and their diverse but interrelated socio-cultural landscapes.

During the Master’s programme, you will perfect your linguistic, academic and critical skills. Socio-cultural phenomena are studied in depth, providing you with a wide range of generic and specific competences and opportunities for the future. The Master’s programme has a strong academic orientation and offers various opportunities for wider training in the humanities and social sciences.

The programme consists of the following components:

• Language, Text and Context (i.e. Media Egyptian and academic Arabic, Modern Chinese or Modern Japanese and traditional language and culture, or Hindi, Sanskrit and Middle Indic): in-depth academic study of particular socio-cultural phenomena, in combination with integrated language training at an intermediate to advanced level;
• Culture in Perspective (for each cultural area; taught in English, often by international guest lecturers): advanced engagement with the variety of approaches in the academic study of diverse cultural themes related to China, India, Japan or the Middle East;
• Professionalisation module: a choice of several modules, including ‘Academic Proficiency’ (research module), ‘Society and Diversity’, ‘Political and Social Sciences’, ‘Economics and Business Administration’ and ‘Free Choice’;
• Internationalisation module: study at a university in a country from the chosen area or at another European university. Students who opt to stay at Ghent University, take the module ‘Internationalisation@Home’ with the ‘Globalisation’ course units;
• Internship: allowing for a first, very valuable pre-professional work experience. The programme can rely on a wide range of internship partners (companies, public authorities, museums etc.);
• ‘Master’s Dissertation’ and ‘Dissertation Seminar’: in these courses students demonstrate that they are able to contribute actively and adequately (including via their language skills) to current academic (and wider) debates of China, India, Japan or the Middle East.

If you want to combine your Master’s degree with a Teacher’s degree, then there is the option of taking a Master's Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: 'Educatieve master') instead of the above described master. The Master's Programme in Teaching, however, is a Dutch-taught programme. More information can be found on www.ugent.be/educatievemaster.

Graduates find employment in the cultural sector (museums, publishers, theatre companies, literary organisations, archives, the press, libraries and cultural centres), as well as at various governmental institutions and internationally oriented companies. They are often asked to welcome and escort trade missions, to manage trade contracts and to assist business leaders in the various countries of Asia, the Middle East and North-Africa. Students with a keen interest in research in humanities and social sciences related to China, India, Japan or the Middle East can also consider a career as a researcher.