Japan in der Welt: Globale Herausforderungen, kulturelle Perspektiven (Master of Arts)
(Japan in the World: Global Challenges and Cultural Perspectives)

Overview
Conditions of admission
Applications


Overview

Course content and focus areas 

The research and teaching focus of Department 09 of Universität Frankfurt – Japanese Studies – focuses on pre-modern and modern/contemporary Japan. The department’s teaching is based on a solid repertoire of philology, literature, cultural history and the history of ideas, all of which emphasises the linguistic components and forms the foundation for thorough research into Japan. The canon of classical research into philology, literature and the history of ideas is complemented by the contemporary spectrum of cultural sciences. Reflections on the temporal aspects of research approaches and precise reasons for the establishment of a new theoretical analysis toolbox for each of the relevant themes form part of the basic training in Japanese studies in Frankfurt.

The literary focus covers traditional modern (kindai bungaku) and present-day literature (gendai bungaku) up to the latest trends in Japan’s contemporary literary scene. In addition to individual authors, the programme also focuses on issues relating to the canonisation, the significance of Japanese literature (Nihon bungaku / Nihongo bungaku) within the literary world, the history of research, the development of theories in Japanese literary studies, the interpretation of literature and translation theory and practice. References between literary topics and contemporary cultural discourse are also looked at; here, discourse areas like “precarity” or “loneliness” will be examined and evaluated. Literary history has many links to the history of ideas that open up interdisciplinary fields such as “childhood in Japanese history”.

The “Global Challenges and Cultural Perspectives” Master’s programme offers in-depth insights into the fascinating literary and intellectual worlds of Japan.

The study programme uses historical and modern texts that reflect central topics of the Japanese culture, among them Japanese religious ideas and ideologies, aesthetical systems and intellectual rhetoric, concepts of man, value systems, ideological orientations, identity discourses, Japanese criticism of the Modern Age and the Japanese vision of the future in the 21st century.

The Masters` programme enables students to carry out research activities independently and at a high level, practicing scientific language and methodology. The methods taught in the Bachelor’s programme will be reflected on critically and theoretical concepts will be analysed and related to generally discussed theories and research developments. The Masters’ programme enables students to specialise in Japanese literature as well as cultural history and the history of ideas. Since 2017, quantifying and qualifying text-technological methods (keyword “Digital Humanities”) have been used as part of our cultural history research.

The Frankfurt study programme offers a rich academic life with lectures, excursions and the possibility to talk with experts from the cultural and literary scenes and from the creative industries.

Detailed information

Information from the department
Study regulations
Subject-specific regulations

Degree

Master of Arts in Japan in the World: Global Challenges and Cultural Perspectives

Duration

The standard length of study for the Master of Arts is 4 semesters. 

Languages of instruction

German

Start of the programme

The programme starts at the beginning of the winter semester.

Student advisory service Dr. Christian Chappelow
FB 09, Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaften, Japanologie
Senckenberganlage 31
60325 Frankfurt
Telefon: +49 (0)69-798-22177      
E-Mail: Chappelow@em.uni-frankfurt.de


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Conditions of admission

Admission requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Japanese Studies, or equivalent study programme in Japanese studies or similar programme;
  • admission can be granted on the basis of a temporary transcript of records, and subject to further conditions;
  • proof that a particular focus has been selected;
  • Letter of motivation (up to 3000 charakters; showing your special fields of interest) 
  • Knowledge of the Japanese language (taught in a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies at a university) must be proven in the Diploma Supplement; alternatively proven by a standard test (e.g. Japanese Language Proficiency Test N3);
  • proof of English language (level B2) skills by certificates, or other proof acknowledged as equivalent by the examination office
  • Applicants who do not have a German university entrance qualification, nor do they have a degree from a German higher education institution, are obliged to submit proof of adequate German language skills.
Provisional admission

Provisional admission is possible on the basis of a current transcript of records; at least 80% of the required for the bachelor's degree CP (normally 144 credit points) must have been obtained; the Bachelor’s thesis must be finished or almost finished. Provisional admission is valid until the end of the first semester of the master’s program. The bachelor’s degree must thus be handed in by March 31 (winter intake) or September 30 (summer intake) the latest.

Mode of admission Admission is not restricted. Students will be directly admitted if the admission requirements are met in full.


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Applications

Documents to be submitted
  • if you are not already enrolled at Goethe-University Frankfurt:
    university entrance qualification (e.g. A-Levels)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate (incl. final transcript of records)
  • if the Bachelor's degree has not yet been completed:
    a transcript of records or equivalent document listing the content of the study programme and average grade
  • Proof of language skills (English and Japanese)
  • Letter of Motivation
  • if the first degree was obtained at an international higher education institution:
    certificate of German language skills. See here for more information about the required German language skills.
  • APS certificate for applicants from India, Vietnam and PR of China (original)
Application period

01 April until 31 July

Address for applications Please contact the department


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