Teaching & modules
Modules
Course structure
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
Students demonstrating recognition of prior learning in research methods may take either of the following advanced research methods modules:
- Advanced Quantitative Methods for Causal Inference (15 credits)
- Advanced Qualitative Methods (15 credits)
Students must take 75 credits worth of optional modules from either the China Institute or from other KCL departments/institutes.
As part of this, up to 15 credits of level 7 optional modules may be taken from the modules offered in any KCL Department outside of the Global Institutes (subject to Programme Convenor’s email approval and the agreement of the external department).
Students are also encouraged to take one practical service or leadership module from across the College, such as the President’s Global Leadership Award (PGLA).
A list of proposed optional modules from the Global Institutes and the King’s Language Centre follows below. Please note that not all optional modules run every year.
- Internship (15 credits)
- Contemporary Chinese Politics (15 credits)
- Doing Business in China (15 credits)
- China’s International Relations, 1949-present (15 credits)
- Contemporary Chinese Society: Change and Transformation (15 credits)
- Modern Chinese Political Thought: Ideology, Language and Practice (15 credits)
- Infrastructure, Technology, and Power in the Age of Global China (15 credits)
- Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change in China (15 credits)
- Economic Policies and Development in Contemporary China (15 credits)
- President’s Global Leadership Award (PGLA) (15 credits)
- Leadership in Global Institutions (15 credits)
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 you to get the most out of your studies, providing support and encouragement for your time at university.
Personal tutors provide you with the opportunity to periodically take stock of your learning, academic progress and general wellbeing 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.
Teaching methods - what to expect
You can typically expect to receive 15-20 hours of lectures and seminars per 15-credit module, and we will expect you to undertake 130-135 hours of independent study per module. For your dissertation, you will typically have five hours of one-to-one supervision, and you will undertake 595 hours of independent study to complete a dissertation.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
- Essays
- Exam
- Presentations
- Research Proposals
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Assessment methods will depend on the modules selected. Forms of assessment may typically include: • Essay(s) or a written examination, class participation. Some modules may also offer writing exercises, take-home exams, oral presentations or research proposals. • The dissertation module will be assessed on the basis of the dissertation and an individual oral presentation (viva). • One assessment for the module Introduction to Research Methods (Global Institutes) will involve writing a research proposal.