Chinese Studies (with Year Abroad) with Foundation

This programme provides high-quality teaching and learning in a supportive and productive environment which encourages self-awareness, reflective practice, and cross-discipline awareness. The course is delivered through a mixture of lectures, tutorials/workshops, and practical classes.

Typically, lectures provide key information on a particular area and this is consolidated through tutorials and/or workshops and practical classes where appropriate, particularly for laboratory skills. The course provides up to 16 contact hours per week, but further consolidation takes place through independent study and/or voluntary workshops provided outside the course’s formal contact hours. Emphasis is placed on developing confidence and classes are generally small, to ensure individual learning needs can be met.

Students who require additional writing and academic support are normally provided with additional contact time and opportunities to take part in small group and individual tutorials.

Towards the end of the year, greater emphasis is placed on independent study, not just in preparation for classes and reading around the subjects, but also with students completing an individual project related to their progression route.

Throughout the course, all students also have access to an academic adviser who will provide them with academic support and guidance. Students will normally meet weekly with their adviser. However, in addition, academic advisors and teaching staff are normally available to meet with students by appointment.

After the initial year, you should refer to the teaching and learning information for your chosen degree subject.

The Foundation Programme is designed to support UK students (including students with Settled Status) from under-represented groups in Higher Education, who have been unable to achieve their academic potential, to access and succeed in studying an undergraduate degree at Durham University. There are both specific and general eligibility criteria.

Specific Eligibility Criteria

Essential Criteria for Mature Applicants (over 21 years)

Applicants over 21 are required to demonstrate potential for successful study, including the study of a modern foreign language.

Recommended Criteria for all Mature Applicants (over 21 years)

Applicants over 21 have probably achieved a GCSE grade 4 in English Language.

Essential Criteria for Younger Applicants (under 21 years)

Applicants under 21 must have achieved a GCSE grade 4 or higher in English Language and must be able to clearly demonstrate potential to study a modern foreign language.

Recommended Criteria for All applicants

Successful applicants for this route are likely to have engaged with the Chinese language, and to have achieved a GCSE grade 5 or higher in English Language or be able to clearly demonstrate their potential in these subjects.

General Eligibility and Academic Criteria

All applicants need to meet criteria to be considered: Foundation Programme: Student Eligibility for study.

Please be aware that Foundation Programme places are in high demand (we usually receive 10 applications for each place we can offer) and all eligible on-time applications are considered in open competition to identify those judged to have the greatest potential to give and receive benefit from a Durham University degree course.

Applicants are normally required to provide evidence in support of their applications and to participate in mandatory pre-offer assessment activities as part of the application process; these usually take place between October and March.

Application Deadlines

UCAS Deadline for Equal Consideration – 29^th January 2025 (18:00 UK time)

Alternative qualifications

• Other UK qualifications

• EU qualifications 

• International qualifications

International students who do not meet direct entry requirements for this degree might have the option to complete an International Foundation Year.

English language requirements

Country specific information

Full Time Fees

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase and are expected to rise throughout the programme of study. The fee listed above is for the first year of the course only; fees for subsequent years will be confirmed not less than 3 months before the start of the academic year to which the increase is intended to apply and will be published on the Finance webpages.

In deciding the annual level of increase the University will take into account inflationary pressures on the costs of delivery. Tuition fees will rise annually by up to the higher of;

1. 6%, or,
2. the latest annual percentage increase in the Consumer Prices Index.

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation.

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