KBS_Icon_questionmark link-ico
Study at King’s

Go to…

China & Globalisation MSc

Apply now

Our China & 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.

Visit our online hubs for content, news and events about the Lau China Institute here


Key benefits

  • Offers you a theoretically informed understanding of contemporary China, focusing on the interactions of economic, political and social factors for sustainable development.
  • Our graduates acquire applicable, state-of-the-art knowledge on Chinese business, state and society, international relations, investment, finance and politics 
  • A wide range of optional modules which draw 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.

 

Key information

Application status Open

Duration 1 year FT / 2 years PT, September to September

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Credit value UK 180 / ECTS 90

Course intake No set number

Course leaders Dr Konstantinos Tsimonis, Lau China Institute

Further details

Course contact for further information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office
tel: +44 (0)20 7848 2979
fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

 

Course contact form Postgraduate admissions

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Department Lau China Institute

Locations

 

Explore campuses

Lau China Institute

In the heart of London

Hear more from Professor Kerry Brown about the Lau China Institute at King's

Watch more videos


Course detail

Description

The ‘rise’ of China over the past three decades raises challenging questions about the relationships between politics and market expansion, international cooperation, business innovations, and cultural and social developments. Our course will provide you with the conceptual and research tools to critically understand these relationships from comparative and global perspectives.

Our MSc is based in our Lau China Institute and benefits from a dynamic staff strongly committed to research and teaching. They combine expertise in Chinese history and politics with specialisms in different theoretical traditions, including political science, the environment, economics, international relations, sociology and international business and corporate governance. 

The expertise of the associates of the Lau China Institute spans international trade law, healthcare regulation and biomedicine innovations, film and media, and military and maritime strategies.

Our course 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 or enhancing your employment prospects. You do not need language or subject knowledge to begin this course.

This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus. Our location in the heart of London gives you access to the wealth of cultural resources and institutions throughout the capital, as well as experience of life in one of the world’s most exciting and diverse cities.

Course format and assessment

Teaching

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. 

We will give you 15-20 hours of lectures and seminars per 15-credit module, and we will expect you to undertake 120-135 hours of independent study. For your dissertation, you will typically have 5 hours of one-to-one supervision, and you will undertake 595 hours of independent study, in order to complete a Dissertation of up to 12,000 words. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

 

Module 

Lectures, seminars & feedback 

Self-study 

Per 15-credit taught module 

Typically 15-20 hours. 

130-135 hours 

Dissertation module 

Typically 5 hours of supervision. 

580 hours of self-study and project work. 

Research methods  

Typically 15 hours. 

 

135 hours 

 

 Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

Most modules will be assessed by essay or a written examination, and by class participation and attendance. An oral presentation will be required if you fail the participation and attendance component. The dissertation module assessment will be on the dissertation alone (up to 12,000 words). Research methods will be assessed by means of a 2000-word assignment and a dissertation 1000-word dissertation proposal.

The required module China and the Age of Globalisation will be assessed by an examination and a participation element.

 

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.

If you are studying the part-time course, you are normally advised to take taught modules to the value of 75 credits in total in your first year. During your second year, you are normally advised to take the final taught module(s) to the value of 45 credits and to submit your dissertation (worth 60 credits).

There are a limited number of spaces available on each optional module, and 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.) 

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

 

Required Modules
You are required to take the following modules:
  • China and the Age of Globalisation (15 credits)
  • Research methods (15 credits) 
  • Dissertation (60 credits)
  • One external non-China Institute module from the Global Institutes or beyond, or one practical service or leadership module from across the College, such as the Principal’s Global Leadership Award or Applied Global leadership (15 credits) 
Optional Modules
In addition, you are required to take 75 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:
  • Contemporary Chinese Society: Change and Transformation (15 credits)
  • Doing Business in China (15 credits)
  • China's International Relations (1949-Present) (15 credits)
  • Government and Governance in Contemporary China (15 credits)
  • Contemporary Chinese Politics (15 credits) 
  • China & Global Governance (15 credits)
  • Economic Policies & Development in Contemporary China (15 credits)
  • China's International Investments (15 credits)
  • A language module, eg in Mandarin, from the Modern Language Centre (15 credits) 
  • Internship (15 credits)

Entry requirements & how to apply

China & Globalisation Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements 2:1 

Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours (or international equivalent).

In order to meet the academic entry requirements for this programme you should have a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree with a final mark of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme. If you are still studying you should be achieving an average of at least 60% or above in the UK marking scheme.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk and a non-refundable application fee of £70 applies. All applications are assessed by an admissions tutor.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checklist
Personal Statement Yes Please submit a one-page personal statement with your application, explaining why you wish to apply for this programme and why you feel it matches your interests, academic background and, if relevant, your career plans. Please include details of your previous exposure to China, e.g. through coursework on your undergraduate degree, language studies, career interests or time spent in Chinese-speaking countries.
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other Optional You may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

 

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. Our first application deadline is the 26th March 2021. After this date, the programme will remain open only if places are still available and will be closed as soon as it is full.

For programmes that remain open beyond this date, the final application deadlines for the following fee statuses are listed below:

  • EU or overseas (international) fee status: 30th July 2021
  • Home fee status: 27th August 2021

Please note, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund if you apply after the first application deadline in March, and we are unable to process more offers as places are filled before the final application deadlines above.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

  • Full time Home fees: £10,500 per year (2021/22)
  • Full time overseas fees: £23,460 per year (2021/22)
  • Part time Home fees: £5,250 per year (2021/22)
  • Part time overseas fees: £11,730 per year (2021/22)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000. 

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31st March, payment is due by 30th April 2021.
  • If you receive an offer between 1st April and 30th June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1st July and 31st July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer on or after 1st August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from late August onwards, payment is due within 2 days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Additional costs/expenses

In addition to your tuition fees, you can also expect to pay for: 

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies 
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies 
  • Printing course handouts 
  • Society membership fees 
  • Stationery 
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses 
  • Graduation costs

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Career prospects

This innovative course 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.

Testimonials

Agne

Agne

"I chose this MSc because it was the only Master’s programme in the UK which allowed me to study China’s economy and politics as well as its international relations. The modules relating to business and entrepreneurship turned out to be very engaging and useful."

Kun-Chin Lin

Kun-Chin Lin

The MSc programme offers students a contextualised introduction to domestic and international issues in China today, as well as analytical tools for understanding the dynamics of change and continuity from longer-term and cross-country perspectives. One of its most attractive aspects is the option for students to undertake an internship, either in mainland China or the UK, using King’s unmatched network of alumni and partnerships with governmental and private sector organisations.

Lecturer, King's China Institute

Blue box with King's College London rankings. Starting with, 7th in the UK for research quality. Followed by, 6th in the UK for research power. Concluding with, 4th among multi-faculty universities for research Impact. The source is research excellence framework 2014

Next steps

Upcoming events

Full list of student events

View our postgraduate guide

Learn more about postgraduate degree programmes at King's.

View guide

Sound like the course for you?

Apply now

Explore King’s

Accommodation Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses. 
Student life Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Extra-curricular Discover the huge variety of extra-curricular opportunities at King’s, from MOOCs to language courses.
London living With four campuses by the River Thames and one in south London, King's is right in the heart of the capital.