Program Overview

Program Overview

The Chinese Studies MA (Chinese) program is designed to provide students with reliable, authentic knowledge on Chinese culture, both ancient and modern. The program enables students to acquire the necessary knowledge and tools to conduct valuable research work on various areas of Sinology, including linguistics, literature, history, and more.

Program Structure

The program can be completed in two semesters if the language of tuition of the previous bachelor's degree (or higher level) studies was Chinese. The program consists of 120 ECTS credits and has a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 100 students.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program can work for research institutes, global companies, or become teachers of Chinese language and culture. They can also continue their studies at the PhD level, either at ELTE or anywhere else in the world.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor diploma (or higher) in Oriental Languages and Cultures Specialized in Chinese Studies, or in any other subject provided they fulfill the language requirements.
• At least 1 reference(s) should be provided.
• Transcript of records
• CV: Curriculum Vitae in English, in MS Word format with one low-resolution photo
• Motivation letter: a maximum of 500 words
• Research work plan: a preliminary research proposal for a proposed thesis project with a study and research plan (detailed outline of your field of interest), a preliminary bibliography (indicating what the applicant has read already)
• Copy of the main pages of the passport: Scanned, in color, all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid
• Language certificate: Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program-specific proficiency requirements.
• Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English

Language Requirements

• Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, HSK – Level 4 or
• Minimum level of language proficiency (oral) (CEFR): B2 (Chinese)
• Minimum level of language proficiency (written) (CEFR): B2 (Chinese)

Tuition Fees

• EU/EEA students: 8,000 EUR per semester
• Non-EU/EEA students: 8,000 EUR per semester
• Application fee: The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2025 - 30/11/2025 and between 01/02/2026 - 31/03/2026; The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2026 - 31/05/2026
• Other costs: 100 EUR (Entrance exam fee)

Application Procedure

The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents, and follow the instructions during the application process.

Entrance Examination and Selection Process

After the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs, applicants will be invited to an oral entrance exam. The entrance exam contains a discussion about the motivation of the applicant. The format of the entrance exam is an online interview. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.

Program Leader and Coordinator

• Program leader: Prof. Dr. Imre HAMAR, head of the Chinese Department, head of the Institute of East Asian Studies, vice rector of international affairs
• Program coordinator: Dr. Melinda PAP, Assistant Professor

Faculty of Humanities

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) offers more than 100 degree programs to international students in the fields of Business, Education and Psychology, Humanities, Informatics, Law, Primary and Pre-School Education, Social Sciences, and Science. Currently, about 3000 international students study at ELTE, and the community of international students is growing from year to year.