Chinese and History, MA (Hons)

This joint honours programme highlights China's historical prominence as one of the world's earliest civilisations and its current role as the second-largest economy and a rising political force. At Edinburgh, the only university in Scotland offering single and joint honours in Chinese, we focus on students with little or no prior language experience, though we welcome those with some background or heritage ties. Participants will achieve advanced proficiency in modern standard Chinese, enabling everyday use in social and professional contexts through skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Additionally, students gain in-depth knowledge of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and related diasporas across pre-modern, modern, and contemporary periods, exploring areas such as history, literature, culture, politics, and international relations.The history component involves engaging with primary sources and critically analysing historical texts, building on East Asian studies to address interpretive challenges across diverse eras and regions. Edinburgh's history curriculum stands out for its breadth, covering themes from the early Middle Ages to the present and spanning Britain, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It incorporates varied approaches, including political, cultural, social, economic, intellectual, gender, and global/transnational perspectives, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the past.