Primary tabs
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 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 under the supervision of a supervisor. The dissertations are submitted no later than mid-August following the start of the course.
| One to one supervision | Students will be offered a minimum of two hours as needed to support dissertation research and writing. The final number of hours will be agreed upon with the supervisor depending on student need and progress. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
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
For the MPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Chinese Studies), students will submit a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words, including footnotes and appendices but excluding bibliography on a subject approved by the Degree Committee. All MPhil dissertations must include a brief abstract at the start of the dissertation of no more than 400 words. The examiners have the option to conduct an oral examination with the candidate.
Essays
For the Chinese Studies pathway, students may submit essays as part of their degree:
With the approval of the Degree Committee, a candidate may offer, in place of one or more of the examination papers, the same number of essays, each of not more than 5,000 words, including footnotes, but excluding bibliography, or equivalent Alternative Exercises approved by the Degree Committee.
Written examination
For the Chinese Studies pathway, students may take an examination for one or more of the papers (e.g. on reading classical texts) as part of their degree.
Three written examination papers on subjects approved by the Degree Committee. With the approval of the Degree Committee, a candidate may offer, in place of one or more of those papers, the same number of essays, each of not more than 5,000 words, including footnotes, but excluding bibliography, or equivalent Alternative Exercises approved by the Degree Committee.