From the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, Université Paris Cité will be offering a unique undergraduate program in France: a double degree in Japanese Studies and in History. This innovative program combines in-depth training in the study of Japanese language and civilization with solid disciplinary expertise in history.
Tackling the Challenges of the Contemporary World
The two teachers in charge of this new program, Nathalie Kouamé, Professor of History in the Department of Geography, History, Economy and Societies (GHES), and Ken Daimaru, Associate Professor of Japanese Studies in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (LCAO), explain the reasons for its creation:
” On the one hand, in a fairly recent academic context in which the social sciences and humanities, and in particular the discipline of history, resolutely open up to non-European societies and civilizations, and in a world in which the countries of Asia play an increasingly visible, important and, to put it bluntly, inescapable role, the aim is to train students with solid theoretical tools in historical studies and in-depth knowledge of Japanese language and civilization. Once they have acquired this double degree, students who go on to study for Master’s or Doctorate will be in a better position to undertake original, methodical and conceptualized research using primary sources in Japanese. In addition, this new double degree program is intended to fit in with the very recent context of increased demand from students for program of excellence. Université Paris Cité’s response to this demand demonstrates its ability to adapt to a public that has hitherto favored preparatory classes, grandes écoles and Sciences Po.”
A Rich and Balanced Program
The main aim of the double degree program is to enable students to master a discipline and a language in equal measure. To qualify for both degrees, a student must complete core courses in both fields, while remaining accessible thanks to flexible timetable arrangements.
- An appropriate workload: the number of hours per semester is limited to 310 to ensure that the program is balanced and achievable.
- Integrated and interdisciplinary training: the program includes methods (historical methods of history and methods to develop language and speaking skills), epistemological reflection (courses in historiography, gender studies, environmental studies), and a wide range of historical fields (from the history of Africa to the history of Ancient Greece, via the history of the Americas and, of course, the history of Japan and Asia).
The Institutional Agreements that the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations has established with a number of Japanese leading universities complement the opportunities offered by this program of excellence, enabling the most deserving students to spend long periods of study exchange in the archipelago.
A Degree that Opens Up a Wide Range of Opportunities
Our double degree graduates will have multidisciplinary skills that are in great demand in the public, private and non-profit sectors. They will be able to explore a wide range of careers and academic paths: cultural and heritage professions, diplomacy, education, entrepreneurship, journalism, scientific research, translation and interpretation, etc.
” This double degree is a rare opportunity “, says Ken Daimaru. ” For students interested in learning about Japan, it opens a window onto the world history and the history discipline. For history buffs, it reveals the wealth of Japanese history and the work of Japanese historians, Japanese historiography being one of the most powerful and innovative in the world today “, adds Nathalie Kouamé.
Are You Interested in This Program ?
As the number of undergraduate students annually admitted to the program is set at a maximum of ten (10), a preliminary selection will be made on the basis of applications. The admissions process includes a review of the applicant’s academic records and letters of recommendation. A strong capacity for work and organization is required, as well as a great curiosity for the facts of past and present civilizations and societies.
For 2025-2026, applicants to the first year of the program must apply through the Parcoursup or Études en France websites (the second and the third year of this double degree will not open until 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 respectively).