department of chinese studies research programme briefing 27 january 2012 - 10am

Department of Chinese Studies

Research Programme Briefing

27 January 2012 - 10am

11 August 2011, 10.30am

Duration of Candidature

The maximum periods of candidature for both full-time and part-time candidates are the same

Masters : 36 months

PhD : 60 months

Chinese Studies - Research Programme

Coursework Requirement…1

All students are required to read, and pass a number of relevant modules unless exemption has been granted by the University. Master and PhD students of the Department are required to complete a minimum of four and six modules respectively

Students are encouraged to read more than the minimum required modules; they are allowed to read modules from other departments



Masters students are required to read and pass 4 modules, with at least 75% of the total modular credit (MC) requirements obtained from Level 5000 or 6000 modules

Up to 25% of the total MC requirements may be obtained from Level 4000 modules



PhD students are required to read and pass 6 modules, with at least 50% of the total MC requirements obtained from Level 6000 modules

Up to 25% of the total MC requirements may be obtained from Level 4000 modules. The remaining MCs must be obtained from Level 5000 or 6000 modules



Discuss with your supervisor(s) or Graduate Coordinator the relevant modules for your programme.

All modules must be taken and passed within your maximum period of candidature



Students have to meet the following continuation requirements:

Masters - CAP should not fall below - 2.50 for two consecutive semesters or 3.00 for three consecutive semesters

PhD - CAP should not fall below - 3.00 for two consecutive semesters or 3.50 for three consecutive semesters

Termination of candidature would result if a student fails to maintain the minimum CAP as stipulated above


Graduate Research Seminar CH6770

The coursework requirement includes a Graduate Research Seminar CH6770 that will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

This is a compulsory module for all research students, and offers an opportunity to present their research papers


Independent Study Modules – CH5660 and CH6262

With the approval of the Department, students may opt

for two Independent Study Modules (ISMs). The ISM is

designed to enable students to explore an approved

topic of the discipline in depth. The student should

approach a lecturer to decide on an agreed topic,

readings and assignments for the module. A formal

written agreement should be drawn up, giving a clear

description of the topic, programme of study,

assignments, evaluation as well as other pertinent details


Minimum of two graded modules

Scholars are expected to read a minimum of 2 graded modules per semester, which must count towards their CAP


English Language Requirement

Students who are required to read graduate English modules at the intermediate level are required to obtain satisfactory grades (at least Grade C) within two years of their candidature


Research Progress Reports

Students are required to submit a bi-annual research progress report consisting of a summary of work done in the previous semester and work to be done in the current semester

The research progress report submission periods are August (for assessment of research progress in

Semester 2 of the previous Academic Year) and

January (for assessment of research progress in Semester 1 of the current academic year)


Research Progress Reports

For scholars, the semestral progress report will be taken into account for scholarship renewal.Please note that scholarship will be suspended if research progress report is not submitted by the deadline

Students who are in their first term (semester) of study are not required to submit the Research Progress Report


PhD Qualifying Examination…1

PhD candidates are also required to pass a Qualifying Examination comprising:

comprehensive examinations (1 Major field and 1 Minor field); and

an oral defence of PhD thesis proposal (for which a 30- to 50-page thesis proposal is expected)



Candidates must satisfy the following conditions before they sit for the PhD QE:

Complete a minimum of five modules, at least two of which are obtained from Level 6000 modules, with a minimum CAP of 3.50;

Where applicable, obtain satisfactory grades (at least grade C) in the Centre for English Language Communication graduate English modules at intermediate level;



Candidates should pass the QE within the first two years of their candidature.

A second PhD QE may be attempted during this period should the candidate fail the first attempt. This applies to both full-time and part-time candidates. For research scholars, their scholarship will only be suspended upon the recommendation of the Department

A candidate who fails to clear the PhD QE by the end of the second year of his/her candidature may be downgraded to the Masters programme if he/she can complete a reasonably good Masters thesis. For research scholars, the scholarship in such cases will be terminated. Otherwise, the candidature of such students will be terminated


PhD qualifying Examination …4

The date of the oral defence examination will be set a minimum of 2 weeks after the thesis proposal has been submitted to, and displayed at the Department


Leave Matters

Students who would like to attend conferences, participate in field trips, take up research attachments or read modules related to their research areas in other institutions have to seek approval from the Department When approval is obtained, leave is deemed to be granted


Support for Overseas Fieldwork

Full-time graduate research students may apply

for financial support for overseas fieldwork

directly related to their Masters or PhD thesis

from the Graduate Research Support Scheme.

This scheme finances airfare, daily allowance and

other research-related expenses as deemed

appropriate by the Faculty approving committee.

Priority will be given to PhD research students


Support for Overseas Fieldwork

The funding limit for PhD research students is S$6000 per candidature. Only candidates who have passed their PhD QE are eligible for the GRSS grant. Those who have not sat for the QE may submit an advance application but fieldwork must commence only after passing the QE

The funding limit for Masters research

students is S$3,000 per candidature


Financial Assistance for Student Projects

Financial assistance is given to full-time students involved in projects directly related to their studies. This covers reimbursement of consumables and travel arising from the projects

Full-time Masters students may claim 100% of actual expenditure, subject to a maximum of S$400 per student throughout the candidature period

Full-time PhD students may claim 100% of actual expenditure, subject to a maximum of S$500 per student throughout the candidature period.


Travel Grant for Conference Attendance/Participation

Full-time graduate research students admitted are given financial support for their attendance/participation in conferences as follows:

Full-time Masters research students may attend local, regional or international conferences subject to a total limit of S$2,000 throughout their candidature

Full-time PhD students may attend local, regional or international conferences subject to a total limit of S$3,500 throughout their candidature.


