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Email academic.registry@tcd.ieChinese Studies is a multidisciplinary field of study, drawing upon and integrating disciplines such as History, Linguistics, Politics, Cultural Studies and Translation Studies. The course focuses on China today and China over the last century. This course offers a unique and vibrant educational experience which equips its students to be global citizens. The M.Phil. programme offers the opportunity to engage with key aspects of contemporary China, including its political and economic landscape, modern history, society, popular culture and language. Given China’s economic impact and international reach, this course equips its graduates to engage deeply with contemporary China.
The multidisciplinary nature of the course can accommodate students from a wide range of backgrounds. For those students who wish to acquire Mandarin, whether or not they have come in with any prior knowledge of the language, this programme provides them with the opportunity to develop their Mandarin in a relatively short time.
Delivered by expert faculty as well as regular guest speakers from business and industry, this programme will develop the skills necessary to succeed in an international environment. It is available as a one-year, full-time programme or a two-year, part-time programme.
The course is designed for students from a wide range of backgrounds. A background in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is helpful but not a requirement. The M.Phil. in Chinese Studies is designed to provide a multidisciplinary introduction to the discipline of Chinese Studies without requiring any specific prior knowledge of China or the Chinese language proficiency.
Our graduates are in high demand and have pursued a wide range of careers including in business and industry, communications, public affairs, diplomacy, and arts and heritage, at the UN, at multinational corporations, and in local government. Graduates have also pursued further academic research.
The university offers a bespoke careers service for all students, and our students in Chinese Studies are assigned a dedicated careers consultant.
Each taught module in the programme is weighted at 10 credits. The Masters qualification carries 90 credits: six course modules at 10 credits each (60 credits) and a dissertation worth 30 credits. ECTS are awarded to a student only upon successful completion of the course year. The M.Phil. in Chinese Studies is a NFQ Level 9 qualification
The degree consists of six taught modules and a final dissertation. The taught modules are composed of two core modules selected from Group A and four elective modules selected from Group B or Group C.
A full-time student takes a total of three modules in each of the two terms. In the first term, two modules must be from Group A while at least one module must be selected from Group B or Group C.
A part-time student must take two core modules from Group A and one elective module from Group B or Group C during their first year and, in their second year of study, they must take three elective modules from Group B or Group C.
Group A core modules include; Contemporary Chinese Society and Politics; Language and Nations of China.
Group B elective modules include: Business and Economy of Contemporary China; China in Comparative Perspective; Teaching Chinese as a foreign language; Reading and Discussion Group on Contemporary China; Chinese Mythology ; Language Philosophy in Chinese Culture; Regional Cultures in China; Language and Writing Systems in China ; Mandarin 1; Mandarin 2; Mandarin 3; Mandarin 4; Southern Min Chinese 1; Southern Min Chinese 2.
Note that not all elective modules may be available in any one year, depending on staff availability and timetabling. Additional elective modules may be introduced by the course committee at a later date.
Group C external module includes: Modern Chinese History.
Note that the external module is offered by the Department of History, which Chinese Studies students are permitted to take. According to the Department of History’s policy, there is a cap of 15 students for this module.
In the final phase of the course, students prepare and write a 10,000 to 15,000-word dissertation.
Click here for further information on modules/subjects.
Professor Nathan Hill, Director of the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, gives an overview of the Chinese Studies (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.) programme at Trinity College Dublin.
September 2026
Professor Nathan Hill
31 July 2026
Applicants will hold a Bachelors degree (minimum 2.1, or a GPA of 3.5, or equivalent from another country) from a recognised university. A background in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is helpful but not a requirement. Applicants must submit a personal statement (circa 500 words) that describes their background and the nature of their interest in the course.
Some applicants may be invited to attend an online interview as part of the evaluation process.
The M.Phil. in Chinese Studies doesn't require any specific prior knowledge of Chinese history, culture, or language.
All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.
For a full list of postgraduate fees, click here.
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
+353 (0)1 8964282
Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
This course provided me with a strong foundation in cultural analysis, research methodologies, and language proficiency. The engaging lectures, access to expert faculty, and opportunities for independent research allowed me to critically engage with key topics, shaping my academic trajectory and inspiring my current PhD research.
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