Master of Arts in Chinese 文學碩士（中文）

The following information is applicable to students admitted from 2023/24 to 2024/25.

Programme Structure

Programme Features

Meeting the needs of students

• The programme offers three streams: (1) Chinese Language and Literature, (2) Chinese History and Cultural Heritage, (3) Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage, in one of which students can specialise according to their interests and professional needs.
• The Chinese Language and Literature Stream is suitable for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching Chinese language in primary and secondary schools or other culture-related fields.
• The Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream / the Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream meets the needs of Chinese history teachers since Chinese History was made an independent compulsory subject for the junior secondary level in Hong Kong from the 2018/19 school year. In addition, with the promulgation of the ‘Culture and Tourism Development Plan for Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’ in 2021, these two streams are offered in response to the urgent demand for history and cultural professionals in the Greater Bay Area, in which three world cultural and natural heritage sites as well as hundreds of cultural institutions and museums are located.

Integrating academic and professional training

• The core courses and electives of the Chinese Language and Literature Stream cover the areas of classical Chinese literature, modern and contemporary Chinese literature, Chinese literary criticism, Hong Kong literature and culture, creative writing, gender perspectives on Chinese literature, Chinese literature and religion/fine arts, etc. The well-balanced course design enables students to engage in academic research and teaching, as well as applying the knowledge in different walks of life.
• The core courses and electives of the Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream / the Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream  cover a wide range of topics, including history and historical sources, cultural heritage theories and practices, archaeology and civilisation of early China, Chinese cultural history, cultural history of medicine in China, history of China’s foreign relations, museum studies in China, cultural and creative industries, Chinese architecture and gardens, Hong Kong’s urban landscape and heritage preservation. The course design of these two streams meets students’ personal interests and research/professional needs.

Highly flexible programme design

• In addition to the core courses of the three streams, the programme provides a total of 30 electives, covering the areas of Chinese language and literature, Chinese history and cultural heritage.
• With a highly flexible programme design and incorporating the concept of ‘Minor’, students of a particular stream can select one to three electives from another stream according to their interests and professional needs.
• Classes will be held on weekday daytime/evenings or Saturday afternoons. If possible, one or two courses may be offered in Summer Term.

Stream jointly offered with Department of History of Peking University

• Jointly run by the Department of Chinese and History of City University of Hong Kong and the Department of History of Peking University (PKU) from 2023/24, the Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream offers a two-year full-time programme. Students in their first year will follow the normative one-year curriculum of Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream (30 credit units in total) at CityU. While in the second year, students will follow the curriculum specially designed by PKU and take courses on-site at PKU which will be taught by PKU faculty (30 credit units in total). To strengthen students’ knowledge of cultural relics conservation, museum display, cultural and creative design, etc., PKU will collaborate with organizations like The Palace Museum, Dunhuang Academy, China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association, China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, The First Historical Archives of China, National Library of China in course offering.  Besides, students will be arranged to visit cultural relics conservation units and archaeological sites inside and outside Beijing. Students who have completed all the credit unit requirements at both CityU and PKU will be conferred a degree of MA in Chinese with Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage by CityU.
• The 30 credit units completed at PKU will be shown on CityU’s transcript as credit transfer. The transferred credit units do not count in the calculation of a student’s GPA. Credit transfer of previous educational or vocational experience is not allowed. On the other hand, the Department of History of PKU will issue a certificate of completion to indicate the courses and internship taken by students in the CityU’s MA in Chinese with Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage programme (PKU part) and a transcript.
• Students have to pay tuition fees to CityU at the beginning of Semester A and B according to CityU’s tuition fee payment schedule when they are enrolled as visiting students at PKU. All other expenses including enrolment, transportation, board and lodging, medical insurance, etc. in both Hong Kong and Beijing shall be borne by students. Students are also responsible for applying for visas and travel documents to study in both Hong Kong and Beijing. Besides, students have to arrange their accommodations during their studies in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree (in any disciplines) from a tertiary institution recognized for this purpose by the University, or have obtained an equivalent qualification. In addition to the University Entrance Requirements, applicants are expected to meet the following specific Chinese language requirement:

