BA (Hons) Chinese Studies and Business

Summary 2012/13

• Study one of the major global languages of the 21st Century in the context of international business;
• Familiarise yourself with the language, culture, society and business institutions of the world’s largest nation, destined to be a major player in the 21st Century;
• Develop first-hand 'China experience' through an optional year studying in Guangzhou;
• Be well placed to respond to a world need for graduates proficient in Mandarin Chinese and English;

Please note, this programme is suspended for September 2012 entry.

China is becoming increasingly influential as a supplier and purchaser of goods and services and as a player on the world stage. An understanding of how to do business in, or with, China is becoming increasingly important to all organisations.

This programme will allow you to develop the linguistic skills and cultural awareness to engage with China, either as a competitor or partner, in parallel with the development of a range of business skills.

You will develop good working knowledge and proficiency in spoken Mandarin and familiarity with written Mandarin as well as a practical knowledge of the culture, society, business institutions and practices of contemporary China and the wider Chinese speaking communities.

2012 Entry Requirements

280 UCAS tariff points overall, plus evidence of numeracy. No prior knowledge of Chinese is required.

Details

Who is this course for?

This programme will appeal to people who wish to combine the study of Business with the language, culture, society and business institutions of China. Our students come from a diverse range of educational, social and cultural backgrounds and are of different ages but all share a genuine interest in discovering more about their subjects. You will experience a dynamic and modern programme which takes into account the very latest scholarship and research. All modules will develop your specialist and key skills, stimulate and educate, and provide an excellent basis for a variety of career options or for further study.

What will I gain from this programme?

A degree in Chinese Studies and Business is still a relatively new qualification although Chinese is the fastest developing modern language at school level.

Degrees combining Chinese with another subject are increasingly sought after qualifications because British and European businesses have identified a major need for graduates with Chinese language skills and an understanding of Chinese culture.

In gaining a degree in Chinese Studies and Business, you will acquire a qualification which opens up a range of employment opportunities and also the possibility of a career in teaching (further training required).

How we will support you

Our state -of -the-art Business School building was opened in January 2009. Set in the heart of the campus this dynamic space is a visible testament to how much we have developed in a short space of time and complements our modern approach to teaching and learning. Full support will be provided to help you get the most from your learning experience. You will be assigned a personal tutor and there is a range of other support options available. Extensive use is made of information technology to support classroom activities.

What will I study?

In Year 1 you are introduced to an understanding of business organisations and to a range of functional aspects of business such as business economics and organisational behaviour. You will begin a study of Mandarin Chinese language, Chinese IT skills and be introduced to modern China, its institutions, culture and society.

In Year 2 you will continue to study business and management but will focus increasingly on international aspects and in particular trading with the China bloc countries. You will acquire more advanced Mandarin language skills and take modules which enable you to become familiar with Chinese society and culture and develop intercultural communication skills.

By Year 3 you will be able to combine these functional aspects of business in strategic management which looks at the ways in which organisations determine the overall direction of their business. You will also have developed advanced language skills such as business Chinese and translation in addition to specialist knowledge about China, including its media and journalism, politics and economics and Chinese literature. You will pursue your language skills collectively in seminars and individually through multimedia language packages.

How will I study?

Teaching and learning activities are varied, with traditional lectures and seminar-based learning complemented by student participation in workshops, student-led presentations, independent research projects and group activities.

Placement

Although not a compulsory part of the course, you will have the opportunity to take the 'Study in China' option which enables you to spend a year studying in one of our partnership universities in China and transfer up to 120 supplementary credit points. Students who are not able to study in China for a full year will be facilitated in spending a short period of placement or residence in China should they wish.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by a group of dedicated and enthusiastic tutors who are experts in their field. They teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level and also publish books, contribute to academic journals and speak at international conferences. They are committed to providing students with an excellent learning experience and update modules regularly to ensure they are always current and relevant.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment involves a mixture of coursework and formal tests or examinations. Most emphasis is placed on work produced in your own time or formally presented in class. Typically, you can expect to be assessed on translation exercises, essays, linguistic analyses, class tests and oral and group work.

What are my career prospects?

The skills developed during the course prepare you for a wide variety of careers. Written and oral fluency are given high priority and such skills are very attractive to employers. You will graduate well equipped for a potential career in areas such as teaching (further training required), retail management, administration, banking and finance, library work, computing and managerial work. The degree also provides an excellent foundation for further academic study or employment with international or investment companies.

