Chinese

Chinese is one of the world's most significant languages, spoken by more people as a first language than any other, and central to one of the world's most important economies and oldest continuous civilisations. Studying Chinese means engaging not just with a demanding tonal language and a character-based writing system, but also with a rich and complex cultural tradition spanning literature, philosophy, history, art and contemporary politics. It is a language that rewards patient study, and one that opens doors few other disciplines can.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme develops your ability in Mandarin Chinese from the ground up, building toward advanced proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking. You will study the language intensively alongside content in Chinese history, culture, literature and contemporary affairs, developing both linguistic competence and the cultural knowledge needed to use that competence effectively. Edinburgh's programme draws on a strong tradition of Chinese studies and benefits from the wider intellectual resources of one of Scotland's leading research universities.

The four-year structure gives the time needed to develop genuine fluency in a language very different in structure from European languages.

Graduates with strong Chinese language skills are in real demand across a range of sectors. International business, trade, finance, diplomacy, journalism, translation, interpreting, academia, government and international organisations all offer career routes for those who combine Chinese with strong analytical and communication skills. The combination of language ability and cultural understanding is particularly valuable in any context involving China's growing global role.

Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in Chinese studies, international relations, translation, business or law, finding that their language skills provide a distinctive advantage.