Teaching
All prospective MPhil applicants are advised to read the staff profiles on our website to familiarise themselves with the research and teaching interests of staff members. Applicants should contact potential supervisors by email and discuss potential MPhil dissertation topics.
Once admitted into the MPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Chinese Studies), applicants will have the option of studying one of two streams:
Modern and contemporary Chinese studies; or
Pre-modern Chinese studies
With the consent of their supervisor and the relevant teacher(s), applicants may combine papers from both streams.
Students taking the MPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Chinese Studies) choose three papers from either:
(1) Modern and Contemporary Chinese Studies:
REQUIRED: Asia in Theory - [Team taught; theoretical and methodological approaches]
Students then choose TWO optional papers from the following list:
Chinese Literature and Modernity - Topics in Modern Chinese History - The Anthropology of China - Chinese Linguistics - Advanced Readings in Chinese on a relevant subject [e.g., Qing and Republican historical documents, Modern literary texts, Chinese religions, etc] - Alternative Paper (to be arranged with specific instructors). [An "alternative paper" can be a paper taken from the pre-modern Chinese Studies stream or in another department or faculty (e.g., POLIS, History, Anthropology, Development Studies) in the student's area of research focus.]
or:
(2) Pre-Modern Chinese Studies:
For Pre-Modern Chinese Studies, students need to choose THREE of the following papers:
Classical and Literary Chinese Texts (received and excavated texts, manuscripts) - Early China, specified topic - Medieval China, specified topic - Asia in Theory [team-taught; theoretical and methodological approaches: with the supervisor's permission as the focus of this paper is on the modern period] - Imperial China [specified topic e.g. ritual and religion] - Alternative Paper (to be arranged with specific instructors). [An "alternative paper" can be a paper taken from the modern and contemporary Chinese Studies stream or in another department or faculty (e.g., History, Divinity, Anthropology, Development Studies, POLIS) in the student's area of research focus.]Students are required to choose three papers – the teaching usually runs over two terms – in addition to doing a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words guided by their supervisor. Dissertations are submitted by mid-August.
Please note that papers are usually only offered if there are at least two takers. Modules offered vary according to the staff available each academic year and the interests of students. Additional papers may be introduced. Please consult your potential supervisor to discuss the options available.
| One to one supervision |
Depending on the nature of your project, and in full consultation with your supervisor, you can expect to receive a minimum of four hours supervision for your dissertation. The purpose of these supervisions is to assist with your research, arguments and structure, not to provide copy editing or proofreading. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes |
While each section differs in the total number of hours directly taught, all subjects offer a minimum of 48 class hours of instruction across the year. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Equal Taught/Research
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Feedback
Students taking the Chinese Studies pathway receive feedback routinely throughout the year from their supervisors. Supervisors also produce feedback via termly online supervision reports. Summative feedback on coursework essays or examinations is provided after the June Degree Committee meeting and on the dissertation after the final Degree Committee meeting of the year.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
MPhil students submit a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words on a subject approved by the Degree Committee.
The examiners have the option to conduct an oral examination with the candidate.
Essays
In addition to the dissertation, students also submit three coursework assignments, each of 5,000 words, as part of their degree.
Each of these assignments relates to one of the three taught papers studied by the student and is approved by the Degree Committee.
The assignments are usually essays, but in some cases comprise several shorter assignments, where the total word count of those shorter assignments is 5,000 words. Some advanced text papers are assessed through examination.
Written examination
In some MPhil pathways, with the approval of the Degree Committee, a student may offer an invigilated examination paper or papers in place of the equivalent number of coursework assignments.