Chinese Studies MLitt

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View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.

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Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

This Chinese Studies MLitt course is delivered by the School of Modern Languages (SML), with the possibility of joint supervision with other schools. SML is located in the heart of Newcastle University's city-centre campus. Attendance is flexible and agreed between you and your supervisors depending on the requirements of the research project.

Study consists mainly of tutorials and independent learning supported by research training. Supervisors will advise applicants on how to develop their research proposals, help them identify gaps in the subject knowledge and research skills, and work in dialogue with them to develop their project. 

The MLitt includes a formal research training component where you develop research skills and methodologies (20 credits). 

Full-time students are expected to undertake 40 hours of work per week with an annual holiday entitlement of 35 days (including statutory and bank holidays). Part-time study requires a commitment of at least 20 hours per week.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Dissertation
• Essay

• Dissertation – a longer piece of academic writing that allows you to explore a subject of your choosing in depth and over a longer period of time
• Essay – written work that explores a single question, posed in response to taught elements of the MLitt

As part of the Chinese Studies MLitt, you will also complete a portfolio of essays. These will be chosen in consultation with your supervisors according to your interests and experience (80 credits). You will then undertake a dissertation of 16,000–18,000 words consisting of a sustained piece of original research (80 credits).

You will normally work on a research project which comprises two to four research assignments and a longer dissertation. Your supervisor will be an expert in your chosen field. You will also receive support from an experienced research supervisor.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Home fees for research degree students

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.