Chinese Studies MA (joint degree)

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:

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes, please see our entry requirements for more information.

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

• Standard entry grades:

  AAAB

  Minimum entry grades:

  AABB

  Gateway entry grades:

  Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

• Standard entry grades:

  AAB

  Minimum entry grades:

  ABB

• Standard entry grades:

  36 (HL 6,6,5)

  Minimum entry grades:

  36 (HL 6,5,5)

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

• SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing science
  • Geography
  • Lifeskills Mathematics (A grade)
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

• GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computing Science
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology.

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.

Alternative study options

Integrated year abroad

Students may choose to spend an additional year working or studying in a Chinese-speaking country. Find out about more about the integrated year abroad for this course.

Study abroad

Students studying Chinese can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad website.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No prior knowledge of Chinese is necessary. However, students who have already studied Chinese in a Scottish Advanced Higher, A-Level or Cambridge Pre-U, or as part of the IB, or have an equivalent level of prior Chinese language study may be admitted to our 'prior learners' modules (see below).

Careers

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.