Chinese Studies

Chinese Studies at honours bachelor level immerses you in Mandarin Chinese language from beginner or near-beginner level alongside an in-depth study of China's history, politics, society, literature and contemporary culture. You develop practical language skills through weekly conversation classes, written Chinese, and listening comprehension, while academic modules explore East Asian thought, modern Chinese geopolitics and Ireland–China economic relations. A compulsory or strongly encouraged year abroad at a partner university in mainland China, Hong Kong or Taiwan is central to the degree, accelerating your fluency and cultural understanding in a way no classroom can replicate. By graduation you will typically hold an intermediate-to-advanced level of spoken and written Mandarin, alongside strong analytical and cross-cultural communication skills.

Entry is normally through the CAO, and most applicants hold the Leaving Certificate with a minimum of six subjects including English at Ordinary level or above; no prior knowledge of Chinese is required as the language is taught from scratch. CAO points for Chinese Studies or combined Arts programmes containing Chinese are generally moderate, though combined degrees with high-demand subjects may attract higher competition. Leaving Certificate subjects such as English, History, Geography or a modern European language at Higher level strengthen your application and ease the transition to humanities-style academic writing at university. Students without the Leaving Certificate may enter through a QQI Level 5 or 6 PLC award in a humanities or languages-related area, subject to the university's specific QQI entry requirements. Mature students aged 23 or over may apply through the mature-student admissions route, and applicants from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds may access places through the HEAR scheme, while those with disabilities may apply via DARE.

Demand for Mandarin-proficient graduates in Ireland remains strong given China's position as one of Ireland's largest trading partners outside the EU, particularly in agri-food, financial services and technology. Graduate unemployment in this field is low, with most graduates combining language skills with a second discipline such as law, business or education to maximise employability. Salary levels on entry vary by sector, with roles in multinational trade, finance and technology typically offering starting salaries in the region of €28,000–€38,000 gross per annum, rising considerably with experience and specialisation.