The MPhil in Japanese Studies is a two-year programme offered jointly by the Faculty of Oriental Studies and the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies that combines intensive language courses, three courses about Japan, research methods courses and a 30,000-word dissertation. Native speakers of Japanese take two additional courses about Japan. The MPhil in Japanese Studies is designed as a two-year, six-term taught programme that comprises advanced research training focusing on developing language skills and on deepening your understanding of contemporary Japan. It acts either as a foundation for those intending to seek employment working in Japan or with the Japanese, or as a preparation for further research on Japan on a doctoral programme at Oxford or elsewhere. It is taught by full-time members of the Nissan and Oriental Institutes and all the courses are designed for master's-level students. A range of assessment methods is used the research methods course is assessed on the basis of projects and tasks set in the course of teaching; the language course is assessed through a combination of tests and quizzes set during the year and a final examination; and the courses about Japan are assessed by a three-hour written examination in English in the chosen subjects.