Chinese Studies - Italian

Chinese studies and Italian is a degree combination that spans two of the world's most culturally significant traditions, connecting the world's most spoken language and its associated civilisation with one of Europe's most influential literary, artistic, and linguistic traditions. Chinese studies at degree level goes well beyond language learning, encompassing the visual cultures, popular cultures, histories, and contemporary social dynamics of the Chinese-speaking world. Italian brings one of Europe's most beautiful languages alongside the literature, art history, cinema, and culture of a country whose influence on the Western tradition has been immense.

Together these subjects give you an unusual and distinctive breadth.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year full-time degree is taught by specialists in both disciplines within a research-active environment. In Chinese studies you will be exposed to the breadth and depth of Chinese linguistic and cultural practices, going beyond traditional models of language and literature to include contemporary visual and popular cultures alongside the classical tradition. In Italian you will develop advanced language proficiency alongside study of literature, culture, and the historical and contemporary contexts of Italian-speaking societies.

The programme includes a year abroad, which for this combination will likely involve time in a Chinese-speaking and an Italian-speaking context, deepening your fluency and cultural understanding in both.

You will develop advanced proficiency in two very different languages, sophisticated cultural understanding across multiple traditions, and the analytical and communicative skills that rigorous humanities study demands.

Graduates pursue careers in international business, diplomacy and the foreign service, translation and interpreting, journalism, cultural organisations, publishing, teaching, and international organisations. The combination of Chinese and Italian is genuinely distinctive in the graduate market. Postgraduate study in Asian studies, Italian, comparative literature, or translation is a natural continuation for those drawn to research or further specialisation.