Doctorate-level study is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise in a community that really values research while making original, positive contributions to learning in Chinese and East Asian Studies.
Our research environment creates vital interdisciplinary linkages between China experts across the University of Edinburgh and beyond, including at other Scottish universities.
Research excellence
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), our research was submitted in the following categories:
- Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Politics and International Studies
- Sociology
- History
- Theology and Religious Studies
The results reaffirm Edinburgh’s position as one of the UK’s leading research universities - third in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its research in Modern Languages and Linguistics alone, according to Times Higher Education's REF power ratings.
Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors.
We have particular strengths in:
- classical and modern Chinese literature
- modern Chinese politics and society
- modern Chinese family and religion
- media
- the performing arts and film
- ancient Chinese philosophy and religion
Explore our range of research centres, networks and projects in Chinese and Asian Studies
Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between languages and/or disciplines, including comparative literature, film studies, and translation studies.
Be inspired by the range of PhD research in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Over the course of your PhD, you’ll be expected to complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of your supervisors leading to a dissertation of usually between 80,000 and 100,000 words.
You will be awarded your doctorate if your thesis is judged to be of an appropriate standard, and your research makes a definite contribution to knowledge.
Go beyond the books
Beyond the Books is a podcast from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at research and the people who make it happen.
Listen to a mix of PhD, early career and established researchers talk about their journey to and through academia and about their current and recent research.
Browse Beyond the Books episodes and hear our research community talk about their work