Studies & Degrees in Chinese Language and Literature (in Universities)
Chinese Language and Literature (in Universities) Study Programs
Chinese language and literature is the university study of Chinese: the modern standard language (Mandarin), the classical written language, and the literature and thought recorded in them. According to the Department of Asian Languages & Literature of the University of Washington, over one billion people speak some form of Chinese, and Modern Standard Chinese is the official language of China. Chinese is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
A degree is more than a language course. Students learn to speak, read and write modern Chinese and are introduced to the classical language. Chinese characters date from about 1200 BC and the oldest texts are more than three thousand years old. The reading list runs from Confucius and Mencius and the Tang dynasty poets Li Bai, Du Fu and Wang Wei to novels such as the Dream of the Red Chamber and to contemporary writing and film. Most programmes add courses on history, religion, linguistics and society.
Qualifications and levels
Bachelor's degree. The form of the degree depends on the country.
- United States: Chinese is a major within the bachelor of arts. At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the Chinese major covers Chinese language, premodern and modern literature, linguistics, religion, archaeology and film. Students must reach an advanced level in modern spoken and written Chinese and gain a basic knowledge of premodern texts. Wellesley College teaches Chinese language and culture as one of three tracks of its East Asian Languages and Cultures major, and also as a minor.
- United Kingdom: Chinese is usually studied within East Asian or Chinese studies. The BA in East Asian Studies at The University of Sheffield lasts three years, or four with a year abroad, and asks for A Levels at ABB. Students on its accelerated Chinese pathway spend the year abroad at Nanjing University and are expected to return with a vocabulary of around 3,000 characters.
- Spain: Chinese is an itinerary within a wider degree. The Grado en Estudios de Asia y África: Árabe, Chino y Japonés at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) lasts four years (240 ECTS credits) and is taught in Spanish. Students of the Chinese itinerary reach level A2-B1 and take a second language of the region. The UAM offers 35 places for Chinese. It gives an approximate price of €1,015 for the first-year enrolment, or €6,823 for students from outside the EU.
Master's degree and doctorate. Research universities continue the subject at graduate level. The University of Washington, for example, offers a B.A., a minor, an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Chinese, with courses in modern and classical Chinese at all levels.
Language certificates. The HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) is the standard international test of Chinese as a second language. According to its organiser, HSK scores are a requirement for international students who apply for admission, graduation and scholarships in China. The test is being upgraded from six levels to a framework of three stages and nine levels.
Where to study it
Our directory lists 64 active schools for this subject. The United States has the most (32), followed by China (8), Spain (7), the United Kingdom (4) and Denmark (3). Canada and Hong Kong have two each.
Outside China, courses on literature and culture are often taught in the local language: English at Wellesley College, Spanish at the UAM. Time in a Chinese-speaking country is a normal part of the degree. At Wellesley College many students spend a summer, a semester or a year abroad, and at Sheffield the year abroad is built into the four-year route.
Students who want to take a full degree in China can look at universities such as Fudan University in Shanghai or Central South University in Changsha. Degree programmes taught in Chinese normally ask for an HSK certificate; the level required is set by each university, so check its admission page.
Careers
Graduates combine a language that few people outside Asia master with knowledge of Chinese society. UCLA names business, finance, trade, journalism, diplomacy, cultural institutions and non-profit organisations, education and academia as fields where its Chinese graduates work.
Translation and interpreting are the most direct language careers. The United Nations, where Chinese is an official language, describes itself as one of the world's largest employers of language professionals. In the United States, interpreters and translators typically need at least a bachelor's degree. Their median annual wage was $60,170 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Teaching Chinese and academic research usually require a master's degree or a doctorate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know Chinese before starting a degree?
Usually not. Departments such as the one at Wellesley College teach the language from beginning to advanced levels. Degrees taught in Chinese in China are different: they normally ask for an HSK certificate.
How long does a degree in Chinese take?
It depends on the country. The UAM degree in Madrid lasts four years (240 ECTS credits). The BA in East Asian Studies at The University of Sheffield takes three years, or four with a year abroad.
What is the HSK?
The HSK is an international standardised test of Chinese for people who learn it as a second language. Universities in China use it for admission, graduation and scholarships.
What level of Chinese will I reach?
That varies by programme. The UAM states a level of A2-B1 for its Chinese itinerary, while Sheffield expects about 3,000 characters after the year in Nanjing. Ask each school which level its graduates reach.