Related Programmes

BA (Hons) English and Chinese Studies

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,000 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online through UCAS at www.ucas.ac.uk.

See our How to Apply pages for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

For academic year 2012/13, Edge Hill University will charge £9,000 for full-time BA, BSc and LLB degrees. Eligible students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000.

Eligible full-time students can also apply for a maintenance grant, subject to household income, and a non-means-tested loan to help with living costs.

Edge Hill University offers a range of scholarships for prospective full-time students. These include £2,000 Entrance Scholarships rewarding determination, commitment and achievement in creative arts, performing arts, sport and volunteering. Eligible entrants with outstanding grades are recognised through the £1,000 High Achievers Scholarship.

The University will also be offering awards, worth £3,000 in cash benefits and fee/accommodation waivers for academic year 2012/13, to eligible prospective full-time students through the National Scholarship Programme.

For more information on scholarships, including eligibility criteria for each award, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships.

To find out more about fees, grants and loans for academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/undergradfees2012.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only. International students should check the fees and finance information at www.edgehill.ac.uk/internationalfees2012.

Not got the entry requirements?

Students returning to education may present their previous experience in work (paid or unpaid) to support their application.

Students with relevant study through either a professional body or appropriate academic course can apply to join the programme at an advanced stage.

For personalised advice based on your circumstances, please contact us or come to an event.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Joan Pearson, Edge Hill Business School, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 584148
• Email: pearsonj@edgehill.ac.uk

Overseas students should visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/international or email international@edgehill.ac.uk for further information.

Modules

Students will take 60 credits of Business modules and 60 credits of Chinese Studies modules in each year.

Year 1

BUS1000 Business Economics is designed to provide an introduction to micro and macro-economics and to provide opportunities for you to apply theory to and understanding of business organisations.

BUS1003 Personal Development will introduce you to studying at Level 4 and above, providing you, in the early part of the module, with a range of appropriate study skills that will be subject focused. In addition to this, careers information will be introduced periodically and supported by the careers department and suitable external presenters. You will be introduced to the concept of continuing professional development (CPD) and the development of appropriate employability skills. You will reflect on your own personal circumstances, abilities, skills and aspirations and construct action plans in association with their personal tutor which will be reviewed periodically and refocused in line with evolving personal goals. You will also reflect on the feedback from assignments and introduce the comments into your action and skills development plan. The module will conclude with a reflection on year one and action plan for year two.

BUS1004 Work, Management and Organisational Behaviour is a module with three major themes. The first provides you with an understanding of the major developments in modern management. The second theme considers moves away from rational models where organisations became increasingly interested in developing strong corporate cultures, improving flexibility and devising HRM-type people management strategies. Contemporary issues are discussed in theme three where the emphasis is upon managing identities and the impact of globalisation. By providing opportunities to learn about each of these themes we will prepare you better for many of the modules in year-two and year-three.

CHN1001 Mandarin Chinese (1) for semester 1 is designed as a breakthrough into Mandarin Chinese for beginners with no or little prior knowledge of Chinese. It teaches basic Chinese skills for listening, speaking, reading and writing, and how to communicate using basic survival Chinese. It also introduces you to Chinese ICT tools and skills.

CHN1002 Mandarin Chinese (2) for semester 2 builds on the linked module CHN1001 and teaches more advanced Chinese language skills which enable you to engage in daily life conversation using simple Chinese more confidently. More advanced Chinese IT skills will be introduced.

CHN1003 Introduction to Modern China introduces the history, geography, ethnicity and socio-cultural aspects of modern China, which provides a framework for the study of Chinese politics, economics and society in years 2 and 3. Both contemporary developments and important historical backgrounds are covered.

Year 2

BUS2000 Marketing provides an introduction to marketing and demonstrates its centrality to organisational success. It provides a range of marketing models which can be used in a variety of situations and allows opportunity for you to work together with other students in applying them.

