Overview

The Lau welcomes high quality research proposal from interests applicants. We are interested in particular in political economy, political science of contemporary China, Chinese international relations, and China and its natural environment.

Interested applicants should first of all familiarise themselves with the research interests and areas of the current academic staff at the Lau China Institute and see which best fits their proposed research. Applicants should then send a TWO PAGE maximum outline with the following information to the PhD admissions tutor:

• Research title
• The key research questions that the thesis will address
• The proposed treatment of the research - in terms of methodology, theory and any other relevant information
• An idea of the kind of evidence base that the research will rely on - whether documents, case studies, etc.

Applicants need in particular to think about the literature that their research is intended to speak to, the viability of any field research involved (in terms of practicality, funding, ethical clearance, etc) and ways in which it will make a contribution to existing scholarship.

The Lau China Institute currently consists of the following:

• Academic staff: 5 (plus affiliates in a number of other departments across the College).

• Research students: 23.

• Partner organisations: The Institute is closely involved in the College’s key partnerships with Hong Kong University and the National University of Singapore, with both of which a joint degree may be taken, and also with Renmin University of China, which will allow possible research exchanges for postgraduate students.

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Course Details

We offer a 2 year full-time or 3 year part-time MPhil, and a 3 year full-time or 4-6 year part-time PhD, with some students registering first for the MPhil and transferring to the PhD programme after their first year. This is a prolonged research programme culminating in the presentation of a thesis, followed by an oral examination (viva voce). The thesis must form a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject and afford evidence of originality, shown either by the discovery of new facts or by the exercise of independent critical power.

Staff Research Interests
Our staff research interests, and areas of PhD supervision, include China's international relations and foreign policy, Chinese politics and development, the Chinese economy, and the social anthropology of China. [Further details]

Joint PhD programme
Exciting opportunities are available to undertake a joint PhD programme either with Hong Kong University (through the Faculty of Arts) or with the National University of Singapore (through the Department of Political Science).

Information is current, but staff members can change.

Head of group/division

Astrid Nordin

Global Institutes Lead

Professor Christophe Jaffrelot