University of Sheffield

Sheffield

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Chinese Studies at Sheffield

Hi,
I am an international student who has an unconditional offer to study Chinese at Sheffield university starting september 2009. Is here anyone who is currently studying chinese at sheffield? If yes could someone tell me how the course is? I've read the course information over and over again but would like know some "real" experiences :smile:

also is here anyone who is going to start this degree this fall too??

Reply 1

Spinal

Hi, I'm a first year doing Chinese at Sheffield. The course is quite intense and they give you much to learn from the beginning. If you haven't already, start doing some Chinese just to get a bit of a grounding in the language. The work load is quite high and you're expected to reach a high level very quickly. The staff here are great, really helpful and know their stuff. Besides language, you also do 'studies' modules. The core ones cover history, society, politics and economics and then you have free credits to either use inside the department or outside.

Overall, the course is quite enjoyable and rewarding despite some difficulties! We've just all submitted our applications to Nanjing university yesterday which is quite exciting. If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.

University of Sheffield

Sheffield

Reply 2

toinen

Thanks for the information, it was nice to hear how the course is! Although you made me quite scared now, i don't think I have time to take any chinese lessons before autumn..guess I have to try study it by myself then :smile:

The year abroad sounds so amazing!Is it possible to get any financial help for the year abroad from the university or from some other source? I was just thinking this because I am not able to get any maintenance loans etc. as I'm not from uk. Also are there many people doing this degree? By reading all the threads here everyone seems to be doing japanese :smile:

Reply 3

TheNihilist

Does anyone know where you can find a list of unrestricted Chinese modules?

Reply 4

toddlers crossword

TheNihilist

Does anyone know where you can find a list of unrestricted Chinese modules?

these are the School of East Asian Studies first year modules.

It doesnt say, but I assume the 'Chinese for non specialists' modules would be the ones open to people not doing a degree primarly within the SEAS school

Reply 5

Spinal

toinen

I wouldn't say that it is essential that you take Chinese lessons, just try and give yourself a bit of a grounding (e.g. pinyin pronunciation and tones, maybe even attempt to learn a few characters and basic grammar). The course starts from the very beginning, but many people begin without knowing anything about the language or how it works which makes it much more of a struggle for them. Don't worry about it too much as most cope in the long run, but if you have free time over the summer, it wont hurt to get a taste for the language.

I'm very excited for the year abroad too! In terms of funding, firstly you only pay half tuition fees to the university (Sheffield). Secondly, there are scholarships available (which cover free accommodation in Nanjing and a monthly allowance), the past three years there have been 17 scholarships available and these will be allocated to the students with the best results overall from semester 1 (not just in Chinese language, but in all modules). There's only 21 people in my year (2 dropped out/changed degree) so most people get this and I think last year only 1 person didn't get it! I suppose 21 people cannot be classed as 'many people' doing a degree, but you get to know the majority of them which is quite good compared to some people I know who have hundreds of people on their course!

What toddlers crossword said is correct, 'Chinese for non-specialists' is a module available to anyone who isn't doing a Chinese degree (non-specialist basically means that your major is not in Chinese Studies). You can do non-language modules too such as Understanding China 1 and 2.

Reply 6

Laura.Laurent

Hey i'm starting Chinese Studies this year too, where are you from?

Reply 7

toinen

Hi! It's so nice to find someone who is starting this degree too! I'm from Finland. Let's see how lost I will be trying to learn another language while I have to try to make a sense of english too :smile:

But I'm very excited to come to england! Where do u come from?Have u been to sheffield on an open day to see the uni?

Reply 8

The Loneliest Monk

oooh chinese studies. i'm going to be a first year doing chinese studies with russian in september, i can't wait! exciting and that. spinal's advice has been very useful, gonna have to try and get some practice in before term starts i reckon.

Reply 9

Laura.Laurent

Lol well your English sounds really good from what little ive read. i'm from surrey, not quite as interesting as Finland but there you go. I went to two sheffield open days, not sure why I put off replying to my offers til the other day as knew I wanted to go to sheffield since the minute I got there. Why do you want to come to uni in England rather than Finland?

Reply 10

Laura.Laurent

chinese and russian both ab initio? wow

Reply 11

The Loneliest Monk

haha wow indeed. in fact i'll probably end up dropping the russian part a few weeks in after i realise that there is no way i can cope with the workload. still i'll give it a go! maybe...

Reply 12

Laura.Laurent

The Loneliest Monk

haha wow indeed. in fact i'll probably end up dropping the russian part a few weeks in after i realise that there is no way i can cope with the workload. still i'll give it a go! maybe...

I was considering doing Chinese with Russian too, but realised i wanted to spend my extra credits on Chinese/Japanese culture and stuff. But go for it, would be a great degree to come out with

Reply 13

toinen

Well I just wanted to experience something new and exciting! And since the education in Finland is free, for the same degree there is about 600 aplicants and only 20 people gets in. There is also an entrance exam you have to take when you apply so basically you have to be perfect or try many years to get in!So this is much easier :smile:

It is only the tuition fees that scares me, I dont know how I will cope with all the money stuff. How was it on the open day?Did you go and see the accommodation?Have you applied for it yet? And The Loneliest Monk Chinese and Russian sounds quite cool :smile:

You must be so ambitious!

Reply 14

Laura.Laurent

Much much easier from the sounds of it lol. It was the friendliest and most welcoming uni of the 7 that i visited and all the lecturers were really enthusiastic and nice. There wasn't a single boring talk (Leeds bored me to death) and the city seemed really green and peaceful, around the uni at least. The accommodation was the nicest and most spacious that i saw as well (i viewed the flats at Endcliffe). It's pretty expensive, but you get what you pay for. Yeah i've applied, went for self-catering at Endcliffe

Reply 15

TriaonyRabbit

Those tips were pretty helpful. I was like i don't want o get preconceived notions of chinese but it may just help I think. I'm starting chinese studies in september it's soo close now can you believe it? Has anybody looked at the timetable for chinese yet? I think i've misread it but it seems we do chinese every day of the week or does that mean two different classes?