1. Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
  2. School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Modern Languages and International Relations (Chinese)

Modern Languages and International Relations (Chinese)

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied if you choose Chinese as your language pathway.

For information on typical modules for International Relations, please check the course page.

These modules may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • Basic Chinese Language 1 (20 credits) – This intensive Chinese language module is suitable for complete and false beginners. It progresses fast and aims to help students to improve all their four basic skills in a balanced way through a range of classes – lecture, drill, listening and practical. Students will be engaged in an interactive and communicative learning environment and work with both simplified Chinese characters (read, write and type) and traditional Chinese characters (read).

  • Basic Chinese Language 2 (20 credits) – This intensive Chinese language module is suitable for students who have learnt about 500 Chinese characters and are familiar with essential features of Chinese syntax. It progresses fast and aims to help students to achieve a lower-intermediate level overall through a range of classes – lecture, drill, listening, speaking and practical. Students will be engaged in an interactive and communicative learning environment and work with both simplified Chinese characters (read, write and type) and traditional Chinese characters (read).

  • Politics, Culture and Society (20 credits) - What are the key debates that shape the practice of politics at international level? How can theory helps us better understand and analyse the practice of politics in the world today? How can awareness of differing cultural and intercultural perspectives help us better understand contemporary international politics? This module will introduce these themes and explore them in relation to a range of issues drawn from around the world. Because they are shaped by the current research interests of the staff teaching the module, the precise topics covered will vary from year to year.

Optional modules

  • Modern China: History and Culture (20 credits)

  • China in East Asian History (20 credits)

Year 2

Compulsory modules

  • Year Abroad in China (120 credits)

Year 3

Compulsory modules

  • Chinese 2A (20 credits) – This module is a comprehensive course of upper-intermediate language skills, which provides students with the opportunity to improve their Chinese linguistic and communicative competence through newspaper readings, a systematic study of some main features of Chinese grammar, translation between Chinese and English, listening comprehension, interpersonal communication and oral interpretation.

  • Chinese 2B (20 credits) – This module is a comprehensive course of upper-intermediate language skills, which aims to improve students' practical language skills through intensive and extensive readings, writings, translation/interpretation between Chinese and English, listening comprehension and interpersonal communication. Topics covered may include literature, business, tourism, education, Taiwan and other cultural issues.

Optional modules

  • China Since 1979 (20 credits)

  • Japan's International Relations (20 credits)

  • The Making of Modern Thailand (20 credits)

  • Classics of Chinese Literature and Thought (20 credits)

  • Classical Chinese (20 credits)

  • Society and Culture of Early Modern China (20 credits)

  • Contemporary East Asian Culture (20 credits)

  • Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World (20 credits)

  • Topics in Contemporary Asia Pacific Societies (20 credits)

  • Chinese Cinema (20 credits)

  • Japanese Literature in Translation: Gender and Sexuality in Modern Japan (20 credits)

  • Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World (20 credits)

  • Religion in China (20 credits)

  • Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China (20 credits)

  • Chinese Linguistics: Theory and Practice (20 credits)

  • Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction and Drama (20 credits)

Year 4

Compulsory modules

  • Chinese 3: Advanced Skills (20 credits) – This module emphasises the active language skills students will need to gain a deeper understanding of China, to equip them for the workplace, for possible further study, and for lifelong engagement with China and its people generally. The practical training in this module includes speaking and listening, translating from English into Chinese, and composition in Chinese, taught in a mutually reinforcing way. 

  • Final Year Project - Dissertation, Extended Translation, or Digital Documentary (e.g. Podcast) (40 credits) - This may be produced in either English or, subject to the approval of the Module Leader and project supervisor, the Target Language. Lectures and workshops provide the skills training necessary, whereas more specific guidance is provided through one to one supervision with a member of staff.

Optional modules

  • Classics of Chinese Literature and Thought (20 credits)

  • Chinese Oral and Performance Traditions (20 credits)

  • Religion in China (20 credits)

  • Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China (20 credits)

  • Chinese Linguistics: Theory and Practice (20 credits)

  • Chinese Language for International Trade and Business (20 credits)

  • Modern Japanese History (20 credits)

  • East Asia's Regional Political Economy (20 credits)

  • Japanese Cinema in the World (20 credits)

  • Representing the Holocaust: Transgression and the Taboo (20 credits)

  • Contemporary World Literature (20 credits)

  • Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption (20 credits)

  • Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents (20 credits)

  • Decolonial Approaches (20 credits)

  • Social Movements across Cultures (20 credits)

  • Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present (20 credits)

  • Linguists into Schools (20 credits)