Chinese Studies and History

BA Hons

  • UCAS code T1V1
  • Entry year 2024 or 2025
  • A level requirements AAB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 3

    3rd for Iberian Languages

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 3

    3rd for French

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 4

    4th for Italian

    The Complete University Guide (2025)

Lancaster’s joint Chinese Studies and History degree is taught by the School of Global Affairs in conjunction with the Department of History. This degree includes an international placement in Year 3.

Your Chinese Studies programme gives you the opportunity to acquire high-level language skills while gaining a thorough understanding of the country’s historical, cultural, social and political background in a global context. Chinese may be studied at either beginner or advanced level. You will learn language and culture in innovative and engaging ways. For example, students learn the Chinese language in its social and cultural context by participating in a wide range of activities through the Chinese Friendship Project. Recent activities have included a day trip to Manchester Chinatown, Chinese Food Corner, Chinese Film Night, Chinese festival celebration, and more.

In History, you will develop your critical abilities studying modules in British, European and American world history.

Your first year comprises an exploration of the Chinese language and its cultural context as well as the core history module. Alongside this, you can choose a third first year subject either from History or from other subjects related to your degree.

Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will have the opportunity to study the culture, politics and history of the Chinese-speaking world in more depth in the core module, Shaping Contemporary China: Moments and Movements. You can also select a module that is international in scope and promotes comparative understanding at a global level. You will combine these with the core module, Making History: Contexts, Sources and Publics and select from a range of History options.

Spending your third year - the International Placement Year - abroad in a Chinese-speaking country gives you the opportunity to develop your language proficiency while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You can study at a partner institution and practise your language skills in a real-world context.

In your final year, you will consolidate your Chinese language skills and study specialist culture and comparative modules You will also select from a range of history modules. You will also have the opportunity to combine your interests in both subjects in a longer, supervised project.

You can find some examples of optional modules in the Course Structure section below.

Beginners Languages

Studying a language from beginners level is somewhat intense in nature so we only allow students to study one language from beginners level. Please bear this in mind when looking at our first year module options. If you apply to study a degree with a language from beginners level, your optional modules will only include higher level languages and modules in other subject areas.

Careers

In a globalised world, foreign languages combined with a knowledge of international history and contemporary cultures are highly valued by employers. During your degree you have the opportunity to develop the ability to think critically, analyse evidence and structure an argument, as well as gaining rich interpersonal, intercultural, cognitive and transferable skills. These skills will give you the opportunity to pursue a variety of careers such as working in museums and heritage, IT, business development, civil service, events management, finance, journalism, publishing, research and sales, as well as teaching and translating both in the UK and abroad.

Many graduates continue their studies at Lancaster in areas such as humanities and interdisciplinary research, making the most of our excellent postgraduate research facilities. We offer Master's degrees in Translation, Languages and Cultures, and History as well as PhD research degrees.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level AAB

Required Subjects A level Chinese, or if this is to be studied from beginners’ level, AS grade B or A level grade B in another foreign language, or GCSE grade A or 7 in a foreign language. Native Mandarin speakers will not be accepted onto this scheme.

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including appropriate evidence of language ability

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Distinction accepted alongside appropriate evidence of language ability

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

core modules accordion

Optional

optional modules accordion

Core

core modules accordion

Optional

optional modules accordion

Core

core modules accordion

Core

core modules accordion

Optional

optional modules accordion

Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2024/25 are:

Home International
£9,250 £23,750

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

Scheme Based on Amount
Based on {{item.eligibility_basis}} Amount {{item.amount}}

We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

Undergraduate open days 2024

Our summer and autumn open days will give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.

Undergraduate Open Days
two students sitting and reading on some outdoor steps
  • Virtual tour

    Take five minutes and let us show you what Lancaster has to offer, from our beautiful green campus to our colleges, teaching and sports facilities.

  • Accommodation guide

    Most first-year undergraduate students choose to live on campus, where you’ll find accommodation to suit different preferences and budgets.

  • The city and beyond

    Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the picturesque Lake District.