BA (Hons) in Chinese Studies and Linguistics, Lancaster University

Lancaster,

48 Months

Check Eligibility

About this course

This four-year combined degree at Lancaster University is offered by the renowned School of Global Affairs and the Department of Linguistics and English Language. It is designed for students interested in Chinese language and culture, supplemented with linguistics. No prior study of Chinese is necessary; the course is intensive for beginners. Students learn Chinese in social and cultural contexts through innovative activities like the Chinese Friendship Project, with cultural explorations such as trips, festivals, and film nights. The curriculum aims to develop fluency in Chinese, understanding of its grammar, and broad awareness of the Chinese-speaking world’s history, politics, and society. The program includes an international placement in a Chinese-speaking country, offering real-world language practice and intercultural experience. Students also explore linguistics to understand language structure, variation, and change across languages, including English and Chinese.

Why this course is highly recommended

Lancaster University’s Chinese Studies and Linguistics program is backed by a top-rated department, ranked highly for linguistics and languages. The course offers an intensive learning experience in Chinese for beginners, alongside a flexible structure that includes a year abroad and a work placement in China. Opportunities for cultural engagement, such as the Chinese Friendship Project, and comprehensive linguistics modules, make it an engaging and immersive experience. The international placement year enhances intercultural sensitivity and language proficiency, valuable skills sought by employers in global markets. The program’s blend of language, culture, and linguistics provides a well-rounded education, preparing students for diverse careers in areas like education, diplomacy, business, and research.

Specialisation

The course combines Chinese Studies with Linguistics, enabling students to grasp both language fluency and structural understanding. The program offers modules in social, cultural, political, and historical aspects of China, alongside linguistics topics like phonetics, syntax, and language evolution. It provides opportunities to study Chinese from beginner to advanced levels, including historical and contemporary perspectives, while also deepening linguistic analysis skills. The curriculum supports a global perspective on language, society, and intercultural communication.

Course fees

Application fees

1st year tuition fees

26.07L

Living cost

Degree requirements

Applicants need AAB grades at A level, including evidence of language learning ability, such as a B in a foreign language at A level or GCSE. Additional qualifications like the IB, Scottish Highers, BTEC DDD, or equivalent are accepted with appropriate language evidence. For international students, the IELTS requirement is a score of 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component. Students studying Mandarin from beginner level are not eligible. The course includes a structured four-year program with language modules, cultural modules, and an international placement year, requiring specific language proficiency levels for advanced modules.

English language test

IELTS

6.5

TOEFL

PTE

DUOLINGO

Career prospects

Graduates from this program develop skills in intercultural communication, language analysis, research, and cultural understanding. Potential career paths include roles in education, translation and interpretation, diplomacy, international business, research, media, and cultural sectors. Graduates have gone on to become speech therapists, teachers, computer programmers, consultants, bankers, and social workers. Many students pursue postgraduate studies in translation, applied linguistics, or related fields, leveraging the program’s emphasis on employable skills, intercultural competence, and language proficiency.

FAQs

Is prior Chinese language study required?

No, the course is designed for beginners, so prior Chinese experience is not necessary.

What is included in the international placement year?

Students spend time abroad in Chinese-speaking countries, either at partner universities or in work placements or as British Council language assistants, to practice language skills and develop intercultural understanding.