MA Chinese
About this course
MA (Hons) in Chinese, a Chinese degree focusing on language, literature, and cultural history. Core topics include Research Methods and Critical & Analytical Thinking. Students spend the third year studying abroad at a university in mainland China or Taiwan. The first year covers modern East Asian history, Modern China in Literature and Film, linguistics and language sciences, business, economics and informatics, politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations, art and architectural history, history, classics and archaeology, Celtic and Scottish ethnology, and philosophy, divinity and law. The second year focuses on referencing skills, essay and dissertation writing, and using software tools and Chinese libraries. The third year involves developing critical and analytical skills through close reading of selected texts, furthering the understanding of primary and secondary sources, history, politics, contemporary society, literature, and visual culture, alongside support services such as the Student Wellbeing Service, Student Counselling, Student Disability and Learning Support, and a university emergency helpline available 24 hours a day. The final year examines film and literature, politics, modern and pre-modern history, and contemporary society.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
See the highest paying Languages & English degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 71%: 41 offers from 58 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 7 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 74%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 85%
- Student voice: 87%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 30 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- London: 40%
- South East: 10%
- South West: 5%
- Wales: 5%
- Scotland: 40%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 75%
- Baccalaureate: 15%
- Access course: 15%
Modules
- modern East Asian history, which looks at Japan and Korea and their relationship with China
- Modern China in Literature and Film, which allows you to develop insights into topics such as women’s emancipation, revolution, and nationalism
- linguistics and language sciences
- business, economics and informatics
- politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
- art and architectural history
- history, classics and archaeology
- Celtic and Scottish ethnology
- philosophy, divinity and law
- referencing skills
- essay and dissertation writing
- using software tools and Chinese libraries
- develop your critical and analytical skills through close reading of selected texts
- further your understanding of how to use primary and secondary sources
- history
- politics
- contemporary society
- literature
- visual culture
- Student Wellbeing Service
- Student Counselling
- Student Disability and Learning Support
- University emergency helpline (available 24 hours a day)
- film and literature
- politics
- modern and pre-modern history
- contemporary society
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of MA Chinese at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 3 years, £34,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £46,000. The £34,500 median after five years is £3,500 more than the UK median for Asian studies.
Are students happy with the teaching on MA Chinese at University of Edinburgh?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for MA Chinese at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 185 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for MA Chinese at University of Edinburgh?
71% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 41 offers from 58 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does MA Chinese at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory year abroad.
How many students continue on MA Chinese at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.