1. have satisfactorily completed at least one tertiary level Chinese course of 30-hour or more which includes substantial written Chinese elements; or
2. have obtained a grade D or above in HKALE AS-level Chinese Language and Culture, or Level 4 or above in HKDSE Chinese Language, or equivalent; or
3. Applicants who cannot produce documentary evidence of (1) or (2) will be required to take an admission test in Chinese language writing and reading and attain a standard comparable to that set for (2). They must pass this admission test to satisfy the above specific requirement.

Note: Priority will be given to those with relevant qualifications / work experience.

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction is mainly Putonghua.

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs)

Stream 1: Chinese Language and Literature

Upon successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate familiarity with the latest trends and approaches in the study of Chinese language and literature, including critical analysis and evaluation of leading scholars’ commentaries;
2. explore extensively and analyze critically topics of interest in the field of Chinese language, literature and classics;
3. evaluate Chinese language use and Chinese literature critically and creatively from different perspectives;
4. apply the knowledge of Chinese language and literature as well as aesthetical, analytical, communicative abilities, and generate new ideas in different walks of life; and
5. generate academic research findings related to Chinese language and literature, and to demonstrate initiative, discovery, intellectual achievement, depth and advanced research skills.

Stream 2: Chinese History and Cultural Heritage

Upon successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of Chinese history and cultural heritage by using a learning discovery approach;
2. analyze critically the characteristics of Chinese history and cultural heritage, compare and contrast its use for professional purposes in Hong Kong and in the Mainland, especially the Greater Bay Area;
3. write professionally, critically and creatively in Chinese for professional purposes and function more effectively in the following areas: Chinese arts; museum studies; regional studies; and historical studies;
4. apply the knowledge of Chinese history and cultural heritage, and generate new ideas in various educational and professional tasks; and
5. generate academic research findings related to Chinese history and cultural heritage studies.

Stream 3: Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage

Upon successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of Chinese history and cultural heritage by using a learning discovery approach;
2. analyze critically the characteristics of Chinese history and cultural heritage, compare and contrast its use for professional purposes in Hong Kong and in the Mainland, especially the Greater Bay Area;
3. write professionally, critically and creatively in Chinese for professional purposes and function more effectively in the following areas: Chinese arts; museum studies; regional studies; and historical studies;
4. apply the knowledge of Chinese history and cultural heritage, and generate new ideas in various educational and professional tasks; 
5. apply the knowledge of cultural relics conservation, museum display as well as cultural and creative design to cultural organizations and museums in Hong Kong and in the Mainland, especially the Greater Bay Area; and
6. generate academic research findings related to Chinese history and cultural heritage studies.

Programme Accreditation

The Chinese Language and Literature stream of this programme has been approved by the Education Bureau (EDB) as a recognised Chinese language major degree and students who meet the government’s requirements can apply to the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) for the Professional Development Incentive Grant Scheme for Language Teachers.

Professional Development Incentive Grant Scheme for Language Teachers (SCOLAR)
Chinese Version / English Version

Scholarships

• For details of Scholarship for Teachers (Pursuit of Master's Degree Programmes) (2023/24) launched by the Education Bureau, please click here. 
• For details of Sihe Feng Chinese Cultural Studies Awards, please click here. 

Application Procedures

Click here for details (Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies)

Notices and Forms

(Available in the Chinese version only. Click here for details.)

Useful Links

Academic Calendar

Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies (Taught Postgraduate Programmes)

Academic Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Degrees

Remarks:
^ The Professional Development in Chinese History and Cultural Heritage Stream is offered in full-time mode only. Students admitted to this stream cannot transfer to the other two streams throughout their studies.

Enquiry: cahmach@cityu.edu.hk