Research Scholars and Employment

You may be required by Department to assist in teaching or other department work without additional pay, for up to six hours per week as follows:

No more than two hours of tutorials per week Preparation work for teaching including

attending lectures that guide them on the facilitation of tutorials

Marking of assignments and examination answer scripts

Two invigilation duties per semester All TAs are required to attend the training

courses offered by CDTL within their first year of candidature.


Department Work

Part-time Work for Foreign Non-Research Scholars

Foreign full-time graduate students who are not research scholars must seek approval to work part-time. Part-time work is allowed up to a maximum of 16 hours per week during the term.

TAship recipients are not allowed to work parttime, regardless of nationality.


Length of MA/PhD Theses

MA thesis 60,000 to 135,000 characters

PhD thesis 150, 000 to 250,000 characters


Language of MA/PhD Theses

Major language is Chinese

Students who wish to write in English must seek the support of the supervisor and secure written approval from the Head or Graduate Coordinator.


PhD Thesis Oral Examination…1

The duration of the oral examination is approximately two hours. The examination comprises an oral presentation followed by an oral defence/open discussion

Other faculty members may attend the oral examination


PhD Thesis Oral Examination …2

The oral presentation takes 15 to 20 minutes and should not exceed 30 minutes. Candidates should observe the following:

Give a brief overview of the thesis; Discuss key findings and new contributions made to

the field; Justify methodology and theoretical framework used; Analyze implications of study for future research,

policy and other applications; Answer any question raised on the subject matter of

the research thesis and related subjects satisfactorily


Graduation Requirements MASTER

Minimum CAP of 3.00; Must not fail more than two modules; Where applicable, obtain satisfactory

grades (at least grade C) in the graduate English courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication at intermediate level; and

Pass Masters thesis.


Graduation Requirements PHD

Minimum CAP of 3.50; Must not fail more than two modules; Where applicable, obtain satisfactory

grades (at least Grade C) in the graduate English courses conducted by the Centre for English Language Communication at intermediate level of proficiency;

Pass Qualifying Examination; Pass PhD thesis; and Pass Oral Examination


Seminar/Talk/QE Exam

It is compulsory for Research Scholars to attend all seminars/talks/QE examination organized by the Department. This, however, does not include events by RESEARCH GROUPS

Research scholars who are unable to attend seminars/talks are required to write a formal letter explaining their absence to the Graduate Co-ordinator, Assistant Professor Koh Khee Heong, or Mdm Fong Yoke Chan (admin staff).

Research scholars who consistently fail to attend seminars/talks may not have their research scholarships extended


Seminar/Talk/QE Exam

All Research Scholars must join at least One of the RESEARCH GROUPS. Attendance of core Research Groups events is also compulsory for Research Scholars.

Research Scholars are only allowed to be exempted from joining any of the groups when their supervisors express in writing that none of the groups is suitable.

We welcome all graduate students to join the research group that fits their interest.

Kindly register with Mdm. Fong Yoke Chan your preferred research group by Friday 3 February 2012.


Graduate Room (AS3 #04-22)

Keep room clean and tidy Maintain a reasonable level of

noise Ensure that room is locked up

when vacant to safeguard equipment

Do not hog computer when others are waiting to use it


中文系博士研究生“综合考试”学科领域

各研究生将按照以下 24 个领域，经和论文导师和指导委员会商讨，选择应考的“第一”和“第二”领域。

现代学术发展迅速，如果有最新的学科发展，或有“跨学科”的交叉领域，在上述 24 各领域范围以外，系内将成立小组个别处理。

一般来说，“第一领域”考官、论文导师、指导委员会主席、“开题报告”主席，应属同一人。如有特别情况，可和系主任商讨应对。


•汉语组

1. 语法化理论，历史语言学，汉语发展史；2. OT 理论，音系学，汉语语音与方言；3. 语言类型学，中国少数民族语言；4. 认知语言学，构式语法理论，现代汉语语法；5. 话语分析，修辞学；6. 语义学，词汇语义学，现代汉语词汇；7. 生成语言学，句法学，现代汉语语法；8. 语言习得，应用语言学，语言教学法；9. 文化语言学，语言与社会，人类语言学；10. 翻译学，中英翻译的理论与实践。


•文学组

1. 中国古典小说2. 中国文学批评3. 中国现代文学4. 中国古典诗歌5. 中国古典戏剧6. 中国赋体文学7. 中国电影


•历史组

1. 中国上古史（约远古—秦汉） 2. 中国中古史（约魏晋—隋唐）3. 近世中国史（约宋—清）4. 中国近现代史（约晚清—现代）5. 中国思想史6. 中国文化史7. 海外华人研究


•语言组

1. 历史语言学 ( 语法化理论，历史语言学，汉语发展史 ) ；2. 语音音系学 (OT 理论，音系学，汉语语音与方言 ) ； 3. 语言类型学 ( 语言类型学，中国少数民族语言 ) ； 4. 认知语言学 ( 认知语言学，构式语法理论，现代汉语语法 ) 5. 话语语用学 ( 话语分析，修辞学 , 语用学 ); 6. 词汇语义学 ( 语义学，词汇语义学，现代汉语词汇 ); 7. 功能语法 ( 句法学，现代汉语语法 ); 8. 语言习得 ( 语言习得，应用语言学，语言教学法 ) ； 9. 社会语言学 ( 文化语言学，语言与社会，人类语言学 ) 10. 翻译理论 ( 翻译学，中英翻译的理论与实践 ); 11. 计算语言学


研究群队

本系现有 5 个活跃的研究群，分别为：东南亚华人研究汉语语言学研究明清研究印刷及大众文化研究中国宗教



The End ~ Wishing you success in your

studies!

department of chinese studies research programme briefing 27 january 2012 - 10am

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