MSc in China and Globalisation
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 31,600 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* first application deadline
** International students | UK students: £14,500 per year
Key Summary
Introduction
Our China and Globalisation MSc provides an introduction to the causes and consequences of China’s rise from comparative and global perspectives. It will equip you with the conceptual and research tools necessary for the critical analysis of China’s social, political, and economic trends, and support your understanding of Chinese public policies, business strategies and modes of international cooperation.
Key benefits
- Offers you a theoretically informed understanding of contemporary China, focusing on the interactions of economic, political and social factors.
- Our graduates acquire applicable, state-of-the-art knowledge on Chinese business, economy, state and society, international relations, development, investment and politics.
- A wide range of optional modules draws on expertise from across King’s.
- We accept students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, and previous knowledge of China and Chinese languages is not necessary.
- You can substitute one taught module for an internship and a related written assignment where available. Our Internships Office will help in identifying suitable opportunities.
Course essentials
The ‘rise’ of China over the past four decades raises challenging questions about the relationships between politics and market expansion, international cooperation, business innovations, and cultural and social developments. Our programme will provide you with the conceptual and research tools to critically understand these relationships from comparative and global perspectives.
Our MSc is based in the Lau China Institute and benefits from a dynamic staff strongly committed to research and education. They combine expertise in Chinese studies with specialisms in different theoretical traditions, including political science, the environment, economics, international relations, sociology and international business.
The expertise of the associates of the Lau China Institute spans international law, health and medicine, film and media, and military and maritime strategies.
Our programme is designed to provide you with high-quality graduate research training for a career related to China. It aims to broaden and deepen your understanding of contemporary China and familiarise you with major research methods currently used in the field of China studies. Our MSc is a platform both for further graduate work and enhancing your employment prospects. You do not need language or subject knowledge to begin this programme.
Duration: One year full-time, September to September, two years part-time
Admissions
Curriculum
Structure
Required modules
Programmes are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.
You are required to take the following modules:
- China and the Age of Globalisation (30 credits)
- Introduction to Research Methods (Global Institutes) (15 credits)
- Dissertation: MSc China and Globalisation (60 credits)
Optional modules
In addition, you are required to take 60 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:
- Contemporary Chinese Society: Change and Transformation (15 credits)
- Modern Chinese Political Thought: Ideology, Language and Practice (15 credits)
- Doing Business in China (15 credits)
- China's International Relations, 1949-Present (15 credits)
- Government and Governance in Contemporary China (Online) (15 credits)
- Contemporary Chinese Politics (15 credits)
- China and Global Governance (15 credits)
- Economic Policies and Development in Contemporary China (15 credits)
- Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change in China (15 credits)
- Chinese International Investments (15 credits)
- Mandarin for Research (a language module for students with high-intermediate to advanced knowledge of Mandarin – placement test at the start of term 1) OR another language module, e.g., in Mandarin, from the King's Language Centre (15 credits).
- Internship (15 credits)
Up to 15 credits of level 7 optional modules may be taken from the modules offered in the Global Institutes, or any KCL Departments outside of the Global Institutes (subject to the Programme Convenor’s email approval and the agreement of the external department). As part of this, students are encouraged to take one practical service or leadership module from across the College, such as the Principal’s Global Leadership Award (PGLA).
If you are studying the part-time programme, you are normally advised to take taught modules to the total value of 75 credits in your first year, including the required module China and the Age of Globalisation. During your second year, you are normally advised to take Introduction to Research Methods (Global Institutes), your dissertation, and the remaining 30 credits of taught modules.
You will have the opportunity to discuss your choices with your personal tutor.
At King’s, all students on a taught programme are allocated a personal tutor who will play a key role in helping them to get the most out of their studies, providing support and encouragement for their time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress and general well-being as you progress through your studies, offering guidance on how to seek further support if you need it, and how to access the range of opportunities available to you as a King’s student.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered regularly to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, the modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place for all students who elect to study this module.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This innovative programme is designed to offer you practical and transferable skills for careers including academic research; entrepreneurship in public services and the private sector, including finance and investment, media and publishing; and leadership roles in international organisations and NGOs.