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BA Japanese SOAS year abroad

Hi, just two questions about the year abroad. Firstly, what time of the year does it start, will it match up with our UK unis, i.e would I start there in the September and come back in early summer? Secondly, I have heard some of the universities are heavily academic, but some less so. Which ones would you guys suggest are the least "full-on" in terms of workload. I really want to spend my year abroad exploring, meeting new people, and speaking natural Japanese as much as possible. I really don't want to spend that year doing nothing but essays. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance :smile:

Reply 1

SoasRepMK

Official Rep

Original post by Grant18

Hi Grant,

Great to see you're thinking ahead about your year abroad! I did my study abroad last year in Jordan as part of my Arabic degree, so while it won’t be exactly the same, there are definitely some parallels.

For most universities, the year abroad starts in September/October and runs until June, so it generally aligns with UK academic calendars. However, I’d recommend confirming specific dates with your department or [email protected].

In terms of workload, my experience was intensive but manageable, and I still had plenty of time to explore, meet locals, and immerse myself in the culture. The key factor was that it was a fully immersive year—so no extra responsibilities like part-time work or heavy commitments outside of studies. That meant I could really focus on using the language in real-life settings while still keeping up with academic work.

Each course varies, some are more academically demanding than others, so it’s worth checking student experiences. I'd recommend reaching out to current or former students for insights. There will also be an information session in your second year where staff will go over everything in detail, including workload, placement options, and any logistical questions you have.

Finally, I’d recommend reading this SOAS student blog about their year abroad in Japan—it should give you a good insight! 👉 https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/my-study-abroad-experience-japan

Hope that helps!

Marjan Karim
SOAS Student Rep