BA History and Contemporary Chinese Studies

If you’re passionate about history but also dream of spending time in China and becoming fluent in the language – how do you choose which degree to study? We say, choose both!

This joint honours course allows you to combine your curiosity for human experience with your love of communicating in another language.

On this course you will follow an intensive language course in Mandarin at an appropriate level designed to take you to advanced, proficiency or research level within four years, depending on your entry level.

You will divide your time equally between the two subjects in year one. In year two, you will take two thirds of your credits in Contemporary Chinese studies and one third in History. In the final year you will undertake a year-long special subject study in History, based on primary historical sources. You will vary the overall credit weighting for the final year according to your preference, so that you take either two-thirds History and one-third Contemporary Chinese studies or vice versa.

Many of our students say the year abroad is their course highlight. Not only do you have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Chinese language and culture, but spending time abroad can make you more independent and confident. Taking yourself out of your comfort zone won’t only benefit your degree, it’ll shape the person you are to become.

Learn more about the departments you shall be based in: Modern Languages and Cultures and History