Course summary

Our Chinese and Linguistics BA trains you to be a competent linguist ready to enter graduate employment. Our degree offers the exciting combination of the study of Chinese language and culture alongside the wider study of the forms, structures and varieties of language itself. You'll develop a high level of competence in oral and written communication in Chinese, proficiency in language transfer skills, and a thorough knowledge of Chinese culture. On graduation, you'll be able to thrive linguistically in diverse cultural situations. You'll study an integrated curriculum with a focus on applied language skills and cultural studies, supported by a rigorous development of your foreign languages skills in all areas. We teach in an integrated interdisciplinary way, exploring the connections between language and culture and the broader historical and cross-cultural contexts in which they are produced. We place particular emphasis on employability and the contemporary cultural context, and offer high-quality teaching in all language skills. The linguistics component of your combined degree will develop your understanding and knowledge of language to an advanced and sophisticated level, while fostering and enhancing your skills in using English. Between Years 2 and 3, you'll have the option to spend a full academic year abroad at one of our partner institutions, or undertake an approved form of employment in a country where Chinese is the official language, such as China or Hong Kong. You may work as a paid language assistant in a foreign school or undertake a work (or volunteering) placement, both of which give you a valuable opportunity to boost your employability while improving your language competence. Our Chinese courses are only available to beginner or intermediate entrants – intermediate entrants are students who have obtained or might be studying for an A level in Chinese, or who might have achieved the equivalent of HSK Chinese Proficiency Test Level 3. Please note that we may need to test you to determine your entry point.