A photo of the futuristic Shanghai skyline, at day, taken from the ocean.

Chinese Studies

Understanding and appreciating the language of the future

Traversing history, philosophy, linguistics, translation, literature, gender and film, our academics are experts in Chinese language and culture. 

Our expertise covers a diversity of disciplines including Chinese linguistics, Chinese pedagogy, second language acquisition, media in Chinese society, social and political changes in China, multiculturalism and multilingualism in China, minority education, East Asian thought and East Asian Buddhism.   

We teach both Modern Standard Chinese (Standard Mandarin/Putong Hua) and Classical Chinese from beginner level, and we provide options for students who can already read Chinese fluently. We also offer opportunities to study topics as diverse as language, linguistics, translation, literature, gender and film.

In partnership with the China Studies Centre, our Sydney China Visitors program invites innovative and respected researchers in Chinese Studies from around the world.

Our study offering

Chinese Studies delivers a solid understanding of Chinese society and culture and the foundational language skills essential to function with confidence in the Chinese-speaking world. Studies in this area have exchange and summer study opportunities, including to Peking University.

Undergraduate

*Available in the shared pool of majors and minors

Chinese In-Country Study

We offer intensive In-Country programs of language study (normally from lower intermediate to advanced Modern Standard Chinese language) at Peking University and Fudan University in China.   

Research

Our research 

We have research strengths across these broad areas:

  • Modern Standard Chinese language education
  • Classical Chinese language
  • Chinese linguistics, discourse studies, and translation studies
  • Chinese literature, classical and modern
  • Chinese media and communication
  • Chinese history.

Exchange

Our advanced exchange programs provide life-changing experiences in China where students exercise their language skills and develop an understanding of cultural intricacies first hand. 

  • Fudan University, Shanghai
  • Nanjing University
  • National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • Peking University, Beijing 
  • Shandong University, Jinan 
  • Tsinghua University, Beijing

Our people

Sydney China Distinguished Fellows

The Sydney China Distinguished Fellowship features senior scholars specialising in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature, Culture or Translation Studies. In collaboration with the China Studies Centre, the Sydney China Visitors program invites innovative and respected researchers in Chinese Studies around the world.

The fellowship is enabled by the vision and generosity of Mr James Lee, a University of Sydney alumnus now based in Hong Kong.

Learn more

  • Professor Hongyin Tao, University of California, Los Angeles (17 March–19 April 2024)
  • Professor Christopher Connery, University of California, Santa Cruz (16 July–14 September 2024)

Learn more about our 2024 Sydney China Distinguished Fellows.

  • Professor Andrew F Jones, University of California, Berkeley (21 July–15 August)
  • Professor Hsiu-Chuang Deppman, Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences (23 July–21 August)  

Learn more about our 2023 Sydney China Distinguished Fellows.

Events

See our school's calendar for a full listing of upcoming events.

Chair

Contact

Phone
Email
Address
  • School of Languages and Cultures, Room 506, Brennan MacCallum Building A18, The University of Sydney NSW 2006

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