Chinese Studies

Specialisation of: Asian Studies
Degree: Master of Arts in Asian Studies
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 2 years
Start date: September
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60840
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This two-year specialisation in Chinese Studies combines content courses with intensive and advanced language training. You will be taught by internationally recognised experts in fields ranging from political science to literature and religion, as well as experienced teachers of Chinese as a foreign language.
The programme will equip you with an excellent command of Mandarin (and – in the case of certain specialisations – of Classical Chinese), a broad knowledge of China, insight into its internal and external dynamics, and starting points for contextualising China within Asia. An important part of your training and education you will get from your one year stay at a prominent Chinese university.


In addition, the programme utilises the resources of the world-renowned Leiden sinological library, one of the largest and most diverse collection in Europe and an important reference point for scholars from around the world.

Research/PhD

Anyone with a Master’s degree can, in principle, apply for a PhD track. The procedure for admission to the PhD track is conducted by means of job applications. However, students with aparticular interest in an academic career are advised to choose for a research master’s programme, since these programmes explicitly prepare students for research at PhD level.

The central component of the individual PhD track consists of carrying out a research project under expert supervision, and writing a dissertation reporting on this research. PhD students are directly associated with a research institute. In addition, they follow a number of courses, some of which are offered by the relevant national research school. The procedure for admission to the PhD track is conducted by means of job applications.

Information about application and programmes can be found at the Leiden Humanities Gradute School website.

PhD candidate

Jeroen Groenewegen

“I also teach and hold a number of committee posts, which enriches your experience as a researcher.”

“My PhD research focuses on different aspects of identity in Chinese pop music, such as the importance of place, language, genre and gender.

Research generally starts by compiling an overview of the literature and formulating your contribution to the debate. And then you have to get down to work! Fortunately, studying for a PhD is not something you do on your own. My supervisor, Maghiel van Crevel, has had a big influence on how my research has developed. I have also worked closely with CHIME, a Leiden foundation that promotes research into Chinese folk music.

I’m someone who likes to be out and about, so I made sure I had the opportunity to travel while during my research. I have been to China, for example, several times, to conduct interviews and to see musical performances. I also attend conferences and write articles, as well as being involved in organising concerts in the Netherlands, such as the Amsterdam China Festival, for example. As well as doing research, I also teach and hold a number of committee posts. All these different activities enrich your experience as a researcher.

Barely a handful of books have been written about Chinese pop music. My aim with my dissertation is to introduce people to other ways of listening to this music, so I hope my work will be published in book form. In that case, I may well write a second book focusing more on Taiwan; it’s something I’d like to do in a postdoc position. Fortunately, there are enough opportunities both in the Netherlands and Taiwan to applying for funding to make it possible.”