Doctorate in Contemporary Chinese Studies
The Doctorate programme allows students to conduct in-depth research focusing on topics related to contemporary China. This includes a broad range of social sciences and business-related subjects as well as topics covering china policy through the School’s China Policy Institute.
To aid students in the transition to independent research and help them acquire certain basic skills, the School would normally expect students to take and complete a number of taught modules during their first year of study as directed by their supervisors and the Director of Doctoral Programme. The research training programme may include courses delivered within the School and the University depending on the specific subject research area of individual PhD candidates.
Each student will normally be assigned two academic supervisors who will provide guidance on the formal specification of the topic, the structure and organisation of the dissertation and the general direction of the research. Regular supervision helps to ensure that the research progresses in an appropriate way. Research may focus on any broad areas related to contemporary China. After enrolment, students discuss areas of interest with their supervisors and undertake research on a topic of their own choice. The majority of research topics are conducted from a multidisciplinary perspective, and students can also benefit from the opportunity to draw on the considerable expertise offered by academics in the School’s China Policy Institute.
Master of Research in Contemporary Chinese Studies
The MRes programme is designed to allow students to develop academic expertise in a particular area of interest relating to contemporary China. The programme is made up of two components:
- modules on research and generic skills, research methods, Chinese language or subjects cognate with the student’s research topic
- a major research project that leads to submission of a dissertation
This structure enables students to follow a programme geared to their particular area of academic interest and to graduate with that area of expertise clearly marked.
After completion of taught modules, students registered on the programme are encouraged to spend a short period of time - normally one to three months - researching their project in China. This might be facilitated through a period of residence at The University of Nottingham’s Ningbo campus, at partner institutions in the Universitas 21 network (Fudan University, Peking University or the University of Hong Kong) or at other academic institutions in China.