ObjectivesThe four-year course aims to provide students with a firm grounding in Mandarin Chinese and in contemporary Chinese culture, society, economy and politics as well as China's changing relations with the West. Students will study Mandarin Chinese throughout the course. The core language teaching in Mandarin Chinese enables you to develop various linguistic skills: speaking and writing accurately; understanding and analysing audio, video and written material; using different registers; speaking to a group with confidence; and translating with appropriate sensitivity. At the same time, students can choose China-related topics in literature, film, cultural studies, politics, history, linguistics, economics, development studies, and business, drawing on the wide range of research expertise in Chinese Studies across the Faculty of Humanities. In this way, you will be able to tailor the course in keeping with the development of your interests.
Entry requirementsSelected entry requirements English language: Candidates must be proficient in the English language, which is the language of instruction and examination at the university. Acceptable English Language qualifications include IELTS 6.5, CPE grade C, CAE Grade B or another equivalent A level: Grades BBB (see GCSE for further subject requirements) AS level: Two AS-Levels may be accepted in place of the third A-Level. Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications. Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes. GCSE: English Language and a modern foreign language both grade B or above. Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University. International baccalaureate: 31 points overall. Additional entry requirements Additional entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Academic titleBA Chinese Studies
Course descriptionSpecial features
Chinese Studies at Manchester is taught by a diverse team of internationally-recognised academic specialists in the field, supported by state-of-the-art resources in the John Rylands University Library and the University Language Centre. The Manchester undergraduate degree courses in Chinese are characterised by their quality, range and flexibility. They give you the opportunity either to build on existing advanced knowledge of the language (i.e. A-level or equivalent), or to study it as a beginner.
Course content for year 1
Year 1 Compulsory units
-Standard Modern Chinese language
-Introduction to Chinese Studies
-Modern China (History)
-Introduction to Comparative Politics
Year 1 Optional units
-Fundamentals of Management
-Global contexts of Business and Management
-Morphology and Syntax
-Principles of Linguistics
-Introduction to International Politics
-Culture and Society
-Cultural, Power and Language
-Cultural Diversity in Global Perspective
-Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
Course content for year 2
Year 2 Compulsory units
-Standard Modern Chinese Language
-Modern Chinese Culture and Society
Year 2 Optional units
-Contemporary Chinese economic development
-Chinese literature/film
-Comparative politics
-Chinese politics today
-Chinese business
-Late Imperial China
-World Englishes
-Introduction to typology
-Political and economic anthropology
-The politics of globalisation
-The politics of development
-Third world politics
-Religion in Japan
-Course content for year 3
Your third year of study is spent abroad under approved conditions. For more information on the period of residence abroad please consult the following: Residence Abroad
Course content for year 4
Note: Details of final year level modules will be determined in the light of the schedule of appointments in the next year.
Career opportunities
Languages qualify you for a wide range of employment. Your high-level language skills will open up numerous paths with an international dimension (e.g. business, industry and finance). You will also have excellent all-round communication skills making you a strong contender for openings in the media, PR and similar areas.
In our experience, many graduates go straight into business services, marketing, advertising, management, banking or communications. Others opt for postgraduate study or further vocational training to become accountants, lawyers, teachers (in England or abroad) or enter the Civil Service.
Did you know?
-MI5 actively recruit graduates with language skills
-Past students have gone into areas as diverse as Radio Reporting, -Advertising, Accountancy, Events Management, Commercial Management and -International Sales.
-Graduates from The University of Manchester are amongst the highest paid in the country
-More employers recruit at The University of Manchester than at any other UK university
-The University of Manchester's Careers Service is consistently voted the best in the country by both students and employers
-The School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures is one of the largest and most diverse in the UK and has received the prestigious European Award for -Languages from CiLT, the National Centre for Languages.
Course fees: Tuition fees for Home/EU students commencing their studies in 2009 will be approximately £3250 per year. These fees will be subject to change in the light of government announcements to all universities.