Admission

PS! From fall 2019 this programme option will be replaced by the two programme options Japanese Studies and Chinese Culture and Society. Applicants are referred to these programme options.

Admission requirements

Admission to master's degree studies requires:

  • Higher Education Entrance Qualification and a completed bachelor's degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor's degree. Applicants with foreign education, please refer to the country list.
  • a specialization defined by the programme
  • a minimum grade average of C (in the Norwegian grading scale) or equivalent from the specialization in your degree.
  • a language requirement documented by one of the tests/exams below:
    a) Passed examination in English foundation course (140 hours/5 periods per week) with a minimum grade of 4 in Norwegian upper secondary school (or an equivalent grade from a Nordic upper secondary school) or passed examination in English from second and/or third school year in Norwegian upper secondary school, or
    b) An internationally recognised English language proficiency test.

Required specialization

Applicants must fulfill both of the following conditions:

  • A specialization of at least 80 ECTS credits within one of the languages of the region (Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Tibetan) at BA-level
  • 30 ECTS credits within East Asian and/or China/Japan area studies

In addition to 80 ECTS credits within Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Tibetan language an extra full year of language studies in a native speakers’ environment is highly recommended before entering the master's programme. In the case of Chinese, this may be done by taking KIN3110 - Kinesisk F and KIN3120 - Kinesisk G. Regarding the other languages, students may contact the department.

Students who possess near-native fluency in spoken and written Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Tibetan and can document this with transcripts from national secondary school, may also apply on the following condition:

  • specialization corresponding to at least 80 ECTS credits in a relevant discipline such as history, sociology, anthropology, political science, human geography, religious studies, linguistics, language or literature studies pertaining to the region

Students who possess fluency in spoken and written Chinese and can document this through a HSK level 5, or for students who possess fluency in spoken and written Japanese and can document this through a JLPT level N1 or N2, may also apply on the following condition:

  • specialization corresponding to at least 80 ECTS credits in a relevant discipline such as history, sociology, anthropology, political science, human geography, religious studies, linguistics, language or literature studies pertaining to the region
  • 30 ECTS credits within East Asian and/or China/ Japan area studies

Documentation

You have to upload all required documents in UiO's online application portal.

Ranking of applicants

Applicants are ranked according to their grade average in the specialization of their degree. Applicants who cannot be ranked according to their grade average, will be ranked on the basis of an individual assessment.

You normally cannot be admitted to a master's degree programme or study option within the same subject area as a previously completed master's degree at the University of Oslo.

Recognition of prior education

If you have previous higher education, you may apply for specific recognition of this education as part of your degree. Education from both Norwegian and non-Norwegian higher education institutions may be recognised. Recognition depends upon whether the education meets the specific requirements of your degree. Read more about recognition of prior education.

Tuition fees

Students with citizenship from a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay tuition fees from the academic year 2023/2024, unless they qualify for an exemption. Read more about tuition fees.