A Century of Chinese Cultural Innovation
Applications for this course are now closed
A hundred years ago, the Chinese nation-state was a fledging enterprise. A century later, having navigated the twentieth century in various forms, China, in terms of culture, economy and creativity, is a structured albeit troubled reality. In this module you will be introduced to different facets of China's official and alternative cultural creativity in its socio-political context, from the 1920s to the recent Tik-Tok generation. Musical and visual cultural texts will be employed throughout the module.
St Andrews Summer Study Brochure 2024 (PDF)
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The module will be split into 4 sections taught across three weeks.
1: Gender in Chinese Film, Literature and Art.
In this section we will explore how gender has been represented and constructed in Chinese film, literature and art from the 20th century onwards. In this period, as the region experienced extraordinary sociopolitical upheaval, ideas about gender and sexuality also underwent a series of transformations. We will consider how these transformations were reflected, endorsed or critiqued on the page, in art and on the screen. Following a broadly chronological course through the long 20th century, this course gives students an overview of how gender relates to the major historical events of the period as well as to Chinese society today.
2: Chinese Sci-Fi: The “New Wave”.
This section of the module covers the so-called “New Wave” of Chinese science fiction, including writers such as Liu CIxin, Xia Jia, Hao Jingfang, and Han Song. We will discuss definitions and theorisations of science fiction and the ways in which practitioners innovate to push the genre’s boundaries. How does contemporary Chinese sf respond to both Chinese and Western antecedents, and in doing so grapple with social crises and technological advances? We will consider how different forms (short stories, novels, films) use medium-specific techniques to convey these themes. Key topics include utopia and dystopia; temporal and spatial imaginaries; the blurring of human and nonhuman; and the potential for critique.
3: The People’s Republic of Consumerism: State Propaganda and Advertising in Xi Jinping’s New Era.
This section of the module focuses on the relationship between state propaganda, national identity, citizenship, and contemporary China’s emergent and rapidly developing consumerism. The course begins with a look at the role of propaganda and other forms of political communication within Marxist-Leninist systems, and an introduction to the Chinese Dream and related campaigns which have been disseminated since 2012. We will then look to explore the manifestations of state doctrine in advertising, critically discussing the role of advertising and consumerism in the forging of a national identity to be mobilized in service of CCP state-building projects. Throughout the week, we will examine advertising materials from both domestic companies and global brand names including Nike, Apple, and Coca-Cola.
4: Hong Kong Culture and Diaspora Literature.
In this section of the module, we will explore the different ways the Chinese-Hong Kong diaspora is defined, in light of the rapid changes being experienced by this growing and increasingly dispersed community in the recent two decades. In this course, we will particularly focus on the shifting representation of family dynamics and 'Chinese-ness' produced by contemporary Hong Kong diaspora writers across genres, and the reception of their work in the West in the recent two decades. We will also delve into the relevance of cultural history and language theories in the close reading of these texts, rethinking the divide between the 'local' and the 'global', and the connection between the personal and the collective imagination. The course will also include an optional writing workshop for interested students.
*Please note that this module content is subject to availability. Any changes to this will be updated here.
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The residential course dates for St Andrews Summer Study are:
25 May - 15 June 2024
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Residential Course fee: £3,950
The Residential Course fees are inclusive of the following:
- Tuition for credit
- Accommodation in our residences, en-suite in shared five-person apartments (sharing with other Summer School students)
- A programme of excursions, cultural and social activities
- Breakfast 7 days a week (Monday – Sunday)
- Lunch 5 days a week (Monday – Friday)
- Dinner 5 days a week (Monday – Friday)
- Sports Centre membership for the duration of the summer school
- Access to University services as a registered student of St Andrews, including the Library, IT Services, Student Services
The fee does not include airfare.
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The University of St Andrews is fully accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and recognised in the United States as a Title IV institution. Summer Study students earn credit under the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
Each Residential Course is granted at 12 SCQF credits. Each SCQF credit is rated 10 hours of work (roughly 1/3 contact hours and 2/3 self-directed study). You will complete work for graded assessment and receive a University of St Andrews transcript and certificate.
