Traditional China MSt

About

The MSt Traditional China involves a number of different elements. The first is an option in an area of pre-modern and early modern Chinese philosophy, culture and history. You can choose among a list of options which involve reading Chinese texts, discussing them, and writing tutorials. You will be asked to submit two 5,000 word maximum essays. Each option consists of weekly 2 hour classes in the Michaelmas and Hilary terms, in which you will read original Chinese documents about your subject and discuss the topics, plus 4 tutorials in which you will be discussing your essay with your tutor.

The second element of the course is language training.  Based upon your supervisor’s assessment of your abilities and the linguistic needs of your research, you will choose one of the following options:

  • Intermediate Classical Chinese. If your classical Chinese is not yet up to the level required for  your project, your supervisor may recommend that choose this option. You will attend the advanced classical Chinese classes in the Faculty, and work with your supervisor on improving your ability to read texts in your field.
  • A basic course in another Asian language related to your research, such as Japanese, Korean, Tibetan or Sanskrit. While the time is obviously too short to do justice to these languages, you will focus on mastering the basic script and grammar, working on texts that are linked to your field of specialisation.
  • If you have sufficient knowledge of your chosen language you may instead choose a second option in an area of pre-modern and early modern Chinese philosophy, culture, and history. The level of language knowledge required to take this option will be determined at the beginning of the course by your course coordinator and supervisor by means of an informal test, and in discussion with you.

For the language courses are taught alongside students in other degrees and the number of hours will vary, but the focus will be on grammar and reading, you will have lots of preparation to do, and you can typically expect at least two contact hours/week.

The third element is an introduction to Sinology, This course covers the state of the field in different time periods and topics and also introduces various philological, analytical and bibliographical tools. The aim here is not so much to transmit information as to lead students away from a dependent, passive approach towards a questioning and free-standing research style.

The final element is a thesis. This part of the course aims to develop your skills in exposition and analysis. You will be required to document your work in accordance with professional academic standards.

Students dedicate approximately eight hours per week to classes and lectures, and they will typically meet their thesis supervisor once every two weeks. Most of the lectures and classes for the MSt in Traditional China are organised and conducted at the Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building.

The China Centre also organises its own weekly seminar, at which speakers include visiting international scholars, members of the Oxford academic staff, and graduate students. Other graduate seminar groups with more specialised focus, for instance modern history or art and archaeology, also meet regularly.

Assessment

Evaluation of the course takes place throughout the year and is through a combination of examinations, essays as well as a dissertation on an approved topic of your choice, based on primary sources. An oral examination (viva voce) may also be required.

Teaching staff
Resources for study

Libraries and museums

Oxford's libraries preserve one of the largest and most important collections on materials on East Asia to be found in the western world.

The University of Oxford China Centre, brings together academics drawn from across a range of disciplines, who have in common research and teaching interests related to China. The building has a 100-seat lecture theatre, a 200-seat dining area and a range of conference and seminar facilities. There is also the K B Chen China Centre Library which holds books from the Bodleian Library's China Collection and also has study carrels and a reading room. The Bodleian Library has been collecting books in Chinese and on China since the early seventeenth century and presently contains one of the largest collections in Europe.

In addition to this, you will also find useful the Bodleian Oriental collections and the Nizami Ganjavi Library part of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Adjacent to the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is the Ashmolean Museum, which houses superb collections.

Faculty resources

Students have access to the University's centrally provided electronic resources, the Faculty's IT Officer, and other bibliographic, archive or material sources as appropriate to the topic. There is a computing room for the use of graduate students in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a common room where tea and coffee are available and staff and students can meet.

Oxford colleges

Oxford’s colleges provide support, facilities and membership of a friendly and stimulating academic community. All colleges provide library and IT facilities, welfare support, and sports and social events. Although your academic studies will be directed by the faculty, colleges can be a valuable source of support. Please check the application guide for information about colleges.

How to apply

Improving access to graduate study

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is taking part in initiatives to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

Socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used as part of an initiative to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process. 

FAQs

Can I submit one 4,000 word piece of written work instead of two 2,000 word pieces?

Not for our courses. We ask for two pieces which will show a range of ability rather than two highly similar pieces and you may find it useful to check the criteria your written work will be assessed for when choosing your samples. Your samples can be extracts from longer pieces of work and if this is the case, please indicate this on a cover page, or at the beginning of each piece of work.

Where can I find out about funding available for applicants?

Your best guide to funding opportunities will always be the University's admissions webpages. We recommend that you use the Fees, funding and scholarship search which is a useful tool for finding any funding that you may be eligible to apply for.

If you submit your application by the January deadline you will automatically be considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships. There’s no separate scholarship application process or extra supporting documentation required for funding. Based on the information supplied in your graduate application, you will be automatically considered for scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteria with most scholarships using academic merit and/or potential as the basis on which award decisions are made.

However, please note, in addition to submitting an application form for your chosen course, the scholarships listed on the following page also require an additional application to be considered for them.