DIPLOMA IN CHINA STUDIES
Whether this is your first experience in higher education or you are considering furthering your knowledge of China, XJTLU’s Diploma in China Studies offers a great opportunity to develop your skills and experience first-hand what China has to offer.
4 September 2025
Full time
One year
The Diploma in China Studies offers keys to understanding the developments in China’s society, economy, and politics and to the rich historical and cultural traditions that shape them. This unique programme offers flexibility to students to select the focus and content of the studies out of the wide range of available modules and provides specialist knowledge which can be applied in various academic and professional contexts. As such, the Diploma in China Studies will benefit both your academic and your professional prospects.
Dragan Pavlićević
Programme Director
XJTLU’s students, teachers and modules offer a wide array of subjects to fully immerse you into life in China whilst also retaining that international outlook that makes the University so unique.
Lewis Roberts
Exchange student studying with us in 2018-2019
About Suzhou
Suzhou is the historic heartland of the Lower Yangtze Delta, which is located 25 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed railway. Established in 514 BCE, it is famous for its gardens, its canal system, its silk industry, and its bridges. The old city of Suzhou, surrounded by a moat, is now a UNESCO protected World Heritage Site. Suzhou Industrial Park is located to the east of the old city and is a prime example of Chinese modernity. It is an important trading hub and an investment destination in China with an international profile. XJTLU is located in a higher education district along with branches and research centers of numerous other Chinese and international universities.
STRUCTURE
The Diploma in China Studies students can take any modules offered by the Department of China Studies.
Students will take 40 credits one academic year, 20 credits per semester. 10 credits per semester must be earned from China Studies and the other 10 could come from anywhere across XJTLU, including but not limited to Chinese Language classes and China studies classes.
Modules
- Chinese Civilisation: Thinkers and Ideas
- China’s History: 1027 BCE-1927 AD
- Twentieth Century China
- China: Society and Development
- China: International Trade
- International China
- China: Social Stratification and Change
- Classical Chinese 2
- Chinese Cinema
- Chinese Theatre and Performance
- West China
- Classical Chinese 1
- Introduction to Classical Chinese
- China: Government and Politics
- Introduction to Chinese Literature
- Doing Business in China
- Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature
- China and East Asia
- China: Family and Society
- China: Regional Development
- China and the Digital Revolution
- Social Policy in China
- China: Understanding Gender
- China: The Public Sector
Fees
93,000 RMB
20% discount for：
- XJTLU alumni
- XJTLU current students on gap year
- Students from partner institutions not covered by student exchange agreement with XJTLU
- Students from XJTLU partner institutions with student exchange agreement in place may be able to secure limited number of placements free of charge
How to apply
Application deadline: 15 June 2024 (including payment).
If your home university is an XJTLU partnership, please see the exchange students’ information.
APPLY ONLINE
Students should apply via the online application system.
CONTACT
General enquiries can be sent to international@xjtlu.edu.cn.
Overview
It is often said that China is the future. Yet, today China is already globally important in any imaginable way – be it business and economy, politics, culture, or science and technology, to name just a few key areas. Understanding China is therefore not only about understanding opportunities brought about by the stellar growth, development and internationalisation of China but is also a prerequisite for understanding the world we live in. What makes China tick? What are the social, historical and political traditions and practices that shape China’s past and present, and increasingly so, world’s future?
If you are considering furthering your knowledge of China, XJTLU’s Diploma in China Studies offers a great opportunity to learn about China and develop your academic and professional skills.
Students enrolling for the full year typically take four modules in each semester, of which at least two are China-specific modules (see the list of available modules below). Other modules can be selected from the offer of the Department of China Studies or any other department at XJTLU with their permission, giving you an opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge and skills of your choosing.
Chinese language modules are optional to all students as part of the Diploma in China Studies. You can take modules suited to your level of Chinese language ability, ranging from complete beginner to advanced learner. The eight modules over the academic year lead to the XJTLU Diploma in China Studies, awarded at the successful completion of the study year.
The Diploma in China Studies is taught in English and is an ideal fit for:
Gap Year Students
This is an opportunity for students aged 18 and above who have completed their high school studies and are looking for an academically rigorous and exciting gap year experience. Having completed the Diploma in China Studies is a great advantage for students looking to bolster their university application, and the study experience at XJTLU will also better prepare you for your future university life. Throughout the course the students will benefit from rigorous academic training and also gain essential life skills from living abroad.
Undergraduate Students
Students from other universities in any discipline, but particularly in the humanities and social sciences as well as in China Studies, are welcome to study for a semester or year.
Current undergraduate students on the programme can credit their XJTLU China Studies study back to their home university degree programme (with the permission of their home university) though those who enroll for a year of study at XJTLU will also be eligible to receive the XJTLU Diploma of China Studies.
Postgraduate Students
Students who have completed their undergraduate course in university, regardless of discipline and subject, are also welcome to apply to undertake the Diploma in China Studies either as a conversion course to social sciences and China Studies, or for academic enrichment. Those students who have completed a STEM degree can use the Diploma study to broaden their horizons and add to their academic portfolio, as well as using it as a conversion course for further postgraduate studies in a social science related degree. Those who have completed relevant humanities/social science/marketing and business degrees will find the Diploma in China Studies useful in offering them a critical perspective of China and the role it plays in the modern world. Having the Diploma is also a great asset in postgraduate study applications, and will greatly boost employability in an increasingly globalised market for any university background or occupation.
Professionals
Diploma in China Studies will be of interest to those currently employed or seeking employment, who are seeking opportunities for professional growth and development, and those who wish to further build their competencies to boost their competitiveness in the job market. The number of China-related jobs is consistently on the rise around the world. The niche, specialist knowledge of China and the accompanying Diploma will be an asset for those interested in professionally engaging in China-related posts and tapping into the opportunities created by the growing linkages between China and the world.