Courses are held in English and Chinese.
It is advisable to apply early. Please check the updated deadlines here.
The four-semester English-language Master’s programme in Modern Sinology / Modern Chinese Studies in Göttingen offers students a wide range of thematic specialisations relating to modern China (beginning from the 17th century). It has a focus on combining an intensive training in Chinese language with intensive content-oriented as well as methodological training. Our students get the chance to acquire cultural competencies, and they learn to investigate the Chinese world from a variety of contextualising perspectives. In this context, we familiarise our students with social science and cultural studies-oriented methodologies and theories, analysing them critically.
The degree programme can be studied as specialist course of study for the Single Honours MA in Modern Sinology and as specialist course of study for the Joint Honours MA in Modern Sinology, in combination with one or two subject-external module packages (minor – one package of 36 credit points [CP] or two packages of 18 CP).
The course employs a variety of approaches to study the Chinese world. Students get access to various methodological approaches and comparative lenses. Through the programme, "China" is not looked at as an isolated cultural universe; rather, the wealth of the global interactions that have characterised the important facets of the Chinese world and its region is accentuated.
The Master's degree programme offers you…
1. …excellent and intensive training in both spoken and written modern Chinese. The teacher-student ratio is strictly maintained to be around 1:10. From there, the language plays not only the role of being an essential tool for communication, but also of being the main tool to understand Chinese culture and society. The Master's programme in Modern Sinology prepares for all professions for which exceptional knowledge of the language and culture of modern China is a prerequisite.
2. …an interdisciplinary atmosphere and an exceptional diversity of research and teaching emphases. Our courses cover such diverse fields as the history, philosophy, religion, politics, society, economy and judicial system of modern China.
3. …an active research and teaching landscape, with a steady flow of international visiting professors, academic talks and conferences.
In addition to the excellent intensive training in advanced spoken and written modern standard Chinese, transmission of research-oriented knowledge as well as analytical skills are central to the Master’s programme (for details, click here).
The programme comprises 120 ECTS credits:
In seminars on the current state of research in the first semester, you will deal intensively with the latest findings of sinological research on various topics. In the second semester, you will focus on primary Chinese source texts in the case study seminars. You will receive training in the concrete application of cultural and social science methods and theories in the context of an independent research project in the second year. On this basis, you will write your Master’s thesis in the fourth semester, thereby successfully bringing your studies to an end.
PDF DownloadFees are around 400 EUR per semester. The fees include a prepaid so-called "semester ticket" that entitles students to use regional and local means of public transportation throughout Germany free of charge. Students of the University of Göttingen receive discounts for cultural events. Meals and drinks are available at reduced prices at all university canteens.
The average cost of living in Göttingen is modest compared to other major university cities in Germany. Currently, expenses for accommodation, food, health insurance and books are about 850 EUR per month. Please note that fees for health insurance may vary according to age. For further information, please click here.
Germany Scholarship ("Deutschlandstipendium"): https://uni-goettingen.de/en/218535.html
Deutschlandstipendium and Landesstipendium Niedersachsen are two independent scholarships that partially support MA students after enrolment. The International Office at the university provides advice and information to international students looking to apply for scholarships in Germany. The DAAD has a comprehensive database of scholarships from multiple funding agencies.
Academic admission requirements include a good Bachelor's degree that is related to Chinese Studies/Modern Sinology. For details, click here.
To apply for the MA programme in Modern Sinology, you will need level 5 from HSK or TOCFL Band B Level 3 and at least 120 CP in Sinology, including credits totalling at least 24 CP from subjects on Modern China in at least two of the following areas: history, religion, politics, law, society or economy. You will also need to have obtained 150 CP of your BA degree (regardless of the grade) and sufficient knowledge of English, which needs to be demonstrated with an internationally recognised test.
For further information concerning the application, click here.
Evidence of sufficient language skills in modern Mandarin Chinese is to be furnished by passing an examination on level 5 of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) test or Band B Level 3 of the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL); instead of an HSK or TOCFL test certificate, the necessary language skills can also be proved by successful participation in the language aptitude test offered by the University of Göttingen.
Applicants for the MA programme in Modern Sinology must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by earning the minimum required grade on one of the following internationally recognised tests (for details and up-to-date info, click here): a) UNIcert® b) NULTE certificate c) Cambridge English Scale d) International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) e) Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) f) Global Scale of English (Pearson Academic) g) Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Applicants who have spent at least one year studying or working in an English-speaking country are exempt from these requirement. Moreover, the exemption applies to applicants who have successfully completed a course of study of at least two years in the English language (proof required) as well.
It is advisable to apply early. Please check the updated deadlines here.
Apply online here!
The university supports students in finding part-time jobs in local industries and businesses. A number of student jobs are also available at the university. They are announced on the following website: www.stellenwerk-goettingen.de.
Please note that restrictions may apply with your scholarship or visa. Non-EU students are subject to special regulations. Some proficiency in German may be indispensable to find a job. Non-EU students are permitted to work a maximum of 120 full days (240 half days) per year.
The Accommodation Service of the International Office supports international students who are enrolled at the University of Göttingen in finding accommodation and serves as a point of contact for related queries. The Accommodation Service also publishes suitable offers from private landlords in Göttingen and collaborates with the Student Services ("Studentenwerk"). As the number of available accommodation options in Göttingen is limited, it is highly recommended to contact the Accommodation Service as early as possible.
For further information, please see the following link: https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/617883.html.
The Career Service of the university offers individual support for the job entry.
Especially for international students aiming for a career entry in Germany, the Career Service provides topic-specific workshops, online learning modules, and a qualification programme. www.uni-goettingen.de/en/292.html
The project "Start Guides" also offers assistance in developing and realising individual career perspectives in Germany. www.uni-goettingen.de/en/637664.html
If you are interested in the topic of founding a company, start-up support is offered! The university supports you with advice, funding, qualification formats and network contacts. www.uni-goettingen.de/en/en/1279.html
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