MA Chinese Studies

Program Overview

---

The MA Chinese Studies provides an exceptional opportunity to take advantage of the wide range of disciplinary approaches to the study of Chinese societies available at SOAS. The main emphasis is on modern and contemporary China, although it is also possible to study aspects of pre-Modern China.

Students who take this degree come from many countries and have a wide variety of academic backgrounds. While some wish to broaden their previous studies or experience of China, others approach the course without having a Chinese element to their first degree, but with a desire to focus their previous training on the region. Knowledge of the Chinese language is not a requirement of the programme, although language modules are popular among students.

SOAS is home to its own

China Institute

, a leading centre for international China expertise. Students are welcome to attend the regular seminars held by the Institute, where international speakers present their research engaging with diverse aspects in the study of China.

Why study MA Chinese Studies at SOAS?

we are ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2023)

we are home to the largest concentration of Chinese specialists outside of China

with more than 50 experts working on a wide range of disciplines across the School, the MA Chinese Studies programme offers exceptional flexibility in designing a study plan that accommodates students’ interests

we offer strong interdisciplinary support and have great facilities, such as a multimedia suite, a radio station and a satellite access to a wide range of world television. Our Library houses a major collection of digital and paper resources, with books and journals on China-related issues that scholars from all around the world travel to consult

Program Outline

Students take a

total of 180 credits

, of which 60 credits are a dissertation, 15 credits are allocated to the core module and the remaining 105 credits are chosen from taught modules.

Students must choose a minimum of 45 credits of modules from List A (modules related to China) and a maximum of 60 credits from List B which includes language modules, and

open options

. For students opting to take language acquisition modules in more than one language, only one of these can be at an introductory level.

In the first term, students will be asked to choose the module on which they will base their dissertation. The convenor of this module will usually be their dissertation supervisor. The module will usually be chosen from List A modules within the department, but after consultation with the programme convenor it may be possible to arrange for a supervisor from another department.

All modules are subject to availability.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Compulsory dissertation

Module	Credits
Dissertation in Chinese Studies	60

---

Core module

Module	Credits
Connections and Intersections: Core Aspects of East Asian Studies	15

---

List A

Guided options (China)

Choose modules to a minimum value of 45 credits

Module	Credits
New Taiwan Cinema and Beyond (PG)	15
Literature, Politics and National Identity in Modern China (PG)	15
Chinese Cinema (PG)	15
Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China	15
Contemporary Chinese Society (PG)	15

---

List B

Guided options (East Asia)

Choose modules to a maximum value of 30 to 60 credits

Module	Credits
East Asian Cinema (PG)	15
Gender in East Asian Literature (PG)	15
Myths, Legends and Folkways of East Asia (PG)	15
Fieldwork methods in language and culture (PG)	15
Culture and Society of Taiwan (PG)	15
Japanese Traditional Drama (PG)	15
Japanese-English Translation (PG)	15
Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature and Film (PG)	15
Identity and social relations in Japanese (PG)	15
Modernity, Nation and Identity in Japanese History (1853-1945) (PG)	15
Writing from the Margins: Minority and "Outsider" Texts in Modern Japanese Literature (PG)	15
The Making of Modern Korea	15
Culture and Society in Traditional Korea (PG)	15
Korean-English Translation (PG)	15
Japanese Cinema (PG)	15
Contemporary Korean Society (PG)	15

---

Language modules

Module	Credits
Chinese 1 A (PG)	15
Chinese 1 B (PG)	15
Chinese 2 (PG)	30
Chinese 3 (PG)	30
Chinese 4 (PG)	30
Chinese 5 (PG)	15
Chinese for Business (PG)	15
Ch400: Advanced Chinese (PG)	15
Classical and Literary Chinese 1 (PG)	15
Japanese 1 A (PG)	15
Japanese 1 B (PG)	15
Japanese 2 (PG)	30
Japanese 3 (PG)	30
Japanese 4 (PG)	30
J400: Advanced Japanese (PG)	15
Korean 1 A (PG)	15
Korean 1 B (PG)	15
Korean 2 (PG)	30
Korean 3 (PG)	30
Korean 4 (PG)	30
K200: Intermediate Korean (PG)	30
K400: Advanced Korean (PG)	15

All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

---

Contact hours

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

---

Learning outcomes

---

Knowledge

Student will acquire specialist knowledge on the following key areas:

How to assess data and evidence critically from manuscripts and digital sources, solve problems of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations, locate materials, use research sources (particularly research library catalogues) and other relevant traditional sources.

To obtain a theoretical grounding in one of the several disciplines offered as part of degree: Anthropology, art& archaeology ,economics ,history, law,literature,media,music,politics or religion& philosophy.

To obtain an empirical grounding of the disciplines cited above as they relate specifically to the study of China

To develop a critical understanding of other disciplines–in their theoretical and empirical dimensions–through Minor courses.

To acquire/develop skills in Chinese language at any of these levels:Basic1(absolute beginner),Basic2(beginner),Intermediate or Advanced.

---

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Critical evaluation of source material: students should become precise and cautious in their assessment of evidence, and to understand through practice what document scan and cannot tell us.

Critical evaluation of previous scholarship: students should question interpretations, however authoritative, and reassess evidence for themselves.

Critical attitude toward euro-centristic approaches: Students will acquire a sensitivity to non-euro-centric perspectives on a range of intellectual problems in the Anthropology, art &archaeology,economics,history,law,literature,media,music,politics or religion & philosophy of China.

---

Subject-based practical skills

Subject-specific skills will be in line with the requirements in the academic discipline in which students do their Major and the dissertation.

Practical skills include:

Communicate effectively in writing

Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources

Present seminar papers

Listen critically to, and discuss, ideas introduced during seminars

Practice research techniques in a variety of specialized research libraries and institutes

---

Transferable skills

Write good essays and dissertations.

Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in writing.

Understand unconventional ideas.

Study a variety of written and digital materials, in libraries and research institutes of a kind they will not have used as undergraduates.

---

SOAS Library

SOAS Library

is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Graduates from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures develop competencies in intercultural awareness, analysis and communication. Demand for specialists with advanced proficiency in the languages of China, Japan and Korea has significantly increased in recent years, and graduates with these skills are highly sought after by employers.

Recent Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures graduates have been hired by organisations including:

Accenture

Amazon

Bloomberg LP

Department for Work and Pensions

European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea

European Commission

Google

ITN

Japanese Government

Korea Trade Centre (KOTRA)

KPMG

Mizuho Bank

Nagahama Board of Education

Nanjing Museum

Pinsent Masons LLP

PwC

Seoul Metropolitan Government

Shelterbox

UNDP

Find out about our

Careers Service