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UCAS code: TV13

Duration: 4 years

Delivery: Full-time

School: Edinburgh College of Art

College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Study abroad

Introducing MA History of Art and Chinese Studies

This joint honours programme gives you the opportunity to study the history of art and Chinese studies in equal depth. The programme takes advantage of the University of Edinburgh's long-standing tradition of studying Asian literary and visual culture, and draws on expertise across the university.

One of the world’s earliest civilisations, China is once again a major global power; one whose scale makes an understanding of regional and cultural differences essential. Edinburgh is the only university in Scotland to offer undergraduate honours programmes in Chinese, enabling you to learn modern standard Chinese in the context of Chinese history and culture, past and present, alongside a broader survey of the History of Art.

On this degree programme, you will learn to read, write and speak modern standard Chinese to an advanced level using both simplified- and traditional-form characters. As you progress through the degree, you will learn Chinese-English and English-Chinese translation skills.

You will spend Year 3 at a university in China or Taiwan where you will develop your language skills and experience the countries' rich culture.

What you will study

Year 1

You will study History of Art 1, covering the period from the fall of the Roman Empire until the end of the Counter-Reformation, which will include non-Western material.

You will also take Chinese 1, an introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese. If you already have some knowledge of the Chinese language, you may qualify to enrol in Chinese 2A.

Besides Chinese language classes, you will also have an opportunity to take courses which cover modern East Asian history or literature and film in modern China.

Year 2

You will study History of Art 2, which begins with the 18th century and continues to the present day, and you will continue to learn Chinese and explore Chinese culture further in the Year 2 language classes.

Besides course options which focus on pre-modern East Asian history, you will also have the opportunity to choose between learning classical Chinese and modern Chinese translation, or to complete an independent research project on a topic within Chinese studies.

Year 3

You will spend Year 3 abroad in either China or Taiwan, where you will develop your language and cross-cultural communication skills in an immersive environment.

You will also write either one or two independent projects for History of Art, and you may elect to write the first part of your dissertation preparation for Chinese.

Year 4

You will choose from a wide range of specialist History of Art courses. You will also continue to study Chinese language where you will focus on advanced skills in speaking, reading and writing, and build on your existing translation skills.

Alongside the Chinese language, you will be able to choose from courses on film, politics, modern and pre-modern history, literature, contemporary Chinese society, and economic history.

You will write a dissertation in either History of Art or Chinese.

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 (2020/21)

Where you will study

Our facilities

Most history of art teaching takes place in the University's Central Area or within Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). You will be able to take advantage of Edinburgh's galleries and museums, many of which are located near the University.

The majority of the Chinese teaching takes place in the University's Central Area. Based around the Main Library, the area has excellent computing and audiovisual resources, support services, social spaces and collections, including the University’s EUL Chinese and East Asian Studies Collection of some 50,000 print and digital resources. There is also a Chinese Studies Peer Support Group.

Study abroad

You will spend Year 3 (a minimum of 30 weeks) at a university in China or Taiwan. This is your chance to immerse yourself in Chinese culture, and to develop your broader life experience and skills towards life after university.

What are my options for going abroad?

Learning and assessment

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, individual supervisions, language tuition and museum and gallery visits.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by coursework and exams. In Years 3 and 4, you will complete at least one independent project in history of art, and a longer dissertation, in either history of art or Chinese studies

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 (2020/21)

Career opportunities

History of Art & Chinese Studies at the University of Edinburgh prepares you for a range of careers in the art world such as curatorships in galleries and museums, art journalism, publishing, art dealing, tourism, graphics, advertising, heritage management and auctioneering.

This particular degree benefits from a growing global market and interest in Asian art.

Some graduates use their skills and experience for careers in management or teaching, while some choose to go on to further study. Throughout the degree programme, you will learn a range of research skills which are necessary for further study but which are also highly-transferable in a wide range of contexts.

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

SQA Highers: AAAA-AABB by the end of S5 or AAAA-AAAB by the end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.(Revised 09/04/2020 from AAAA-AAAB and to include alternate grades to be achieved by end of S6.)
A Levels: AAB - ABB.
IB: 43 points with 776 at HL - 37 points with 666 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
A Levels: ABB.
IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

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

Additional requirements

Language requirement

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

English language requirements

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 at C
SQA Standard Grade at 3
SQA Intermediate 1 at A
SQA Intermediate 2 at C
GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
Level 2 Certificate Grade C
IB Standard Level at 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 (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
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 degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

Discover Uni data

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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 Discover Uni data available.

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for MA History of Art and Chinese Studies

Additional costs

You will bear the costs of printing. In addition, there may be small costs associated with travel to visit exhibitions, but these are usually limited to c£10-£20 per visit. During your year in China, you will be responsible for accommodation and maintenance 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.