Japanese Studies

Welcome to the Japanese Studies postgraduate website! The Japanese Studies program offers an extensive range of courses, including postgraduate coursework courses (which are based on the attendance at classes and completion of units (subjects) and also research programs.

Coursework programs

Students interested in Japanese Interpreting and Translation can undertake the Master of Interpreting and Translation Studies.

The Master of Applied Japanese Linguistics is designed for current or prospective secondary and tertiary teachers of Japanese and others who wish to up-date their knowledge of theories and practices relating to Japanese language and its use, and about language teaching and language acquisition. It also permits non-native speakers to include up to 24 points of advanced Japanese language units.

The program allows you to articulate to a research degree upon completion of the research methodology unit and a research project. After completion of the first 48 points of this course, if you gain the required entry requirements (i.e. a distinction or above in the two compulsory units and an average of distinction overall during the first full time year [48 points] which includes the Research methodology and research project) you may apply to be admitted into a research program – Master of Arts by research and coursework (66% research and 24 points of coursework), Master of Arts by Research (100% thesis) and PhD (thesis only).

Language programs

We also offer Japanese Language courses within the Japanese Studies program.

The Graduate Diploma in Languages (Japanese), allows you to complete an undergraduate major in Japanese, equivalent to one year of full-time study (48 points), taken part-time over three years. Language study can also be included as a component in several Masters degrees.

Further information is available on the School’s Postgraduate/Graduate Coursework page.
Initial enquiries to Ms Sally Riley, Student Services Officer (Postgraduate and Graduate).

Research Degrees

• Language acquisition and teaching; language testing; intercultural interaction; sociolinguistics; applied linguistics; linguistics
• Japanese history, 20th century
• History of Japan and the Asia-Pacific War

University accredited supervision is available in the above fields to ensure high quality supervision of candidates within the program. Supervision in other fields may also be possible through joint arrangements. Please contact us to discuss.

An introduction to members of staff and their fields of expertise is available in their staff profiles.

The entry requirements for a research degree are:

• A four year bachelor degree with honours H1 or H2A or the equivalent, or
• A research component in your coursework program (i.e. a research methodology unit (12 points) and Research Project (12 points or 24 points). Note: Although the research paper is classified as a coursework unit, it is in fact a research component and requires the appointment of a supervisor. If you achieve a distinction or above in the two compulsory units and an average of distinction overall during the first full time year [48 points] which includes the research methodology and research project) you may apply to be admitted into a research program.
• Entry to research can also be gained by the completion of a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Research).

Further information is available on the School’s Graduate Studies (Research) page.
Initial enquiries to Ms Sally Riley, Student Services Officer (Postgraduate and Graduate).

Research degrees offered within the Japanese Studies programs are:

Monash University has exchange agreements with twelve prominent universities in Japan. Students who want to study at a Japanese university with the benefit of credit transfer are invited to apply for the program.

If you are admitted, you will enrol in Monash University and study at a Japanese university. Since you will pay HECS or a tuition fee to Monash University, you need not pay tuition fees to the Japanese university. Accommodation is also provided by the Japanese university at a cost.

When you apply for admittance to a university, you will apply for a Japanese government scholarship (JASSO or Monkashoo-Japanese Studies) at the same time.

You may still study in Japan if you are not successful with the scholarship. In such cases, however, the student will have to finance himself/herself except for tuition fees.