This programme equips students with a broad knowledge and in-depth understanding of the politics, economies and societies of the contemporary East Asian region alongside the linguistic skills needed to understand a range of written, spoken and broadcast material in Chinese and the ability to communicate effectively with Chinese speakers. The deliberately modern bias of the programme aims to produce graduates with an all-round proficiency in Chinese along with a range of transferable skills and competencies.
Students begin the language from scratch (although there is provision for those with prior learning) and follow an intensive language programme in their first year. Students will also take modules which provide them with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the history, geography and culture of both Northeast and Southeast Asia. The approach of the level 1 modules is comparative and thematic, while also allowing for country-specific focus on Japan, China and Southeast Asian countries, providing a strong foundation for upper-level modules.
The second year is spent at a university in China or Taiwan where students follow a prescribed course of study in language, and in some cases non-language courses. Students return to Leeds in their third year to follow advanced upper-level language and non-language modules. Modules at level 2 and 3 enable students to deepen their knowledge of particular aspects of the region, again largely from a comparative perspective. The economic development, international politics and history of the region are key elements of the programme at this level, but other issues such as culture and society, nationalism, democratisation, security, regionalism and globalisation are also covered.
By the final year of the programme students should be able to interpret relevant material in a wider sense, fitting it into the broader social, political, economic and cultural context of present-day China and the East Asian region.
Students are expected to graduate with a sound knowledge of the Chinese language, invaluable experience of life in a Chinese-speaking society, and an understanding of the wider context of the Sinophone world in the East Asian region and beyond.
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1110 | Modern China: History and Culture | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates with no prior knowledge of Chinese will be required to study the following modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1010 | Basic Chinese Language 1 | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST1020 | Basic Chinese Language 2 | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates with prior knowledge of Chinese will, subject to a placement test, be required to study the following modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1460 | Intermediate Chinese (1) | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST1461 | Intermediate Chinese (2) | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study a minimum of 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST1241 | Premodern East Asia | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| EAST1252 | Modern Japan | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| EAST1450 | Foundations of East Asia | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| EAST1510 | Introduction to East Asian Religions and Philosophies | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL1050 | Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1060 | Language: Structure and Sound | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MODL1070 | World Histories | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1090 | Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL1100 | Politics, Culture and Society | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1150 | Worlds of Literature | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| MODL1401 | Discourse, Culture and Identity | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will spend their Residence Abroad in China or Taiwan. Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MODL9500 | LCS Year Abroad | 120 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST2030 | Chinese Language Skills – 2A | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2031 | Chinese Language Skills – 2B | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST2006 | China Since 1979 | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2126 | Classical Chinese | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2148 | Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2360 | Chinese Cinema | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2711 | Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2712 | An Introduction to Cantonese | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| EAST2717 | Society, Culture and Environment in Early Modern China | 20 | Not running in 202526 |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits, and may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST2008 | The Making of Modern Thailand | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2025 | Global Korea in Context: Sociocultural and Political Dynamics | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| EAST2128 | Contemporary East Asian Culture | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2718 | Topics in Contemporary East Asian Societies | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST2007 | Japan's International Relations | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST2480 | Japanese Development Assistance in a Globalising World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2714 | Death in Japanese Society and Culture | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| EAST2715 | Japanese Cinema in the World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST2716 | Nature and Technology in Japan: Cultural Images | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules
(Not recruiting from 2025/26)
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST3275 | Chinese 3: Advanced Skills | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| MODL3050 | Final Year Project | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study 20 credits and may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST3016 | East Asian Performing Arts | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3017 | Japan-Korea Relations in the Shadow of Empire | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3271 | East Asia's Regional Political Economy | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| EAST3707 | Buddhism: A Lived Tradition | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
Advanced Chinese in Context (Humanities) - 20 credits
Advanced Chinese in Context (Social Science) - 20 credits
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST3051 | Modern Documentary Chinese: Politics and Law | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3070 | Contemporary Chinese Literature | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3630 | Advanced Chinese to English Translation | 20 | Not running in 202526 |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST3015 | Religion in China | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3020 | Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector in Contemporary China | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3120 | Classical Chinese | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| EAST3148 | Trauma Narratives in the Contemporary Sinophone World | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| EAST3525 | Globalising China and the Developing World | 20 | Not running in 202526 |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules
Last updated: 13/10/2025 17:06:14
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