China Studies Master’s Program
Program profile
This scheme offers a unique opportunity to experiment real life in China by spending one full academic year in Hangzhou as a full-time student enrolled in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Zhejiang University.
The 2012-13 edition of the program is open to a maximum of 15 participants from Torino, who will attend the China Studies Master’s Program, exclusively designed for international students who come from Zhejiang University’s associate partners from around the world. The Faculty of Political Science of the University of Torino has been one of such partners since the inception of the program: the first cohort of students from Torino has now been in Hangzhou since September 2011, and they are approaching the defence of their theses. Other partners include universities from the US, Germany, Spain, and Denmark.
China Studies is an inter-disciplinary program with a curriculum embracing knowledge of contemporary China, including its language, modern history, cultural heritage, ethnicity, political and legal institutions, socio-economic development and public management. The target student body is non-Chinese nationals with an intention of becoming China specialists or business/international affairs professionals with a China orientation.
Students are required to earn at least 16 Chinese credits during their stay at Zhejiang University, divided as follows:
3 credits for Chinese language
2 credits for China Survey (a foundation module on China’s facts & figures)
8 credits for four courses individually chosen by students following a one-to-one advisory session with Zhejiang University faculty. Courses will be offered in the following fields:
(I) Language, Culture & Heritage
(II) Business & Economic Development
(III) International Relations
(IV) Public policies in China
3 credits for activities and field trips
All courses are taught in English. Optional courses on Chinese traditional culture are offered in Mandarin Chinese.
By the end of their academic year in Hangzhou, students must produce a thesis in English (no less than 10,000 words) or Mandarin Chinese (no less than 20,000 characters) and successfully defend it. Students who write their thesis in English must also submit an abstract in Mandarin Chinese of no less than 1,000 characters.
Upon full attendance of the program and successful sitting of the final exams (including defending their thesis), participants are awarded:
(i) a Master’s Degree in China Studies approved by China’s Ministry of Education;
(ii) 45 Italian CFU for their curriculum at the Faculty of Political Science in Torino. Grades are issued in the usual /30 format.
Overall, students participating in this program are required to defend two theses, one in Hangzhou (the thesis for the China Studies Master’s Degree) and one in Torino (the thesis for the Italian Laurea Magistrale). The two theses are technically two different pieces of work, in terms of structure and length. However, they can focus on the same subject and the Italian thesis can be developed as an extended version of the Chinese one.
The completion and discussion of the Italian thesis allows students to obtain 18 CFU (leading to a total of 63 CFU at the end of their second year of Laurea Magistrale) and to gain the points that are normally added to the average grades achieved during the two years of the Laurea Magistrale toward the final /110 grade.
Who can apply
This program is available exclusively for:
- current students enrolled in the Laurea Magistrale in Scienze Internazionali (LM-52) at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Torino;
- recent graduates (maximum 18 months) from the Laurea Magistrale in Scienze Internazionali (LM-52) at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Torino.
Students may join the program provided they have earned a minimum of 36 CFU in their current Laurea Magistrale by July 2012. Failure to meet this condition will result in the scholarship being revoked.
Application procedures
Applications are accepted until noon, Friday 25th May 2012.
In order to apply to the program applicants must write to Ms. Annarita Letizia at mobilitainternazionale.scipol@unito.it. They should attach to their email the following documents in PDF format:
- up-to-date curriculum in Europass format;
- cover letter in English, of maximum 350 words in length, stating the reasons for applying to the program;
- full academic transcript, indicating the degree program applicants are currently enrolled in (or graduated in), exams and relevant grades, the type and final grade of Laurea triennale (degree).
Applicants are encouraged to attach any document they deem relevant for their application, especially language certificates and evidence of work experience. All of these too must be in PDF format.
Ms. Annarita Letizia, of the International mobility office, collects all applications in a personal file and sends them for assessment. She will send out an official confirmation to each candidate only after receiving all required documents. Candidates failing to send all documents by the aforementioned deadline will not be considered for the selection.
Requests for further information on the China Studies Master’s Program should be addressed to Ms. Letizia too.
Selection criteria
Students are reminded that competition for securing a place in this program is fierce. The selection committee, composed by staff from the Faculty of Political Science and headed by a faculty member from Zhejiang University, will consider the following factors in making their decision as to the final ranking of applicants: academic transcript, personal CV, proficiency in English, participation to activities organized within the Scienze Internazionali degree program and especially to seminar series and laboratories, knowledge of Mandarin Chinese language (beneficial but not compulsory), individual potential. Candidates are interviewed individually before a final decision is taken. Interviews are conducted in English.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for this program. All selected students are provided with free accommodation and tuition, plus - according to Annex B of the partnership agreement between the Faculty of Political Science and Zhejiang University - a monthly allowance of approx. 180-200€ (at the current exchange rate).
Participants are required to pay for all other expenses, including flights (approx. 750€ – 850€ for a return flight from Italy) and meals (very cheap). Field trips are an integral, non-optional part of the program and they are also covered by the scholarship.
3 of the 15 scholarships will be reserved to recent graduates. In case fewer than three recent graduates are admitted to the China Studies Master’s Program, the remaining places will be awarded to students according to their final ranking.
Applicants who shoud fail to meet the minimum required level determined by the selection committee (60/100) will not be ranked and thus admitted to the Program.
Selection outcomes and scholarships acceptance
Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will be notified via email; the final ranking will also be posted on the Faculty of Political Science’s website (www.scipol.unito.it).
Successful candidates must confirm via email that they accept to enrol in the China Studies Master’s Program within 10 days of receiving the formal notification of the offer from Ms. Letizia. Failure to do so will lead to their place being offered to other candidates.
In case any offer is revoked or eventually refused by successful candidates, such places will be offered progressively to candidates ranking immediately below the first group of successful applicants.
Candidates’ responsibilities upon their return from Hangzhou
By September 30th 2013, participants to the China Studies Master’s Program are required to hand to Mrs. Letizia all documents received by Zhejiang University testifying their studies in China (including start and end date, a synopsis of courses/activities pursued, and relevant grades). They are also asked to submit a personal report of maximum 1,500 words offering feedback and suggestions for future editions of the Program.
The Faculty of Political Science will convert grades and CFU awarded by Zhejiang University within the China Studies Master’s Program. No recognition will be extended to students failing to pursue the agreed number of courses/activities.
Further information
Further information on the 2012/13 scheme may be obtained checking the CSMP FAQ 2012/13.
info updated 8th May 2013
