History and Chinese

History and Chinese is a combination that equips you to engage with one of the most consequential relationships in the modern world: the encounter between the Western historical tradition and the civilisations of East Asia, approached through the language and culture of China. History develops your capacity for critical thinking, source analysis, and sustained written argument across long timescales and multiple geographic contexts. Chinese, one of the world's most spoken languages, opens access to a vast literary, philosophical, and political tradition that remains largely invisible to those without it.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, this four-year programme benefits from one of the world's leading centres for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. You will study historical processes from a genuinely global perspective, going beyond the European canon to examine the institutions, empires, revolutions, and social movements that have shaped China and the wider region. Alongside this you will develop your Chinese language skills systematically, building from foundational literacy through to the ability to engage with complex texts and contemporary media.

This programme includes a foundation year, which provides an additional year of preparation before the main degree begins, making it accessible to students from a wider range of backgrounds.

Graduates with history and Chinese go on to careers in government, diplomacy, international business, journalism, education, law, and cultural organisations with connections to East Asia. The combination of historical analytical skills and Chinese language proficiency is increasingly sought by employers engaged with China in any significant way. Postgraduate study in Chinese studies, Asian history, international relations, or related fields is a natural progression for those who wish to develop their expertise further.