Regional Studies China, M.A.
In-depth and research-oriented exploration of the language and the areas of society, economics, law, and culture of modern China
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Arts (M.A.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English, German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | uni-assist (VPD) + the university, winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
| Admission | No admission restriction: every eligible applicant is admitted |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €355.65 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Every applicant who meets the formal requirements is admitted — but places can run out before the deadline, so apply at the start of the window.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
The China studies conducted in Cologne focus on the structures of state, economy, law, culture, and society in modern China.
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Within this framework, current specialized research includes:
- Political history and the political system of modern China
- Media development and socio-economic aspects of Chinese reform policy
- Population policy and socio-economic developments in 20th-century China
- Public and economic law
- Constitutional theory and human rights in China
- Interdependencies between socio-cultural change and the development of a modern legal system
- Questions of Chinese literature and intellectual history since the second half of the 19th century
What you study
The combined degree program in Regional Studies China consists of the compulsory subject "Chinese Technical Languages" and three elective modules from the areas of "History, Politics and Society of China," "Chinese Culture," and "Chinese Legal Culture," as well as one of the four elective subjects: Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, and Law.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Depending on your chosen focus, your studies will qualify you for higher positions in business, the media, social and political institutions, or for a career in academia.
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The following specific career fields are available:
- Industry and trade
- Trade fairs and transport
- Consulting and policy advice
- Umbrella organizations of the economy and public economic development
- Economic cooperation and development
- Banking and insurance
- Journalism and publishing
- Cultural institutions
- Tourism
- Non-governmental organizations
- Academic institutions and intermediary organizations
In addition, this program leads to further academic qualification and a career through a doctoral program, such as that offered by the Cologne China Studies program in cooperation with the Graduate School a.r.t.e.s. is offered at the Faculty of Philosophy.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (North Rhine-Westphalia), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €355.65 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | A bachelor's degree in a related field. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1, English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | uni-assist (VPD) + the university, winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application uni-assist (VPD) + the university until 15.01uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.01.2027 (93 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.