Chinese Studies at St Andrews will offer you exposure to the breadth and depth of Chinese linguistic and cultural practices. Going beyond the traditional model of language and literature, Chinese Studies will also include visual and popular cultures.

Whilst St Andrews does not yet offer Chinese as a single Honours degree, you can take it in combination with a wide variety of other subjects as part of a joint Honours degree.

The course encompasses mainstream, popular and dissident cultures in all their national, regional, ethnic and diasporic diversity. The study of texts and practices will be focused on contemporary concerns that are both Chinese and global. These include:

gender and sexuality

ecology and climate change

the excesses of advanced consumer society

issues of transparency, governance and collective memory

Course details

The Chinese portion of the four-year joint Honours degree is run by the School of Modern Languages.

Your time at St Andrews will focus on the linguistic and cultural entity that is China and the Chinese-speaking world today. Chinese Studies at St Andrews will offer you exposure to the breadth and depth of Chinese cultural practices. Looking beyond a model of language and literature, Chinese Studies will also include visual and popular cultures.

Your first two years focus on enabling you to read, write and converse in Chinese. The Chinese language is unlike other languages in that it is not written as a series of letters. Rather it uses a non-alphabetic script known as characters. It is also a tonal language, but the grammar is straightforward. So, studying Chinese can be challenging, but also highly rewarding.

Alongside Chinese, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.

You will have the opportunity to take an integrated year abroad between second and third year in a country where Chinese is spoken.

In third and fourth years, you will be able to take modules based on Chinese literature and visual culture, in their historical and political contexts.

This will involve looking at mainstream, popular and dissident cultures, in all their national, regional, ethnic and diasporic diversity. The study of texts and cultural practices will be focused on the contemporary concerns that are at once both Chinese and global.

Graduates in modern languages from St Andrews can expect to have not only a high level of competence in language skills, but a highly developed appreciation for other cultures and peoples. Other transferable skills, including analysis, synthesis and communication skills will prepare you for a career in almost any industry.

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.

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“The mix of lectures and tutorials allows an active conversation to ensure I’m learning as much as possible. Especially in Chinese, with 6 contact hours a week, the teaching style is directly focused on learning all aspects of Chinese language and culture.”

- Clayton, Panama

How it's taught

Teaching

All modern language modules involve a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical languages classes. Lectures provide information, stimulate thought, and suggest directions for further reading and personal study. Small tutorials allow you to actively work together with your tutors and your peers to practise language skills, present papers, and discuss texts and issues relevant to the course.

When not attending lectures, tutorials and language classes, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

working on individual and group projects

undertaking research in the library

preparing coursework assignments and presentations

preparing for examinations

You will be taught by a research-led teaching team with expertise and knowledge of Chinese studies. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.

You can find contact information for all Chinese studies staff on the Department of Chinese Studies website.

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Assessment

Many of the modules in Chinese are assessed by a combination of coursework (60%) and end-of-semester examinations (40%). Some Honours modules are assessed by 100% coursework

Coursework may include:

presentations

class tests

literature reviews

portfolio of independent work

group assignments

commentaries

learning diaries

Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand. Examinations are either entirely in written format or comprise both written and oral components.

Tutors advise you closely on the preparation of written and oral work and give individual assessments of your performance.

The Department aims to provide feedback on every assessment within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

In addition to your studies in the Department of Chinese Studies, optional academic support is available through practical study skills courses and workshops hosted within the University.

The University's services and support teams can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities, as well as many other difficulties and challenges students might face while studying.

In the first two years of your degree, known as sub-honours, you will take the required modules in Chinese Studies along with modules from your chosen joint subject. Typically, in first and second year, you will take one Chinese Studies module per semester.

In your third and fourth year, known as Honours, you will take at least two compulsory Chinese modules per semester.

Find out more about the modular Scottish degree system.

Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.

First year

Ancient Origins, Modern Worlds: ID1007 explores some of the defining and formative aspects of the cultures of modernity (from c.1800 to the present) by comparing them with their ancient origins and equivalents.

Beginners Chinese Language 1: provides a foundation in Chinese language and cultural history. This module is designed for those with no background in Chinese and teaches reading, writing, listening and speaking. A weekly seminar introduces students to Chinese culture and history.

Beginners Chinese Language 2: Building on 'Beginners Chinese Language 1', this module will allow students to further develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing. They will increase their understanding of Chinese culture from 1979 to the present day.