12 SCQF credits is equivalent to 3 US or 6 ECTS credits. Please check with your home institution about credit transfer arrangements.
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You must meet the following criteria for our Residential Courses:
- have completed at least two semesters in full-time higher education at the point of arrival in St Andrews
- a minimum average grade of 3.2 (on a USA 4.0 GPA scale) or equivalent
- must provide evidence that you can use English well enough to study effectively at St Andrews. The University accepts a wide range of language tests and qualifications as proof of English language proficiency. If you are from a non-English speaking country or use English as an additional language, you should include information about your English language proficiency with your application. For information on the language tests and qualifications which the University accepts, see the following:
- undergraduate English Language requirements (follow the information for the Faculty of Arts and Profile 3-D)
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You will be housed in one of our student residences, David Russell Apartments (DRA). They are located on the western edge of town, about a 20-minute walk to the centre of town and local amenities, and a ten-minute walk from the Sports Centre. There are regular bus routes between DRA and the town centre.
You will have a private bedroom with a double bed (four foot six inches wide), individual climate control and an en-suite shower room. There are five bedrooms per apartment, which includes a kitchen with a soft seating area, breakfast bar, oven, microwave, fridge freezer, tv and a dishwasher. There is basic cooking equipment and kitchenware, and an iron and ironing board. Wifi is free and available throughout the residence.
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If you are coming to the UK for study for fewer than six months this means you are visiting the UK as a Standard Visitor. Check on the UK government visa pages whether you need a Standard Visitor Visa, and what you will need to show at the border. You can also find more information on our support for international students – visas page.
The closest international airports to St Andrews are Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport. If flying to London, you also have the option of taking the Caledonian Sleeper service, an overnight train (London Euston to Leuchars). Leuchars is the closest railway station to St Andrews, situated approx. 6 miles outside the town. From Leuchars, St Andrews is easily reached by bus or taxi.
See more details on how to get to St Andrews.
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Students who complete a St Andrews Summer Study Course will be eligible for a 10% discount on their tuition fees for our- year-long or semester-long Study Abroad programmes.
Please ensure that you have read our exchange and study abroad policy to make sure you are eligible for our Study Abroad programmes.
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Any queries prior to the summer school should be directed to shortcourses@st-andrews.ac.uk.
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Depending on demand, certain courses may not be available in 2024. If this happens, we will clearly communicate this to offer holders by late March.
Students taking part in the St Andrews Summer Study will be registered as “summer visiting students”. All students are obliged to adhere to the University’s code of conduct and have read the Terms and Conditions of Study.
Please make sure that you have also read the St Andrews Summer Study Terms and Conditions.
Admission and registration is governed by the policy on the admission and registration of exchange and study abroad students.
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We recommend that you first check the entry requirements and discuss your application with your home institution, in particular if you want to transfer back credit from this summer school.
Complete the online application form Please note the Terms and Conditions in the section above.
NB. Fieldwork courses have a separate application form which can be accessed on the individual fieldwork course page.
Note that for the application we will require:
1. Your choice of course.
2. A personal statement. This should tell us why you wish to study on the programme and at St Andrews.
3. Academic transcripts. The transcript must be official and up-to-date, and you should include transcripts for time spent at other universities if relevant. Transcripts cannot be accepted that are marked as unofficial. Upload your official transcripts directly to your application, or ask your home institution to email it to shortcourses@st-andrews.ac.uk.
4. Academic reference. Your reference must be written by an academic member of staff at your current home institution. It must be signed and written on official headed letter paper and can be submitted by the referee after you submit your application and the deadline.
5. If applicable, you will need to provide an English language certificate showing you meet the university's proficiency standards. You can find more information on our language requirements in the 'Entry Requirements' section.
Application Deadline
Deadline for applications will be 25th February 2024.
Completed applications are considered continually from the application opening date until the application deadline. Applicants will usually receive an answer within four weeks of submitting a complete application, though review may take longer depending on module choice and other circumstances.