Information for prospective students

The B.A. subject Sinology can only be studied in the two-subject model, i.e. it is combined with another subject from this model that is not offered by the Faculty of East Asian Studies. Students can only begin their studies in the first semester in the winter semester, as beginners' language courses are only offered in the winter semester.

The two-subject model includes the so-called Optionalbereich with courses to develop skills beyond the student's own subject, in which students acquire a total of 30 CP (credit points) during the course of their studies. As language skills are not generally a prerequisite for studying Sinology, the Chinese courses in the first year of study are part of the Optionalbereich (worth 20 CP).

In the B.A. phase with a standard period of study of six semesters, the focus is on acquiring language skills and basic academic work skills. The aim of the Bachelor's degree course in Sinology is to provide students with the linguistic, methodological, and content-related foundations for a comprehensive examination of texts in Chinese.

It is recommended that you choose a second subject that deepens or complements the study of Chinese language, literature, history or religious in terms of its methodological orientation, e.g. general and comparative literature, German studies, Slavic philology, Romance philology, English/American studies, classical philology, linguistics, history or philosophy. However, combinations with another subject outside the humanities are also conceivable, e.g. with a natural science or engineering.

Students who are interested in a later M.Ed. should make sure that they choose a second subject that is taught as a school subject. These can be philological subjects (German, English, Romance studies, etc.) or humanities subjects (geography, history, etc.), but natural science subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry or biology can also be combined with Sinology.

Combination with the subject Musicology

As part of a cooperation agreement between the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen and the Ruhr University Bochum, the Bachelor's subject Musicology at the Folkwang University can be combined with a subject from the Social Sciences or East Asian Studies at the Ruhr University Bochum, including Sinology. This option should be of particular interest to students who wish to study the sociology and ethnology of music. In addition to academic-scientific activities, possible professional fields include cultural management, publishing, museums and public relations.

Successful participation in an aptitude test is a prerequisite for admission to the subject of musicology. The application deadline for the winter semester is usually March 15 of each year. For further information on the subject of musicology see here.

We recommend that you complete the self-check (German) before deciding to study Sinology. The result of the self-check is not relevant for enrollment. Participation is simply certified and the corresponding certificate of participation is uploaded as part of the online enrollment process. The purpose of the self-check is to give prospective students a realistic idea of studying Sinology; it is therefore best for prospective students to answer as honestly as possible in order to receive helpful feedback within the self-check.