Field of Study
Graduates of the programme receive a bachelor’s degree in Philology – Japanese Language and Literature, recognised by ARACIS, with the possibility of continuing at master’s and doctoral level.
Major: Japanese Language and Literature
The Japanese Language and Literature major is offered at the Faculty of Letters, UBB Cluj-Napoca, and lasts 3 years (bachelor’s). The curriculum combines the in-depth study of the Japanese language with the history of Japanese literature, culture and civilisation.
- Modern Japanese language
- Classical and modern Japanese literature
- Japanese civilisation and culture
- Translation and interpreting
- Japanese studies
- Language practice in Japan
- Haiku and calligraphy circles
- Conferences and seminars
Department of Asian Languages and Literatures
Address: 31 Horea Street, 400202 Cluj-Napoca Phone: 0264 534898 / ext. 5609 Web: lett.ubbcluj.ro/departamente
Discover the fascination of Japan!
Experience the exoticism of Japanese culture!
Take up the challenge of a language completely different from Western ones!
Follow a lifelong dream!
History of the Programme
The Japanese Language and Literature major broadens the academic offer of the Faculty of Letters, enriching the institution’s programmes with a major devoted to the study of languages and cultures little or not at all studied at university level until now.
The initiative of proposing Japanese Language and Literature as an A major was justified by the prior existence of the B major, which has featured in the Faculty of Letters curriculum since the 1999/2000 academic year, on the basis of the Ministry of Education’s approval of 15 September 1999.
The programme received A.R.A.C.I.S. accreditation in 2009.
The programme opens significantly towards the Japanese cultural and educational world; introducing it into the university curriculum aligns Babeș-Bolyai University with the many prestigious European and American universities that include Asian studies programmes.
International Mobility
The programme makes the most of opportunities for study and further training at universities in Europe and Japan.
Erasmus+ and European Agreements
- 🇫🇷 INALCO – Paris, France
- 🇭🇺 Károli Gáspár University – Budapest, Hungary
- 🇩🇪 University of Trier – Germany
Partnerships with Japan
- 🇯🇵 Kobe University
- 🇯🇵 Ehime University
- 🇯🇵 Kanagawa University
- 🇯🇵 Musashino University
- 🇯🇵 Sapporo Gakuin University
- 🇯🇵 Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Summer Schools and Camps
- 🇬🇧 University of East Anglia – Japan Orientation, Norwich School
- 🇧🇬 St. Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia – Balkan Japanese Language Camp
- 🇯🇵 Outward Bound Japan – Internship programme
Japanese Studies at Babeș-Bolyai University
The courses cover: Modern Japanese language, Japanese writing (hiragana, katakana, kanji), Classical and modern Japanese literature, Japanese civilisation, Translation and interpreting, Japanese studies.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Japanese Language and Literature (A) major contains fundamental subjects, specialised subjects and optional subjects.
The curriculum is structured over 6 semesters of 14 weeks.
180
total credits
143
compulsory credits
37
optional credits
12
placement credits
Cultural and Scientific Activities
Alongside its teaching activity, the Sembazuru Centre for Japanese Studies runs a wide range of extracurricular activities throughout the academic year:
- Japanese calligraphy courses
- Origami, sumi-e, renzuru and mizuhiki workshops
- Lectures on Japanese studies and pop culture
- Haiku literary circles
- The annual students’ scientific session – „In Search of Japan”
These activities take place with the participation of distinguished specialists from Romania and Japan, offering students a direct and authentic connection with the Japanese cultural world.
Year after year, students of the programme have achieved remarkable results in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (Nihongo nōryoku shiken / 日本語能力試験), organised by the Embassy of Japan in collaboration with the Japan Foundation.
頑張ってください!
Admission
Admission to the Japanese Language and Literature major follows the rules of Romanian higher education.
Secondary school graduates
Baccalaureate examination average
Test of knowledge of an international language
University graduates
Bachelor’s examination average
No prior knowledge of Japanese is required.
Anyone can start learning Japanese from scratch!

Admission information
Contact us for the full guide to the Japanese Language and Literature major at UBB.

Students
Our students take part in cultural activities, workshops and international exchange programmes with Japan.
