Japanese Studies

Why study Japanese?

The study of Japanese opens up a whole new world of linguistic and cultural experience that offers employment and research opportunities as well as intellectual stimulation. It provides an insight into a country with a long history and a culture that features both traditional and modern elements. The study of Japanese also provides access to the wonderful world of Japanese anime, manga and film.

Japan is one Australia’s major trading partners (as well as that of many other countries) and is important on the Asian-Pacific political and economic stage. At university, the study of Japanese encourages the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as well as intercultural communication skills. When mastered well, these skills provide graduates with an additional edge in a competitive and increasingly globalised employment market. As well as these benefits, Japanese is stimulating and challenging, and also a lot of fun.

People with Japanese language skills have opportunities to work both in Japan and in non-Japanese speaking countries (such as Australia) in industries such as:

translation and interpreting
tourism
banking
trade
foreign affairs
education
law

The study of Japanese at UOW offers opportunities for living in Japan during, as well as after graduation. For instance:

an in-country experience is an integral part of the major in Japanese;
postgraduates can study at a Japanese university as part of JAPA550 (Graduate Diploma in Arts (Japanese);
A number of UOW graduates in Japanese have worked as an Assistant English Teacher (ALT) or as a Co-ordinator for International Relations (CIR) on the Japanese Exchange Teaching (JET) Program.

Studying Japanese opens up a whole new horizon of opportunities and discoveries.

You can study Japanese concurrently with your bachelor's degree by enrolling in the Certificate in Languages or the Diploma in Languages. If you already have a degree you can also enrol in these awards or in the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Languages).