East Asian Studies/Modern Sinology (M.A.)

Features

The Master’s program in Modern Sinology combines intensive training in the Chinese language with interdisciplinary training in perspectives from the social sciences and the humanities on modern China (history, philosophy, religion, politics, society, economy, and law). Our students get the chance to acquire cultural skills, and they learn to investigate the Chinese World from a variety of contextualizing perspectives and to critically reflect these perspectives. Our interdisciplinary approach enables students to study the complexities of modern and contemporary China and its dynamic relationship with other regions of the world. The program prepares both for academic and for professional careers in all areas requiring excellent linguistic and cultural skills regarding modern China, e.g., as analysts, consultants, and mediators.

Name:: East Asian Studies/Modern Sinology (M.A.)
Degree:: Master of Arts (M.A.)
Standard period of studies:: 4 semesters
Start of studies:: Winter semester
Language of the programme:: English
Admission:: open

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Programme description

The Master's degree program "East Asian Studies/Modern Sinology", conceived for 4 terms in Göttingen, offers students a wide range of specializations about modern China, covering the period from the 18th century to the present. The objective of this Master's degree program is to combine language and cultural skills relating to China with methods and theories from the humanities and social sciences. The aim is to critically question and adjust the latter, to develop research skills and analytic skills for academic and executive positions in politics, business, and society. We offer a disciplinary, comparative approach to China Studies, enabling students to analyse structures and processes in modern and contemporary China in a systematic, structured way, always adopting a global, comparative perspective. Students are to develop the ability to formulate research questions independently and answer them using Chinese-language texts as primary and secondary sources.

Research and study focus in Göttingen

Professors and scientific staff are specialized in the following fields:

History and Philosophy of modern China
Society and Economics of modern China
Global History, focus on China
Didactics of Chinese as a foreign language

Please note that the study of Chinese literature is not one of the focus areas of our program.

Occupational fields

Our graduates qualify both for academic careers and any career that requires excellent language skills and a high level of cultural skills. They, therefore, make excellent analysts, consultants, and mediators in transcultural and global institutions, organizations, and companies.

Potential future areas of employment include:

Research and teaching
International organizations and foundations
Cultural Exchange
Journalism
Consultancy work
International research Management
Information technology and Services
International business enterprises

Consecutive programmes

Consecutive/graduate programmes

Humanities (Dr./PhD)

Features

Structure

Structure of degree programme

This degree programme can be studied in 3 different profiles.

Single Honours MA totalling 78 credits (Mono-master)
Joint Honours MA totalling 42 credits in combination with one module package (minor) totalling 36 credits
Joint Honours MA totalling 42 credits in combination with two module packages (minor) totalling 18 credits each

You can apply for one study profile.

You will receive an excellent, intensive training in advanced spoken and written modern Chinese in courses on modern Chinese language, modern written Chinese and Chinese technical and primary sources

Scope: 30 Credits

You will receive focused training in advanced spoken and written modern Chinese in courses on Chinese technical and primary sources

Scope: 12 Credits

In modern China studies, you will acquire in-depth knowledge about the history, philosophy, religions, politics, society, law and economics of modern China, using theories from the social and cultural sciences. In seminars on the current state of research you will deal intensively with the latest ﬁndings of China-related research on various topics, in seminars focused on case studies you will partly work with Chinese primary source texts.

Scope: 36 Credits

In modern China studies, you will acquire focused knowledge about the history, philosophy, religions, politics, society, law and economics of modern China, using theories from the social and cultural sciences. In a seminar on the current state of research you will deal intensively with the latest ﬁndings of China-related research, in a seminar focused on case studies you will partly work with primary Chinese source texts.

Scope: 18 Credits

You will receive training in the concrete application of cultural and social science methods and theories in the context of an independent research project in preparation of your master’s thesis

Scope: 12 Credits

You will be taking an interdisciplinary approach and selecting one module package from an external subject ( Overview ).

Scope: 36 Credits

You will be taking an interdisciplinary approach and selecting one module package from an external subject ( Overview ).

Scope: 18 Credits

You can fill this section from a range of admissible modules. The University of Göttingen offers a wide range of qualification courses developing skills in various areas of competence outside your major degree. To learn more, visit Key competencies

Scope : 12 Credits

On the basis of your master’s research project, you will write your master’s thesis in the fourth semester which is the ﬁnal step towards your degree

Scope : 30 Credits

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Application

Admission

Previous studies:

B.A. degree or equivalent degree
Evidence of credits in sinology, including credits in the fields of Chinese history, religion, politics, society, philosophy, linguistics, economy or law of modern China to the extent of at least 120 C must be submitted.

Language requirements:

Chinese language:
Applicants with a native language other than modern Mandarin Chinese must possess sufficient knowledge of modern Mandarin Chinese. Evidence of sufficient language skills is to be furnished by passing an examination on level 5 of the Hànyu Shuipíng Kaoshì (HSK) test or on band B level 3 of the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL); instead of a test certificate, the necessary language skills according to the HSK level 5 or on band B level 3 TOCFL standard can also be proved by successful participation in the language aptitude test offered by Georg August University or by equivalent achievements in the context of a previous course of study. The selection committee decides whether the achievements from previous studies are equivalent to HSK 5 or TOCFL B 3.

English language:
Applicants whose mother tongue is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants shall demonstrate the required English proficiency by earning the minimum required grade on an internationally recognised test . Exemptions apply for applications for applicants who lived in English-speaking countries or completed a degree programme in English.

German language:
German language skills are not required for this programme. If you wish to take German language courses, these can be selected as part of the elective courses during the academic programme.

Please consult the detailed admission requirements and check that you have all the necessary proof of credits and language skills before applying to our programme. International students should apply as early as possible to ensure that they can obtain a study visa in time.