Chinese and East Asian Religions and Cultures

A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but you’ll take fewer options and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects. You’ll study one of our cornerstone modules in Year 1 to draw your two subjects together, and apply your knowledge and skills to a major research project in either subject in your final year.

East Asian Religions and Cultures

You’ll be introduced to East Asia’s main religious traditions and the texts that have underpinned them in Year 1, with optional modules giving you a broader understanding of approaches to studying religion and its role in the modern world. You’ll build on this in the following year with core modules on Buddhism and the religious landscape of China or Japan, and select optional modules to suit your interests. Your final year will give you further choice of modules on topics such as sociology of religion or religion and gender.

Chinese

In your first year core modules will develop your Chinese language skills. You’ll also choose from optional modules introducing Chinese history, culture and religious traditions. Then you’ll spend a year studying in China to improve your language skills and experience the local culture, and return to advanced language classes over the next two years. You’ll also choose from optional modules from Cantonese to Sino-Japanese relations.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Basic Chinese Language 1 20 credits
• Basic Chinese Language 2 20 credits
• Introduction to Religious and Philosophical Texts of East Asia 20 credits
• Introduction to East Asian Religions 20 credits

Optional modules

• History and Culture of Early Imperial China 10 credits
• Modern China 10 credits
• Chinese Culture in the Twentieth Century 10 credits
• Introduction to South Asian Religions 10 credits
• Religion, Politics and Society in the Modern World 10 credits
• Introduction to the Study of Religion/s 10 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Year Abroad in China 120 credits

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Chinese 2A 20 credits
• Chinese 2B 20 credits

Optional modules

• China Since 1979 20 credits
• Religion in China 20 credits
• Religion in Japan 20 credits
• Buddhism: A Lived Tradition 20 credits
• Hindu Traditions 20 credits

Year 4

Compulsory modules

You are required to study ONE of the compulsory Final Year Project modules.

• Chinese 3: Advanced Skills 20 credits
• Final Year Project: Extended Essay 20 credits
• Final Year Project: Translation 20 credits