Japanese (PhD / MPhil) - 2013/2014 entry

At PhD/MPhil level, we aim for students to make the transition into fully-fledged, independent academic researchers, with the skills necessary to present their research orally as well as in writing. Our prime concern is with enabling research students to produce top-quality work that in one way or another questions the boundaries of the disciplines we work in and seeks to bring new materials, theories and methods into them. Such independence is achieved on the basis of a full appreciation of the hallmarks of good scholarship, such as original thought, the proper use of references and background material, appropriate use of methodology and accountable reporting procedures, and it is these priorities that we aim to impart to our students.

The expertise of our academic staff covers a range of subjects. In addition to producing a internationally-recognised scholarship on varied topics as Japanese brand globalisation-and postwar masculinities, our academic staff can offer MPhil and PhD research supervision on:  Japanese/East Asian creative industries; Japanese/East Asian film and new media; cultural history and popular culture; issues of national, transnational, ethnic, or cultural identities; gender and sexuality studies (including specialisms in masculinities, queer/gay studies); and historical and contemporary Japanese diaspora and diasporic communities.

Find out more about studying at Birkbeck and our Japanese cultural studies.

We have built up an excellent team of research students, who collaborate through departmental research seminars and are encouraged to publish and give papers at conferences. There is a departmental Research Centre for Media, Culture and Creative Practice, which organises graduate seminars and workshops, lectures and conferences. You will have access to computer workstations with email and Internet facilities. 

The department also offers Japanese language courses to advanced level. 

As a research student, you will be given help to establish contacts in Japan with universities and individual scholars working in your subject area. We encourage our research students to carry out fieldwork and research in Japan and, to that end, provide support for grant applications.

If you are considering applying for MPhil/PhD research in any of these areas, you are advised to contact the department about your research plan before making an application.

For information about applying as a research student, read our Guide for Applicants.

• Jonathan D Mackintosh, BA, MA, PhD: Japanese cultural history; gender/sexuality in Japan and East Asia; East Asian diaspora.
• Shinji Oyama, BA, MA, PhD: Media and cultural studies; cultural/creative industries; branding and globalisation.

• Throughout the year for commencement in October or January.