MA Chinese and History

Year 1

You will study Chinese 1, an introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese.

History courses in Year 1 are broad survey courses that are designed to prepare you for more specialised study in Years 3 and 4. Current courses range from the Middle Ages to the present.

You will take one of these courses and also a compulsory course in historical skills that engages with broader questions about the nature of history as an academic discipline and the methods and skills required for historical research.

Year 2

You will continue to learn Chinese language and you will explore Chinese culture further.

Year 2 History courses extend your range geographically and chronologically and currently cover various periods and themes in American, European, British, Scottish and global history.

As in Year 1, History courses offer broad surveys that are designed to prepare you for more specialised study in Years 3 and 4. You will choose one of these courses and also take a compulsory course on historiography.

Year 3

You will spend Year 3 studying abroad, where you will develop your language skills and follow courses in Chinese literature and culture. You will also produce two year abroad essays for History.

Year 4

You will continue to study Chinese language and you will choose from a wide range of specialist courses in both Chinese and History. You will also undertake your dissertation.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2019/20)

Our facilities

The majority of the teaching takes place in and around the School of Literatures, Languages & Cultures, in the University's Central Area. You will have access to the University's libraries and computer facilities and the School's language labs.

Study abroad

Students will spend Year 3 studying abroad.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Most of the courses are taught through lectures and tutorials. Languages are taught in small classes by Chinese speakers and also involve the use of computer-assisted learning.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by a combination of exams, class exercises and coursework.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2019/20)

Many Chinese-speaking graduates are currently recruited by companies based in East Asia, an increasingly powerful player in the global economy, but with Scotland's strategy to enhance engagement with China, opportunities for employment are increasing closer to home too. These include careers in translation/interpreting and education.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AAAB - AABB by end of S5. If you haven’t achieved this by the end of S5 we may consider your application based on a strong performance in S6. A minimum of BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 38 points (grades 666 at HL) - 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6, with a minimum of BBB achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points (grades 655 at HL).

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5: a language other than English at grade A and English at grade C.
• A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: a language other than English at grade A or 7 and English at grade C or 4.
• IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: a language other than English at grade 6 and English at grade 5.

Additional requirements

Native speakers

Please note that the Chinese programmes involve beginners language study and are not suitable for native or near-native speakers.

Language requirement

Please note that for degrees that have a subject requirement of a language other than English, students may not use their own native language to meet this requirement. In these instances, English or an alternative language other than native will be acceptable.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 Grade C

• SQA Standard Grade 3

• SQA Intermediate 1 Grade A

• SQA Intermediate 2 Grade C

• GCSE Grade C or 4

• Level 2 Certificate Grade C

• IB Standard Level Grade 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component

• TOEFL-iBT 92 or above with 20 in each section

• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component

• PTE Academic: Total 61 with at least 51 in each "Communicative Skills" section

• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

(Revised 05/06/2019 to provide more accurate/comprehensive information.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Unistats data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA Chinese and History

Additional costs

You will spend September to July of Year 3 at a university in Taiwan or China. This is a compulsory part of your programme. Costs will vary according to the location. Some scholarship money may be available from external sources, on a competitive basis, for students studying in China.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Undergraduate Admissions Office
• Email: CAHSS.UGAdmissions@ed.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 3565
• Web: Chinese website
• International enquiries