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Studies & Degrees in Oriental Languages and their Literature (in Universities)

Oriental languages and literature is the traditional university name for the study of the languages, texts and cultures of Asia and the Middle East. It covers two large areas. The first is the Near and Middle East: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish, together with ancient languages such as Aramaic or Akkadian. The second is East and South Asia: Chinese, Japanese, Korean and, at some universities, Hindi, Sanskrit and other languages. Many universities have replaced the old name with more specific ones, such as Asian and Middle Eastern studies, East Asian studies, or Arabic and Islamic studies.

Whatever the name, the core is the same. Students learn at least one language, usually from beginner level and with a new writing system. They read its literature, classical and modern, and study the history, religion, thought and society of the region.

Qualifications and levels

The subject is taught as a full bachelor's degree, often with a specialisation in one language, followed by master's degrees and doctorates for those who go on to research or translation.

  • Spain, East Asia. Official bachelor's degrees (grado) have 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120. The Grado en Estudios de Asia Oriental of the Universidad de Salamanca, taught since 2015-16, lasts 4 years and has 240 ECTS credits. Students choose a first Asian language from Japanese, Chinese and Korean, which defines the specialisation, and a second Asian language. The degree aims at level B1 in the first language.
  • Spain, Middle East. The Grado en Estudios Semíticos e Islámicos of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid is an official degree of 240 credits over 4 academic years. Students specialise in Arabic or Hebrew and get an introduction to other languages such as Persian, Turkish, Aramaic dialects or languages of the ancient Near East.
  • United Kingdom. The BA East Asian Studies at SOAS University of London lasts 3 years. Students can take a Chinese, Japanese or Korean language module each year alongside subjects on the region, and may apply for an optional year abroad.

Language progress can be shown with external exams. The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, for example, has five levels, from N5, the easiest, to N1, the most difficult.

Where to study it

Departments of oriental languages are found mainly in faculties of arts, philology or languages at large universities. Under this exact name the directory lists one school, Mansoura University in Egypt, which has a Faculty of Arts; ask the university which languages it currently teaches. Related programmes appear in the directory under Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Asian studies and similar subjects.

Most degrees accept complete beginners in the Asian or Middle Eastern language. The Universidad de Salamanca sets no entry level for the Asian language, but asks students whose first language is not Spanish for CEFR level B2 in Spanish. It offers 25 places for each of its three specialisations. SOAS teaches in English and states that it accepts complete beginners.

Fees depend on the country. SOAS lists £9,790 for home students and £23,780 for international students for the programme starting in September 2026.

Careers

Graduates work in translation and interpreting, intercultural mediation, language teaching, cultural management, specialised tourism, publishing, diplomacy and international trade. These are the kinds of fields that the Universidad de Salamanca lists for its graduates. Language skills are often combined with a second field such as business, law or international relations.

For translation and interpreting, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states that a bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement, and projects that employment of interpreters and translators will grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know the language before starting the degree?

Usually not. The Universidad de Salamanca sets no entry level for Japanese, Chinese or Korean, and SOAS accepts complete beginners. A good level in the language of instruction is required instead.

How long does a degree in oriental languages take?

In Spain the bachelor's degree takes 4 years and 240 ECTS credits. In the United Kingdom, the BA East Asian Studies at SOAS takes 3 years; an optional year abroad can be added.

Which languages count as oriental languages?

The term covers the languages of the Middle East, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish, and those of Asia, such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Each university offers only some of them, so check the list of languages before applying.