The University of Edinburgh
Chinese and Russian Studies MA (Hons)
The University of Edinburgh

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 30 graduates of Chinese and Russian Studies MA (Hons) and other courses in Asian Studies at The University of Edinburgh for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Asian Studies.

Overall student satisfaction
47 /100
30 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Languages and Area Studies

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Asian Studies at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £26000 £26000 £31000
25-75 percentile range £23000 - £30000 £19500 - £31500 £25000 - £43500


Salary of all UK Graduates of Languages and Area Studies

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24481 £24141 £29568
25-75 percentile range £20722 - £28861 £17710 - £32015 £21065 - £40417

Course Description

This joint honours programme enables you to study the languages, literatures and cultures of two of the world's largest countries, both of whom play an important role in contemporary global politics.

Together, Chinese and Russian have around 1.5 billion native speakers. They are your gateway to cultures and career opportunities in many parts of:

  • Europe
  • East and Central Asia
  • North America

There are large communities of Russian speakers in China.

Skills development

Study with us, and you will develop advanced competency in modern standard Chinese and in Russian. You will gain the skills needed to use your languages in social and professional settings, focusing on:

  • reading and writing (including translation)
  • speaking and listening

Our courses explore Chinese, East Asian, Russian and Russian-speaking (Russophone):

  • literature and cinema
  • political history and international relations
  • social and cultural movements

You will have the opportunity to study Russia's transnational mobility and to learn about Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and associated Chinese diasporas.

Why Edinburgh

As a world-leading festival and capital city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to study global languages in their cultural context.

We are the only university in Scotland to offer both single and joint honours undergraduate programmes in Chinese. While we specialise in teaching students with little or no prior knowledge of the language, we can also accommodate students who already have some experience of studying Chinese.

Studying over four years enables you to choose courses that match your own interests, expertise and employability needs. We build immersive study abroad into the programme in Year 3, which you will spend in either China or Taiwan and in a country where Russian is spoken.

Employers recognise the importance of both languages and the benefits of a broad intercultural education. Our graduates are valued for their capability to act as bridges of understanding between Chinese, Russian and British cultures.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Chinese and Russian Studies MA (Hons) at The University of Edinburgh

30% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
20% Managers, directors and senior officials
15% Information Technology Professionals
15% Finance Professionals
10% Engineering professionals
5% Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
5% Conservation and environment professionals
5% Natural and social science professionals

Grading & Study Time

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Slavic Studies

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

Scottish Higher qualifications are considered on an individual basis

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Please note that the Chinese degrees involve beginners language study and are not suitable for native or near-native speakers. Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.

English language requirements

test Grade Additional Details
IELTS (Academic) 6.5

Total 65 with at least 5.5 in each component.

TOEFL (iBT) 92

Total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.

Cambridge English Advanced

Total 176 with at least 162 in each component

Cambridge English Proficiency

Total 176 with at least 162 in each component

Trinity ISE

ISE II with distinctions in all four components

PTE Academic 62

Total 62 with at least 54 in each component

Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Chinese and Russian Studies, MA (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Chinese and Russian Studies MA (Hons)

Channel Islands £9250 year 1
Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £1820 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
EU £26500 year 1
International £26500 year 1

Additional fee information

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of The University of Edinburgh in top UK and global rankings.

See all 40 university rankings of The University of Edinburgh

About The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is located in the Scottish city of the same name, and is one of the oldest universities in the entire United Kingdom, having opened in the year 1583. The university enjoys a strong reputation for its contributions to international research efforts, which is reflected in their inclusion in the Russell Group, Universitas 21, and Una Europa. Edinburgh offers its residents a historic yet modern city, with a lively nightlife scene, reliable public transport, and friendly locals.

List of 686 Bachelor and Master Courses from The University of Edinburgh - Course Catalogue

Where is this programme taught

Central area campus
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