The one-year Master of Arts (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures employs comparative, transregional, and transcultural approaches to explore visual cultures in Japan and beyond. This programme addresses the increasing visualisation of information in today’s world, offering students a timely opportunity to understand how visual cultures diffuse and adapt globally, with Japan—a pioneer in the realm of visual cultural production—as a central reference point.
Courses in the programme strike a unique balance between academic rigor and practical industry insights. Students will gain proficiency in working with diverse data sources in both English and Japanese. Students will also acquire critical thinking and innovation skills essential for navigating the intricacies of visual communication in the modern world, and for pursuing careers in the visual culture industries.
Arts and Social Sciences
Japanese Studies
jpsbox16@nus.edu.sg
Department of Japanese Studies National University of Singapore Block AS8 Level 5 10 Kent Ridge Crescent Singapore 119260Welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) of the National University of Singapore!
- Established in 1929, the Faculty has a long-standing tradition of providing a rich and fulfilling educational experience for every generation of students led by award-winning educators who bring their research expertise into the classroom. Our researchers also carry out impactful research that advances our understanding of culture, society, and the world around us.
- One of the largest faculties in NUS, FASS offers a comprehensive range of academic programmes in the areas of Asian Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Language studies. To enhance the educational experience, FASS students can be part of our special programmes, such as double degrees, special degrees with global partners, FASStrack Asia, and an array of Student Exchange Programmes. As part of the College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS), students of the Faculty can access an even wider spectrum of opportunities, gaining a truly interdisciplinary education that will play a pertinent role in their future endeavours.
- The establishment of a Department of Japanese Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS) was first considered by the then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1979 during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Ohira Masayoshi. The proposal grew out of a wider initiative among Singapore’s leadership at the time to “Learn from Japan” in recognition of Japan’s status as Asia’s first “economic superpower.” The Department took shape two years later with funding from the Japan Foundation. In May 1981, Professor Kumekawa Mitsuki of Ferris Women’s College in Yokohama was appointed as its acting head.
- During these early years, the Japanese Studies curriculum placed strong emphasis on Japanese language acquisition through module offerings in basic and intensive language training. Non-language modules on culture, society, history, politics, and literature rounded-off students’ Japanese Studies education with readings and coursework on Japan itself.
No scholarships provided for the programme
| Commitment | Average Candidature | Maximum Candidature |
|---|---|---|
| Full Time | 1.5 Year | 2 Years |
| Part Time | 2.5 Years | 3 Years |
| Criteria | Minimum Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GPA | A good NUS Honours degree (Merit/Second Class and above) or equivalent (e.g., a four-year Bachelor's degree with at least an average grade of B or equivalent) in related disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, area studies, and other inter-disciplinary studies with evidence of having read subjects either related to Asia or literature, media, and visual cultures or having acquired advanced Japanese language skills; A good Bachelor's degree (at least an average grade of B equivalent) in related disciplines such as the humanities, social sciences, area studies, and other inter-disciplinary studies with evidence of having read subjects related to Asia or literature, media, and visual cultures or having acquired advanced Japanese language skills, and successful completion of a placement test; or exceptionally, Other qualifications and experience, as well as successful completion of a placement test, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. | ||
| English Proficiency Tests | TOEFL Internet-based | 85 / 120 | |
| IELTS | 6 / 9 | ||
All candidates should possess evidence of previous Japanese language study (at the elementary level or higher), any JLPT certificate or equivalent.
Please refer to the Faculty’s website here for the complete admission requirements and here for a list of supporting documents required.
| Category | Application Window | Application Result Released | |
|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 Intake (August) | All students of any nationalities | 1 November (in the year preceding the intake) to 15 January (in the same year as the intake) | End of May |