Modern Chinese Studies

The course is suitable for graduates who have developed an interest in China and now want to take that to a level where it could be useful for their future careers.  It can be taken either as a terminal degree in preparation for professional work in which knowledge of China and Chinese is an advantage, or in preparation for further research as part of a doctoral degree in either the humanities or social sciences.

The aims of the MPhil in Modern Chinese Studies are to provide a strong grounding in modern Chinese language, both written and spoken, a strong foundation in understanding modern Chinese society and culture, and advanced training in conducting and reporting on independent and original research.

You will spend the first year of the course in Oxford, studying Chinese language alongside core classes in Chinese society and culture and/or research methods. You will choose from a range of options, shared with the MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies, which allow you opportunities to acquire advanced knowledge of the society, politics, economics, international relations, history, literature and art of modern China.

Knowing the Chinese language is essential for anyone who wants to understand China and the course is designed to provide this at both elementary and intermediate levels. You will be allocated to the appropriate level by a placement test on arrival.

Elementary level will be for students who are complete beginners or are false beginners, but not up to the next level. Students are taught reading, writing and translation skills as well as speaking and listening. Intermediate level will be for students who have excelled at the beginner level, are confident in daily communication and able to recognise and write about 500 to 550 Chinese characters. Students must have learnt most of the main grammar points to enter the intermediate level. Due to the intensive language teaching element of the course, this degree is not appropriate for applicants with fluent or native Chinese language ability. Instead they are encouraged to apply for the MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies degree.

The first part of the second year consists of a period of at least three months on an approved course of language study in mainland China or Taiwan. In addition, the second year consists of continued coursework as well as independent research that culminates in a thesis.

Because this course involves language learning in addition to studies courses students will have a large number of classroom hours. The exact number of hours per week varies according to the level of language learning. However, whatever the level students will find that most of their time throughout the two years is taken up with classes and the regular preparation and homework required for those classes.

The overall structure of the course is as follows:

(a) Chinese Language at level 1 (elementary) or level 2 (intermediate). Candidates will be allocated to these levels by a placement test.
(b) Compulsory core course on The Study of Contemporary China (SOCC).
(c) Methodology Training: Candidates can choose between two courses focused on either social sciences or humanities approaches to modern China.
(d) Elective papers: Candidates must choose two option papers, one per year.
(e) Thesis of 20,000 words.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Faculty of Oriental Studies and Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Faculty of Oriental Studies and Oxford School of Global and Area Studies.