Please note that this BA programme will undergo a structural reform for 2019/20. Although the overall scope and learning outcomes will remain mostly unchanged, there may be minor changes to the core module and the selection of guided options. These changes are designed to improve the student experience and engagement with the subject matter, based on feedback from current and previous students.
The Chinese combined honours degree aims to give a broad understanding of Chinese culture through study of its language, history and literature from earliest times up to the present in combination with a solid grounding in another language or discipline.
The range of expertise in SOAS, not only in East Asian studies, but also with regard to languages and literatures of other regions is unique in UK institutions. Along with proven excellence in other disciplines, such as religious studies, anthropology, art and archaeology, and history, this offers students an unparalleled range of options in choosing their second subject of study.
Please note that the BA Chinese and ... will undergo a structural reform for 2018/19. The number of compulsory modules in year 1 will be cut back to 2, allowing for better balance with the second subject.
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Who is this programme for?: The programme has flexible entry requirements for students with various levels of Chinese proficiency, from absolute beginners to GCSE and A-level Chinese. The department also offers elective modules in Chinese on various levels for students wishing to obtain or improve Chinese language skills in the context of other degree programmes.
BTEC: DDM
Access to HE: Minimum of 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
Scottish Highers: AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB
Irish LC: 340 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
Advanced Placement: 4 4 5 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
Euro Bacc: 80%
French Bacc: 14/20
German Abitur: 2.0
Italy DES: 80/100
Austria Mat: 2.0
Polish Mat: Overall 75% including 3 extended level subjects
Please see the Unistats data for the various combinations of this programme under the Combinations tab.
Click on a combined programme to load KIS data
Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.
Two-subject degree students must take and pass a minimum of 150 credits in Chinese, including all core modules, over the course of their four-year programme, in addition to the modules taken during the year abroad.
Please note that the BA Chinese and ... will undergo a structural reform for 2018/19. The number of compulsory modules in year 1 will be cut back to 2, allowing for better balance with the second subject.
The modules below are core.
60 credits are taken from the syllabus of the second subject.
Students under advanced entry do not take Ch100: Elementary Chinese but instead take 30 credits of Modern Chinese (Chinese 3 or higher) and an approved guided option or open option module.
Please see the Teaching & Learning tab for more details on the year abroad valued at 120 credits
Compulsory Modules
Students choose a module from List A to the value of 15 credits
Compulsory Modules
Students choose a module from List A to the value of 15 credits
Choose a module from List A or List B to the value of 15 credits
| Module | Code | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch 305: Elementary Cantonese | 155901228 | 30 | Full Year |
| Modern Chinese Literary Texts | 155903013 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Chinese for Business | 155903010 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Tibetan (Modern) 1 A | 155906024 | 15 | Term 1 |
| Tibetan (Modern) 1 B | 155906025 | 15 | Term 2 |
| New Taiwan Cinema and Beyond | 155903011 | 15 | Term 1 |
| History and Memory in East Asian Cultures | 155903015 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Literature, Politics and National Identity in Modern China | 155903017 | 15 | Term 2 |
| Identity and social relations in Japanese | 155901418 | 15 | Term 1 |
The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. If you are a current student you can find structure information on the previous year link at the top of the page or through your Department. Please read the important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.
Students spend the second year of their BA Chinese and ... degree at Beijing Normal University (BNU). Two subject degree students are required to take four of the following modules:
In order to proceed to Year 3, students must pass all four of the language modules taken at BNU as well as a Sinological Research Project which is submitted to their teachers at SOAS. If a student fails one language course, they will be offered a re-entry test in September of the same academic year, to determine whether or not they can continue to Year 3. A student who fails more than one language course will fail the year. If a student fails the Sinological Research Project, they must re-sit by doing a new project on a new topic, without supervision. If the new project is handed in before September of the same academic year and is considered to be of sufficient quality, the student may be allowed to progress to Year 3 (if the performance on language courses has been satisfactory).
Students wanting to take Chinese 304 in Year 3 must also take and pass Guwen this year.
All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 60, 45, 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are taught over one term or the full year. It also shows which modules are compulsory and which are optional.
As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study (see Approaches to teaching and learning at SOAS). It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others.
More information is on the page for each module.
Most modules are taught in small classes. Modern language teaching involves classroom work and independent study. A few non-language modules are taught by formal lecture. The single and combined degree modules are examined through oral and written examinations and coursework or reports.
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
As a graduate who specialised in China and Inner Asia, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.
Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.
Choosing to study a joint degree programme will increase the breadth of your knowledge, and will develop additional skills with which to further your studies of China and the Inner Asian region, or to make comparative study with other areas. Chinese may be combined with a huge range of other disciplines. For more information on the extra skills you will gain from your second subject, please see the relevant departmental page.
Recent graduates have found employment in the UK, Europe and East Asia. They work in management research, medicine, English language teaching, import/export, stockbrokerage, multinational corporations, NGOs, libraries, media, law, film production, galleries and museums and merchant banking. Others go on to postgraduate study.
Graduates have gone on to work for a range of organisations including:
| Alcatel-Lucent Bellville Rodair International China's Ethnic Groups Magazine Chongqing Foreign Languages School Department for Communities and Local Government EChinaCities Emerge Poverty Free Exclusive Analysis Foreign & Commonwealth Office Global Health Europe |
Global Witness Idealpeople Impact Investment Shujog JET Programme National Health Service Standard Chartered Bank Teach First The Daily Telegraph Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art |
Types of roles that graduates have gone on to do include:
| Project Coordinator Management Accountant English Teacher Assistant Economist Executive Editor Science Communications Postdoctoral Fellow Political Officer Chinese Translator/ Researcher |
Research Associate Architecture Finance Manager Business Manager Proof Reader Journalist Assistant Curator Equity Capital Markets, Analyst |
For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.
Giulia CibottiWhen I first arrived in London, I didn’t know many people but SOAS soon felt like home. As the campus itself is quite small, students develop a strong sense of community, as if they were all part of a large eccentric family. Also, given the nature of our studies, people here are extremely diverse, friendly and open-minded. You can tell that everyone is really passionate and enthusiastic about what they do. It’s very contagious and inspirational.
If you still have questions about this programme or studying at SOAS get in touch.
Undergraduate applications should be made through UCAS.