Institute of Chinese Studies
At Heidelberg University's Institute of Chinese Studies, the study of China is approached with an exceptional breadth and depth that is unparalleled in Germany. Across six research areas, over 30 scholars examine China and the Chinese-speaking world through a wide range of disciplinary perspectives and with deep historical insight.
Research and teaching extend beyond classical and modern China to include China’s global interconnections and the complex exchange processes that have linked it with other regions over centuries. The Institute’s scope encompasses not only the People’s Republic of China but also Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Chinese diaspora communities worldwide. A defining characteristic of the Institute is its strong integration into the international academic community.
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“Main Melodies” in Taiwan and on the Mainland
In the coming semesters, we are offering a series of screenings of SINOPHONE FILMMAKING from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China. They depict some of the complex and conflicted Sinophone realities and address issues of subjectivities, vulnerabilities, and the effects of biopolitics in the Sinophone world—from the point of view of those above, and those below.
Institute
The Institute of Chinese Studies was established in 1962 as part of the Faculty of Philosophy at Heidelberg University. Over the decades, distinguished sinologists have played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the field of Chinese Studies in Heidelberg.
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Bachelor
Students enrolled in the East Asian Studies program explore the societies of Japan, Korea, and the Chinese-speaking world. They examine the historical backgrounds, cultural transformations, and contemporary dynamics.
Master
The Master's program in Chinese Studies – Chinese Studies is renowned for training specialists in the economic, political, cultural, and environmental dimensions of engagement with China in an increasingly dynamic global context.
Doctorates
A doctoral degree in Chinese Studies can be pursued within any of the Institute’s six research areas. Dissertation topics range from classical literature and philosophy to contemporary society and politics.
Research Areas
With six professorships, the Institute of Sinology covers the field in Germany with a scope that is unique nationwide. The Chinese Studies program provides in-depth and interactive knowledge about the Chinese-speaking world.
Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies
Together with the Institute of Anthropology (IfE), the South Asia Institute (SAI), and the Centre for East Asian Studies (ZO), the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies (HCTS) forms the Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies (CATS). The CATS complex surrounds the new central library building.
