Programme at a Glance
Intake and Application
Overview
The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Arts (MA) (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures is offered by the Department of Japanese Studies in the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
The one-year MA (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 rigour 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.
Why This Programme?
Gain deeper knowledge of the visual cultures that increasingly dominate our private and professional lives by integrating visual content analysis with insights into production processes, societal dynamics, and political trends.
Be immersed in hands-on learning about visual cultures through the case of Japan, a leading country in the field of content production and visualisation.
Develop a broader understanding of Japan beyond Japanese language in a field that is highly relevant to the digitised world of today.
Application Period
An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):
For the MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures programme, there is one application period for each AY:
| Programme | Intake | Application Dates |
|---|---|---|
| MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures | Semester 1 (Aug Intake) | 1 Nov of preceding year to 15 Jan of intake year* |
* For the inaugural Aug 2024 intake of the MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures, the application period is from 1 Nov 2023 to 15 Feb 2024.
Admission to the NUS MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:
| Academic | Bachelor's Degree (preferably with Honours: Merit/Second Class and above; candidates who hold a Bachelor's Degree without Honours should have attained at least an average grade of B equivalent and must successfully complete a placement test) or equivalent in a related field 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 Note: Candidates with academic qualifications other than the above, and who have successfully completed a placement test, may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies |
| Skill/Experience | Nil |
| English Language | Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 85 (Internet-based) with minimum score of 22 for the writing section, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score of 6.0. Note: TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application. |
| Other | All candidates should possess evidence of previous Japanese language study (at the elementary level or higher), any Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certificate or equivalent. |
Candidates may visit the official Educational Testing Service (ETS) website for scheduling of TOEFL/GRE tests.
Note: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application information and all supporting documents are truthful and correct. NUS reserves the right to verify information provided as part of an application. False or misleading information in an application (including but not limited to test scores, resumes, certificates, transcripts, etc.) is grounds for admission rejection, revocation and/or dismissal from the University.
The NUS MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):
| Full-time | 12–24 months |
| Part-time | 24–36 months |
Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass. For more information, refer to the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.
The MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising:
Core/essential courses (8 Units), and
Elective courses (32 Units);
or
Core/essential courses (12 Units), and
Elective courses (28 Units).
Core/Essential Courses
Students must complete a minimum of 8 Units from the following list of core/essential courses for the MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures. These courses provide the conceptual and theoretical foundations in how to approach the study of visual and popular cultures.
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JSC5101 | Image and Imagination – An Analysis | 4 |
| JSC5102 | Visual Cultures in Japan | 4 |
| JSC5103 | Japanese Popular Culture – Theory and Methodology | 4 |
Elective Courses
Students must complete a minimum of either 28 Units of elective courses (if taking 12 Units of core/essential courses) or 32 Units of elective courses (if taking 8 Units of core/essential courses). This may be fulfilled by taking MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures Elective Courses as stipulated in the list below; optionally, up to 8 Units of the elective courses requirement may be fulfilled by taking level-4000-or-above courses offered by Japanese Studies or other departments (subject to approval by Japanese Studies and, if applicable, the course host department).
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| JS5203 | Japanese Literary & Performance Studies | 4 |
| JS5206 | Digital Technologies and Japanese Theatre | 4 |
| JSC5201 | Manga Studies | 4 |
| JSC5202 | Let’s Go Catch a Show | 4 |
| JSC5203 | Commercial Art in Modern Japan | 4 |
| JSC5204 | Art and Modernity in East Asia | 4 |
| JSC5205 | Gender and Popular Culture | 4 |
| JSC5206 | Advanced Readings in Visual Cultures in Japan | 4 |
| JSC5207 | Pre-Modern Japanese Visual Cultures | 4 |
| JSC5208 | Japanese Media and Translation | 4 |
| JSC5209 | Political Economy of Popular Culture in Asia | 4 |
| JSC5210 | Managing Creative Industries: The Case of Japan | 4 |
| JSC5301 | Advanced Japanese I (Coursework) | 4 |
| JSC5302 | Advanced Japanese II (Coursework) | 4 |
| JSC5303 | Field Studies Course | 4 |
| JSC5304 | Case Studies in Japanese Visual Cultures | 4 |
| JSC5305 | Internship | 4 |
| JSC5401* | Master’s Thesis (Coursework) | 8 |
| JSC5660 | Independent Study | 4 |
| JSC5880 | Selected Topics in Japanese Visual Cultures | 4 |
* Students may register for JSC5401 Master’s Thesis (Coursework) after taking a minimum of five courses and attaining a GPA of 4.2 or higher. Students will be expected to submit their thesis at the point of completion of the teaching semester.
Note: For more information about the courses listed above (as well as other courses offered in the current academic year), please visit the MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures course information web page or NUSMODS.
To graduate from the NUS MA (Coursework) in Japanese Visual Cultures programme, students must meet the following requirements:
| Programme and/or Specialisation | Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising: 8 Units of core/essential courses, and 32 Units of elective courses; or 12 Units of core/essential courses, and 28 Units of elective courses. |
| Course and/or Qualification | Nil |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) | Minimum 3.0 (out of maximum 5.0)
Please see also the University’s minimum standards for Continuation and Graduation Requirements. Specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements. |
| Other | Not applicable |
The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.
| Tuition | S$36,055.05 (excluding GST) /
|
| Application | S$60.00 (including 9% GST, with effect from 1 Jan 2024) Non-refundable and non-transferable Limited to one application submission per intake, for up to a maximum of five programmes/courses per application |
| Acceptance | S$4,000.00 (excluding GST) Payable upon acceptance of offer Non-refundable and non-transferable Will be credited towards tuition fees |
| Miscellaneous Student Fees | As published by Office of the University Registrar
Payable every regular semester |
Scholarships & Financial Assistance
The scholarships and financial assistance schemes presented here are examples of the kinds of funding from the University as well as third-party sponsors that might be available to eligible NUS Master's Degree (Coursework) programme students and applicants.
The information provided is subject to change, and warranties cannot be provided as to its completeness or accuracy. Students and applicants are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research, and refer to the relevant sponsors and/or websites for more detailed and up-to-date information.
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