Chinese (Modern)

Vast and diverse, China has become one of the world's major economic powers and boasts a rich and varied cultural heritage.

This degree offers you the chance to develop your Chinese language skills while exploring China's social, cultural, political and historical context.

Compulsory modules will allow you to build your spoken and written Chinese, while a variety of optional modules will enable you to discover the aspects of Chinese politics, society and culture that interest you. You can even study modules covering the wider Asia Pacific region, such as Japanese literature, history and development in East Asia, or East Asian religions.

East Asian Studies at Leeds offers flexible and varied language degrees that focus on modern cultures and societies –“ but don't neglect their historical roots either.

This four-year course includes a year abroad.

Specialist resources

Created over 50 years, the Chinese collection housed in the Brotherton Library is one of the best collections of modern Chinese books in the country. The University Library also has impressive holdings of books in English about China, backed up by a wide range of digital materials. You'll have access to free classes and workshops so you can learn how to use them.

As well as our great library resources, our Language Zone gives you access to free learning resources, including space for personal study, language learning software, and video, audio, books and magazines.

The programme is designed for international students. Applicants must meet two of the following three criteria in order to be eligible for our programmes:

• Have an educational gap between their high school qualifications and the requirements for entry to undergraduate programmes at the University of Leeds. Qualifications beyond high school level will be considered within the applicant profile.
• Have completed the majority of their high school studies in a non-English speaking environment.
• Have completed the majority of their high school studies in a different educational context from that in the UK.

Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate will be considered for the International Foundation Year if they have reached a minimum Grade of 26 points overall with grade 4 at Standard Level or 3 at Higher Level in two subjects. Specific subjects will be dependent on the chosen degree path of progression.

A degree in Chinese will give you valuable communication skills in the Chinese language as well as deep cultural awareness. That will open a number of doors into a range of different careers, both within China and around the world.

It will also equip you with valuable transferable skills that are highly sought by all kinds of employers. You'll be able to work independently and research topics thoroughly, critically reflecting on what you have found and drawing your own conclusions –“ which you'll then be able to clearly present and defend.

As a result, graduates have gone into a range of careers in business, journalism, publishing, diplomacy, tourism, teaching, broadcasting, overseas aid work, PR and language-based roles such as translation and interpreting. They work around the world, throughout China, Hong Kong and Taiwan but also across East Asia, the UK, Europe and the United States.

Postgraduate study in East Asian studies at Leeds or elsewhere provides an opportunity to continue to learn more about this region at an advanced level, bringing with it stronger career prospects, or it can prepare you for a PhD and a career in academia.

We are committed to helping you achieve your career ambitions. The School of Languages, Cultures and Societies careers and employability support includes promoting internships, providing opportunities to work for the School and employer-led workshops and events.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Apply

There are three steps to applying:

1. Read our Access to Leeds application guidelines
2. Fill in our Access to Leeds application form (this will be available here once the application cycle opens). If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader), there is an accessible version of this form available to download. Please only use this version if you have accessibility requirements
3. Submit your application using our online Access to Leeds Application Submission Form (this will be available here once the application cycle opens).

If you require it for your application, please download our Declaration of Household Income Form (this will be available here once the application cycle opens).