Chinese and Linguistics, MA (Hons)

As the world’s second most spoken language, Mandarin Chinese and its cultures have profoundly shaped the contemporary global landscape. This joint honours programme at Edinburgh University allows students to study Chinese alongside a social scientific exploration of language, combining cultural, historical, and political contexts with the analysis of meaning creation. It’s ideal for those with little to no prior knowledge, offering development in modern standard Chinese skills—such as reading, writing, speaking, listening, and translation—through immersive Year 3 study in China or Taiwan. Students also gain expertise in topics like history, literature, politics, and international relations across regions including mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.In Linguistics, the programme examines how language functions, including speech sounds, global variations, and the evolution of structures. It covers everyday language use, societal changes, child acquisition, and opportunities to test hypotheses using advanced equipment, enhancing analytical skills for professional applications. Edinburgh uniquely offers this undergraduate combination, welcoming heritage learners while building competencies for social and career settings.