BUS2001 Human Resource Management is concerned with developments in Human Resource Management since the early 1980s and current people management practice. In keeping with the management discipline in general, there have been a number of significant developments in the management of people over the last few decades not least with the move away from Personnel Management to Human Resource Management. In the UK we have moved some way toward a post-Fordist (Alvesson and Willmott, 2002) or high modern (Giddens, 1991) era where organisations are compelled to manage increasingly fragmented identities (Sennett, 1998) and employee wellbeing, as well as adopting a more strategic outlook. These changes have considerable implications for the HR function in organisations. We consider the reasons why such developments have taken place and analyse their influence upon the people management function.

BUS2013 International Business recognises how an understanding of the ways in which business operates globally is important in the 21st century. The pressures for environmental sustainability, the ideological differences between countries, and the issues of culture are all addressed in this module.

CHN2001 Mandarin Chinese (3) for semester 1 progresses from CHN1002 and introduces more complex Chinese grammar and key sentence patterns systematically and more advanced vocabulary items to enhance your competence in communicating in Chinese in a range of demanding interactive situations.

CHN2002 Mandarin Chinese (4) for semester 2 builds on CHN2001 to help you understand more complex grammar and sentence structures and develop a finer and more extensive vocabulary and language functions.

CHN2003 Chinese Culture and Society provides a cultural and societal overview on contemporary China in terms of chosen topics such as social customs, etiquette, families, fashion, food culture, holidays and festivals, legends, traditions, and ancient philosophies. Cultural differences between the West and East in general and between Britain and China in particular will be highlighted where appropriate.

CHN2004 Study in China encourages and facilitates you to spend a year studying at the University’s partnership institution in Guangzhou to get the first-hand "China experience" through contact with its language, society and culture. It will also allow you to transfer up to 120 supplementary credit points, thus enhancing your employability on graduation. Given the diversified circumstances of students, especially mature students, this is an optional module. Short term residential study in China is also encouraged and will be facilitated.

Year 3

BUS3000 Strategy and Decision-making provides an opportunity to consider how different business functions relate together in informing the development of strategy. Deciding strategic directions is about meeting choices and aspects of decision making are therefore included in the module.

BUS3011 Research Methods and Dissertation includes two parts: research methods (contributing one third to the final mark, and a dissertation (contributing two thirds to the final mark). The dissertation is a key piece of evidence that you have developed and can apply graduate level skills. It requires the design and implementation of a research project in an area of business or management and should include some element of original research, for example interviews or a questionnaire. Support on the dissertation is given via a series of workshops on research methods and also by a specified tutor although the responsibility for managing the process rests with the student.

CHN3001 Mandarin Chinese (5) progresses from CHN2002 to help you express yourself using advanced grammar showing depth and precision on subject matters of high level such as culture, society and economy. Writing in Traditional Chinese characters will also be introduced.

CHN3002 Mandarin Chinese (6) builds on CHN3001 to help you communicate in a systematic and comprehensive manner using appropriate expressions and language norms in context. The module also develops advanced language skills including translating and extended writing.

CHN3004 Chinese Media and Journalism provides an overview of Chinese media and journalism by exploring the organisation, operation and theoretical foundations as well as policy, trends and issues of contemporary Chinese media, to facilitate reflection on China’s media system and evaluation of the general structure and function of media in China.

CHN3005 Contemporary Chinese Literature combines language learning with the examination of contemporary Chinese literary works, with the aim of exposing you to the socio-cultural contexts in which the Chinese language is in current day-to-day use in addition to the theoretical discussion of Chinese literature, with a focus on selected literary works in the post-1978 era, including works from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

CHN3006 Politics in Modern China provides an opportunity to explore a broad introduction to a range of major issues in contemporary Chinese politics and social change, with a focus on the three decades in the post-1978 reform period.

CHN3007 English-Chinese Translation provides an overview of the state of the art of Translation Studies as well as an opportunity to develop and practice advanced language skills for mediating between English and Chinese.

CHN3008 Business Chinese equips you with the linguistic and cultural competence required for conducting business in the Chinese language. You will learn business terms, communication styles and formats for various business settings, and acquire linguistic and cultural competence for conducting business in Chinese. Experience of reading and analysing business documents will also help to enhance your specialised business knowledge.

CHN3009 Doing Business in China offers a framework for understanding Chinese business culture along with a guide for acquiring further knowledge on China. You will benefit from understanding the business environment and usual business practice in China, the opportunities available to international companies wishing to invest in China, and the impact of continued Chinese growth on world markets. Such knowledge is also useful for enterprises doing business with China.