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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Coursework Requirement…2


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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Coursework Requirement…3


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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Coursework Requirement…4
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

Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Coursework Requirement…5
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Minimum of two graded modules
Scholars are expected to read a minimum
of 2 graded modules per semester, which
must count towards their CAP
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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)
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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)
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
PhD Qualifying Examination…2
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;
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
PhD Qualifying Examination…3



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 fulltime 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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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.
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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.
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Department Work
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.
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Part-time Work for Foreign NonResearch 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.
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
Length of MA/PhD Theses


MA thesis
60,000 to 135,000 characters
PhD thesis
150, 000 to 250,000 characters
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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.
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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.

Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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.

Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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

Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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。
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
•汉语组
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
语法化理论，历史语言学，汉语发展史；
OT理论，音系学，汉语语音与方言；
语言类型学，中国少数民族语言；
认知语言学，构式语法理论，现代汉语语法；
话语分析，修辞学；
语义学，词汇语义学，现代汉语词汇；
生成语言学，句法学，现代汉语语法；
语言习得，应用语言学，语言教学法；
文化语言学，语言与社会，人类语言学；
翻译学，中英翻译的理论与实践。
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
•文学组
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
中国古典小说
中国文学批评
中国现代文学
中国古典诗歌
中国古典戏剧
中国赋体文学
中国电影
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
•历史组
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
中国上古史 （约远古—秦汉）
中国中古史（约魏晋—隋唐）
近世中国史（约宋—清）
中国近现代史（约晚清—现代）
中国思想史
中国文化史
海外华人研究
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
•语言组
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
历史语言学 (语法化理论，历史语言学，汉语发展史)；
语音音系学 (OT理论，音系学，汉语语音与方言)；
语言类型学 (语言类型学，中国少数民族语言)；
认知语言学 (认知语言学，构式语法理论，现代汉语语法)
话语语用学 (话语分析，修辞学,语用学);
词汇语义学 (语义学，词汇语义学，现代汉语词汇);
功能语法 (句法学，现代汉语语法);
语言习得 (语言习得，应用语言学，语言教学法)；
社会语言学 (文化语言学，语言与社会，人类语言学)
翻译理论 (翻译学，中英翻译的理论与实践);
计算语言学
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
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
Chinese Studies - Research Programme
The End ~
Wishing you success in your studies!

Chinese Studies - Research Programme