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Overview

A dissertation on an approved and individually-supervised research topic in Chinese; of up to 15,000 words if written in Chinese, or 20,000 words if written in English.

Would you welcome the opportunity to shape and then create, with the guidance of a supervisor, a substantial piece of academic writing on a topic of your own choosing? A key element of an Honours degree in Chinese at the University of Otago is a dissertation on a topic relating to Chinese or Sinophone culture.

About this paper

Paper title Dissertation
Subject Chinese
EFTS 0.5
Points 60 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2026 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $4,181.00
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
CHIN 489
Limited to
BA(Hons), PGDipArts
Contact
languages@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff
The Chinese Programme shares the supervision of CHIN 490 according to the specific areas of expertise best suited to support the students.
Paper Structure

A dissertation prepared under supervision on a topic relating to Chinese or Sinophone culture.

Textbooks
The student - supported and advised by the supervisor - selects the specific research materials (both primary and critical sources) to be used in the project.
Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of CHIN 490, a student will have:

  • Acquired and deployed the research and writing skills necessary to define the terms of and write a dissertation
  • Improved information literacy and familiarity with academic resources in both English and Chinese
  • Become very familiar with, if not an expert in, a particular subject area and its broader context
  • Developed a critical appreciation of secondary material in the field
  • Engaged in scholarship and gained an idea of what further postgraduate study might entail
Assessment details

A dissertation to be submitted on the last day of Week 13.

Overview

A dissertation on an approved and individually-supervised research topic in Chinese; of up to 15,000 words if written in Chinese, or 20,000 words if written in English.

Would you welcome the opportunity to shape and then create, with the guidance of a supervisor, a substantial piece of academic writing on a topic of your own choosing? A key element of an Honours degree in Chinese at the University of Otago is a dissertation on a topic relating to Chinese or Sinophone culture.

About this paper

Paper title Dissertation
Subject Chinese
EFTS 0.5
Points 60 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2027 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
CHIN 489
Limited to
BA(Hons), PGDipArts
Contact
languages@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff
The Chinese Programme shares the supervision of CHIN 490 according to the specific areas of expertise best suited to support the students.
Paper Structure

A dissertation prepared under supervision on a topic relating to Chinese or Sinophone culture.

Textbooks

The student, supported and advised by the supervisor, selects the specific research materials (both primary and critical sources) to be used in the project.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of CHIN 490, a student will have:

  • Acquired and deployed the research and writing skills necessary to define the terms of and write a dissertation.
  • Improved information literacy and familiarity with academic resources in both English and Chinese.
  • Become very familiar with, if not an expert in, a particular subject area and its broader context.
  • Developed a critical appreciation of secondary material in the field.
  • Engaged in scholarship and gained an idea of what further postgraduate study might entail.
Assessment details

A dissertation to be submitted on the last day of Week 13.

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