CHINESE STUDIES

Chinese Studies at St Andrews will offer you exposure to the breadth and depth of Chinese linguistic and cultural practices. Going beyond the traditional model of language and literature, Chinese Studies will also include visual and pop cultures.

Whilst St Andrews does not offer Chinese as a single Honours degree, you can take it in combination with a wide variety of other subjects as part of a joint Honours degree.

The course encompasses mainstream, popular and dissident cultures in all their national, regional, ethnic and diasporic diversity. The study of texts and practices will be focused on contemporary concerns that are both Chinese and global.

Course information

The Chinese portion of the four-year joint Honours degree is run by the School of Modern Languages.

Your time at St Andrews will focus on the linguistic and cultural entity that is China and the Chinese-speaking world today. Chinese Studies at St Andrews will offer you exposure to the breadth and depth of Chinese cultural practices. Looking beyond a model of language and literature, Chinese Studies will also include visual and pop cultures.

Your first two years focus on enabling you to read, write and converse in Chinese. The Chinese language is unlike other languages in that it is not written as a series of letters. Rather it uses a non-alphabetic script known as characters. It is also a tonal language, but the grammar is straightforward. So, studying Chinese can be challenging, but also highly rewarding.

Careers

China is the world's second-largest economy and its most populous nation-state. Knowledge of the Chinese language, along with an understanding of global issues in a Chinese context, will prepare you for an international career in a variety of industries.

This course will also prepare you to handle differences in working practices in Chinese-speaking contexts.

GERMAN

As an MA (Hons) student of German, you will develop language and communications skills to a high level of proficiency. By studying German at St Andrews, you have scope to follow your own particular interests by choosing from a broad range of course options that reflect and explore the rich cultural heritage of the German-speaking lands, including:

• medieval studies
• film
• intellectual history
• literature and society from the 18th century to the present day.

Course information

The MA (Hons) in German is a four-year course run by the School of Modern Languages. The course is available to both students who are beginners in German and to more advanced students who have studied German to A-Level or SQA Higher.

In the first two years, students will take modules which complement their level of German entering the degree. Students of all levels will build on existing skills in German and are offered a broad view of German literature, civilisation and culture.

Alongside German, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.

Careers

Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills.

Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.