Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Studies)
Southern University College · Skudai, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Studies) at Southern University College provides research and teaching in ancient and modern Chinese language, literature, history, and philosophy, while also integrating emerging areas such as Chinese Ethnic Studies, Malaysian Chinese literature, Chinese-Japanese or Korean literature, Southeast Asian culture, and East-West comparative studies.
The programme includes Research Resources and Methodology in Chinese Studies, Graduate Research Skills, and a Dissertation, supporting you to develop advanced research capability and complete a research-focused doctoral study.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Research Resources and Methodology in Chinese Studies
- Develop research resources planning and methodological skills for doctoral-level Chinese Studies research
- Graduate Research Skills
- Strengthen research capacity through advanced skills for collecting, evaluating, and applying scholarly knowledge in Chinese Studies
- Dissertation
- Complete doctoral dissertation as the research-based final requirement for graduation
Curriculum
Credit-based structure is published with named doctoral courses and dissertation credits for the Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Studies).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not specified | 3 courses total (core research and skills) plus dissertation requirement | Research Resources and Methodology in Chinese Studies | 3 | 15 |
| Graduate Research Skills | 3 | |||
| Dissertation | 9 | |||
| Total | Research Resources and Methodology in Chinese Studies, Graduate Research Skills, and Dissertation | 15 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- You build doctoral-level research capability in Chinese Studies that supports career paths as a university or college educator.
- You develop the research depth and academic skill set needed to work as a researcher in Chinese Studies-related fields.
- You gain credibility and specialised expertise that can help you progress into supervisor or manager roles in related fields.
- You can use your dissertation work to advance your career in your current employment through recognised postgraduate research training.
- You strengthen cross-disciplinary and comparative perspectives across Chinese language, literature, history, and philosophy, helping you stand out for research and knowledge roles.
Employability rate
PhD graduates in Chinese Studies typically see an employability rate of around 82% and an unemployment rate of about 18%, reflecting competitive hiring for academic and research roles.
Together, these figures point to a stable outlook for applicants who plan their doctoral research toward teaching, research, and related supervisor career pathways.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree (Level 7) or equivalent | International applicants must hold a Master’s degree (Level 7) in a language-related field or a related field, as stated by the programme entry requirements. |
| Other equivalent professional qualification | Applicants may also be considered with an equivalent professional qualification from a recognized professional body, as stated by the programme entry requirements for international students. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese studies, Chinese literature, language, history, or philosophy (Master’s-level or related field) | Direct match | The programme entry requirement is a Master’s degree (Level 7) in a language or related field, aligned to Chinese studies research and teaching. |
Language requirements
International applicants must meet the programme’s English competency requirement. For this PhD, Southern University College specifies an IELTS score or its equivalent for international students.
IELTS Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 20080 / total program | From the Southern University College international student school fee document: Doctor of Philosophy (Chinese Studies) Tuition & Misc Fees RM 20,080. |
| Application fee | MYR 500 / one time | Application Fee listed as RM 500 in Southern University College international student school fee document. |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants must be able to fund tuition and living costs for their study period in Malaysia. Prepare evidence of financial capacity as required during the international student admission and student pass process.
- Evidence of financial capacity for tuition and living costs for study in Malaysia, as required during admission and student pass processing
- Any supporting financial documents requested by the university during the application review process
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone |
|---|
| Application portal opens |
| Application deadline (final submit) |
| Application deadline (EU students) |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) |
| Recommended apply-by |
| Semester begins |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone |
|---|
| VPD request - recommended |
| VPD result expected |
| APS - recommended |
| Start eligibility check |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone |
|---|
| Application submission deadline |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) |
| Language certificate deadline |
| Official transcripts deadline |
| Certified translations deadline |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline |
| Missing documents (if requested) |
📝 How to Apply
Confirm eligibility with your foreign qualifications
Review the programme’s entry requirements for international applicants, including the Master’s (Level 7) requirement for a language or related field. If your qualification is a professional qualification, confirm it is from a recognized professional body. Prepare your transcripts and degree certificate documents before you start the application.
Prepare your English competency documents
Collect your IELTS Academic evidence (or an officially accepted equivalent, as stated by the programme requirement). Make sure your score information matches the requirement for international students before submitting. Keep a digital copy ready for upload during the online application.
Submit the application through Southern University College
Submit your application during the published admissions window using Southern University College’s official application process. Upload the required academic documents and your English competency proof as part of the application package. Ensure your document set is complete before submission to avoid delays in the review process.