Chinese and Inner Asian Studies

The China and Inner Asia Department is able to supervise MPhil and PhD degrees by research and thesis in a wide range of cultural and linguistic subjects. Intending research students should not feel constrained to limit their choice of topics to those indicated against the names of current staff members (postgraduate students have recently been working on such diverse topics as colour symbolism in ancient Chinese texts, Chinese cinema, and Chinese Braille systems, and translation studies). If necessary, arrangements can be made for joint supervision with teachers from other departments of SOAS. Research undertaken at MPhil and PhD level is based on literary, documentary, and archive materials in the languages of the area and/or on fieldwork conducted in those languages.

Our alumni are to be found in academic and government posts, journalism and other media, museums, art galleries, aid agencies, libraries, charities, medicine, and large and small businesses of many kinds all over the world, and a large number of them work in the area or in the cultural field of their studies.

Why study Chinese and Inner Asia Studies at SOAS?

• We are ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• we have a range of expertise at SOAS, not only in East Asian studies, but also with regard to languages and literatures of other regions - unique in UK institutions
• we offer strong interdisciplinary support and have great facilities, such as a multimedia suite, a radio station and a satellite access to a wide range of world television. Our Library houses a major collection of digital and paper resources, with books and journals on China-related issues that scholars from all around the world travel to consult.