Chinese Language and Textual Practices 1: This module allows students to develop their existing communicative and written competence in Chinese language and to broaden their knowledge of China’s cultural history.

Chinese Language and Textual Practices 2: This module follows on from the first semester module CN1012, intended for students with prior learning. Students will further develop their spoken and written competence in Chinese, and broaden their knowledge of China’s cultural history.

Second year

Chinese Language and Textual Practices 3: This module builds on the contents of CN1022 and will continue to broaden students’ vocabulary of the language and to focus on consolidating existing and new grammar points. Students will continue to gain insight into the cultural history of China.

Chinese Language and Textual Practices 4: This module continues on from CN2012 and will strengthen students' reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Students will broaden their vocabulary and knowledge of grammar points.

Intermediate Chinese Language 1: you will continue to acquire Chinese characters (900 characters and 2,000 words) while studying more complex texts and enhancing your spoken language skills. Cultural history will be broached by studying literary and visual texts.

Intermediate Chinese Language 2: you will continue to acquire Chinese characters (1,200 characters and 3,000 words) while studying more complex texts and enhancing your spoken language skills. Cultural history will be broached by studying literary and visual texts.

You will take at least two Chinese modules per semester during your third and fourth year, known as Honours.

In your third and fourth years, you must take the following compulsory modules:

Chinese Language, Texts and Cultural Practices 1: you will study more complex texts and be able to recognise and have working knowledge of 1,800 to 2,300 characters.

Chinese Language, Texts and Cultural Practices 2: you will study more complex texts and be able to recognise and have a working knowledge of 2,300 to 2,600 characters.

Chinese Language, Texts and Cultural Practices 3: you will be able to speak, read and write at a high level, use 2,900 to 3,300 characters and comprehend academic texts.

Chinese Language, Texts and Cultural Practices 4: you will be able to speak, read and write at a high level, use 3,200 to 3,600 characters and understand sophisticated academic texts.

You will also choose from a variety of advanced options which incorporate literary, historical and cultural studies into language learning. Modules at Honours level which may be offered include:

Creating China 1: Nation, Modernization, Contestation

Creating China 2: Revolution, Opening-up, Clamping-down

Modern Chinese Science Fiction

Poverty in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature and Culture

Constructing Gender in Chinese Literature

Youth and Education in Republican China

Post-socialist Attitude: Literature and Rebellion in post 1990-China

Pearl River Cultures: Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macau

The Reception and Reinvention of the Past in Modern China

Visualizing Sinophone Culture

In their fourth year, you will also have the option of undertaking a dissertation of 5,000 words on a topic of your choice, supervised by a specialist member of staff. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.

Fees and funding

Scotland: Tuition fees are yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government.

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £10,050 (yet to be confirmed by the UK Government)

EU and overseas: £34,910

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Entry requirements

Single honours degrees in Chinese Studies are not currently offered at St Andrews. Chinese Studies can only be studied as part of a joint programme. To see the qualifications you will need, please refer to the entry requirements for the other subject in your chosen combination.

Joint Honours degrees

You can only take Chinese Studies as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

Course name

UCAS code

Arabic and Chinese Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Art History and Chinese Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Comparative Literature (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Economics (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Film Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and French (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and German (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Modern History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Chinese Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Art History and Chinese Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Comparative Literature

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Film Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and French

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and German

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Modern History

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Persian

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Spanish

Chinese Studies can also be included in a triple Honours degree with French and Spanish, with the option of an integrated year abroad.

China is the world's second-largest economy and its most populous nation-state. Knowledge of the Chinese language, along with an understanding of global issues in a Chinese context, will prepare you for an international career in a variety of industries.

This course will also prepare you to handle differences in working practices in Chinese-speaking contexts. You will learn to develop interpersonal skills and traits highly valued by Chinese-speaking partners, including:

non-confrontational patterns of behaviour

ability to identify the person or people with decision-making power in any given structure or organisation

swift and appropriate decision making

ability to deliver on promises made

willingness to attend and enthusiastically engage in social events

awareness of the way influential sectors of Chinese society perceive modern world history

Typically, graduates of Chinese embark on careers in:

journalism

cultural diplomacy

diplomacy

consultancy and research

business

NGO-related work

literary translation

teaching and research professions

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

Department of Chinese

Department of Chinese website

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Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy

Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.

Page last updated: 27 May 2026

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