Theatre and Chinese Studies

BA Hons

  • UCAS code W4T1
  • Entry year 2025 or 2024
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

Overview

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Lancaster’s joint Theatre and Chinese Studies degree is taught by the School of Global Affairs in conjunction with Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA). 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 China's historical, cultural, social and political backgrounds in a global context. Chinese may be studied at either beginner or advanced level. In Theatre, you’ll learn about innovative 20th and 21st century drama, theatre, dance and performance through an exciting and varied mix of practical and academic approaches.

Your first year comprises an exploration of the Chinese language and its cultural context as well as an introduction to theatre’s key concepts and practical tools that culminates in a group performance project. Alongside this, you will study a minor subject from a list of courses provided to you.

Building on your language skills in Year 2, you will study the culture, politics and history of the Chinese-speaking world in more depth in the module 'Shaping Chinese Society: Moments and Movements', as well as selecting one module which is international in scope and promotes comparative understanding at a global level. You will combine these with modules such as ‘Devised Theatre’, ‘Theatre for Social Change’ and ‘Theatre Practice’.

Spending your third year - the International Placement Year - abroad in a Chinese-speaking country gives you the opportunity to improve your language proficiency while deepening your intercultural sensitivity. You can study at a partner institution or conduct a work placement. Staff members within the department will work with you to ensure that you are fully prepared before embarking on your placement in a Chinese-speaking country.

In your final year, you will consolidate your Chinese language skills, and study specialist culture and comparative modules, such as 'Sinophone Literature and Film', 'Contemporary Cities in Literature and Film'. You will also select LICA modules such as ‘Contemporary European Postdramatic Theatre’, ‘Creative Enterprise’ and ‘Advanced Theatre Practice’. You will have opportunities to combine your interests in both subjects in longer, supervised projects.

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

As well as language and subject-related skills, a degree in languages gives you the opportunity to develop rich, interpersonal, intercultural, cognitive and transferable skills that can be utilised across a variety of careers. Examples of these might include accountancy, IT, business development, civil service, arts and events management, finance, journalism, publishing, research and sales, as well as teaching and translating both in the UK and abroad.

Many of our graduates find jobs within theatre - as performers, directors, writers, technicians and administrators - and in associated fields, such as journalism, the media, publishing and advertising. Others work within areas concerned with the social applications of theatre and drama, such as teaching, social work, community arts, drama and dance therapy.

Many graduates continue their studies at Lancaster, making the most of our excellent postgraduate research facilities. We offer Master's degrees in Translation, Languages and Cultures, Film Studies as well as in Arts Management and Consultancy.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

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

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit 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

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

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.

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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 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,250 £24,700

Fees and funding information

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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.

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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.

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