Program Overview

This four-year degree is provided jointly by our Department of Linguistics and English Language and our School of Global Affairs. An International Placement Year gives you the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Chinese language and culture. You don’t need to have studied Chinese before as we offer an Intensive course for beginners.

In Chinese Studies, we aim to help you become truly fluent. You’ll explore China's history, culture, politics and social background. Your English Language studies will include how the English language functions as well as traditional linguistic areas such as lexis, grammar and phonetics.

The first year comprises an exploration of the Chinese language and its cultural context, as well as a core module in English language. Alongside this, you can choose a minor subject from a list of subjects provided to you.

Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will study one Chinese oral skills module and one Chinese written skills module at the same level of proficiency. In addition, you will study the culture, politics and history of the Chinese-speaking world in more depth as well as selecting a module that is international in scope and promotes comparative understanding at a global level. You combine these with the core English language modules of English Grammar and English Phonetics, and you will choose from a range of English language option modules.

Your third year - the International Placement Year - in a Chinese-speaking country will deepen your intercultural sensitivity and your command of the language. You can study at a partner university and practise your language skills in a real-world context. Staff members within the department will work with you to ensure that you are fully prepared before embarking on your placement.

In the final year, you will consolidate your Chinese language skills, and study specialist culture and comparative modules. You will also select English language option modules such as Language, Culture and Thought. You will have opportunities to combine your interests in both subjects in longer, supervised projects.

You can find some examples of optional modules in the Course Structure section below.