Our Head of Department says:
China's economic growth over recent decades, its growing importance as a major political power in international affairs, its relationship with Hong Kong, along with increased contact between China and the West, has seen a corresponding rise of interest amongst Western audiences to travel to, or learn about, the cultural and social life of the region. Tibetan Studies has been taught at SOAS since 1950 – the first UK Higher Education Institution to offer it. Yet, despite such increasing familiarity and the motivation to learn about the rich diversity and dynamism of literary, religious, artistic and philosophical cultures, many stereotypes remain about China and Taiwan, their cultures and their languages. Our degrees aim to shatter these stereotypes, to allow you to master the languages, and to gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the historical development of the cultures of China, Taiwan and Tibet and their place in the modern world.