Chinese and Thai Studies

Chinese and Thai studies is a degree that opens two of the most significant linguistic and cultural worlds in contemporary Asia. Mandarin Chinese is spoken natively by nearly a billion people and is the official language of China, one of the world's most consequential economic and political powers. Thai is the national language of Thailand, a country of 70 million people with a distinctive cultural tradition, a significant position in South-East Asian geopolitics, and growing economic importance within the ASEAN region.

Together, the two languages give you access to both North-East and South-East Asia in depth.

At the University of Leeds, this five-year, full-time programme reflects the time needed to develop genuine competence in two Asian languages, both of which use different writing systems and have grammatical structures very different from European languages. The five-year duration allows you to progress in both Chinese and Thai to a level where you can engage with cultural and professional contexts seriously. Leeds has a well-regarded School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, and you will study the history, culture, literature, and politics of both China and Thailand alongside the languages themselves, developing the contextual understanding that makes linguistic competence genuinely useful.

A typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points indicates the entry expectations.

Developing functional expertise in two Asian languages is a genuinely distinctive achievement that opens professional doors across business, diplomacy, international relations, and cultural work in the Asia-Pacific region.

Graduates pursue careers in international trade, diplomacy, journalism, translation, tourism, NGOs, international development, and business with interests in China and South-East Asia. Many proceed to postgraduate study in Chinese or Thai studies, Asian area studies, or international relations.