Academic Research and Development of China Studies at SOAS in London

Abstract

SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), a member institution of the University of London, has a distinguished record in the study of China and Chinese languages dating back to its foundation as the School of Oriental Studies in 1916. China’s economic growth and its increasing importance as a major political power in international affairs have led to a rise of interest not only among professional constituencies concerned with China, but also among a wider public keen to travel to and to learn about the country’s history, languages and culture, as well as its more recent political, economic and social transformation. Chinese media, film, music, literature, and social media apps have become a fascinating and integral part of global popular culture. At SOAS, we have over 40 full-time academic staff who study these subjects across the disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, a growing community of students, visiting scholars and research associates, and over 1200 alumni in China.