Applicants should hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent in a relevant subject area such as Chinese or Asian Studies.

Applicants who are native speakers of Chinese should have a degree in the following disciplines areas Chinese or Asian Studies, Linguistics, Education, Pedagogy, Foreign Languages, Literatures and Communication.

Applicants who hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in another relevant area may also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), following a review of their individual qualifications and experience and based on the information provided in a supplementary statement and/or interview acceptable to the Department selection committee. Prospective applicants may be called for an interview (in person or, where more feasible, online), with a view to assessing their suitability for the programme.

Fluency in Chinese (minimum HSK level 5 or equivalent)

Applicants whose first language is not Chinese should hold an HSK (Hànyū Shuīpíng Kāoshi/Chinese Proficiency Test) Level 5 certificate (or certified equivalent). Alternatively, they should have an approved undergraduate degree in which at least 50% of the credit weighting is in the Chinese language and Chinese Studies. Applicants without these qualifications but who have a demonstrably strong proficiency in the Chinese language may be exceptionally considered on a case-by-case basis subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.

Duolingo English Test: DET 120 (with a minimum score of 110 in each individual section)

IELTS: 6.5 Overall; 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)

TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall; Listening 20; Reading 19; Speaking 21; Writing 20

Pearson PTE: Minimum score of 63 with no section score below 59