- Where you can study
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Distance and online
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International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Not open to international students
- Note:
- Note: Not all courses are available every year. 2 years part-time. Not available for full-time study.
Specialise in Chinese for your Diploma in Arts at Massey
China has emerged as a major player in the Asia Pacific region and the world. New Zealand increasingly looks toward the Chinese-speaking world in overseas relations and trade. New Zealand is a multicultural society and home to a large number of ethnic Chinese for whom Chinese is their first language.
Focusing on skills in oral and written Chinese, you can take language courses from beginner through to advanced level. There are also a variety of cultural courses which examine topics such as Chinese history, society, economic transformation, literature and film, and diaspora. Cultural courses do not require any knowledge of the Chinese language.
Speakers of Chinese dialects are welcome to enrol in the qualification for serious study of Modern Standard Chinese. Native speakers of Chinese intending to major or minor in Chinese must consult the Programme Coordinator before enrolling.
Planning information
Planning information
The Diploma in Arts (Chinese) is available for part-time study only due to sequencing of courses.
Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
No knowledge of Chinese language is required for course 241103 as this is taught in English.
Before enrolling in Chinese language courses below the 300-level, native speakers of Chinese must consult the Programme Coordinator or Head of School for the appropriate selection of courses.
If you later proceed to the Bachelor of Arts degree, all of the courses in your Diploma of Arts can be transferred to the Bachelor of Arts.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Core courses for the Diploma in Arts
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Chinese courses
Subject courses
Course code: 241101 Chinese 1A 15 credits
The course provides the students with a basic proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese). Upon successful completion of this course, students will have acquired the phonetics, knowledge of a set of characters, and the vocabulary and basic sentence constructions.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241102 Chinese 1B 15 credits
The course builds on the proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin) that is developed in 241.101 Chinese 1A. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have acquired the phonetics, a further set of characters and vocabulary, and more complex sentence constructions.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241103 Ancient Chinese World pre-republic (1912) 15 credits
A course of Chinese history, philosophy, literature and arts before 1912.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241107 China under Transformation: Economy, Society and Diplomacy 15 credits
An introduction to the multifaceted nature of China’s recent transformation from economic, societal, political and diplomatic perspectives.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241201 Chinese 2A 15 credits
Provides students with intermediate level of proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Intermediate level structures, vocabulary and characters are reinforced through oral and written exercises. Students acquire the tools appropriate to this level to discuss topics relevant to themselves and to Chinese culture and society.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241202 Chinese 2B 15 credits
Aims to further develop intermediate level proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Entails a further set of intermediate level structures, vocabulary and characters that are reinforced through oral and written exercises. Students discuss topics appropriate to this level and that are relevant to themselves and to Chinese culture and society.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241207 Chinese Diaspora 15 credits
This course will examine the emergence and transformation of Chinese international migration in the global context of China’s interactions with the outside world and diaspora’s changing patterns of political, social and cultural adaptations in various regions in the world.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241208 Contemporary Chinese Society in Literature and Film 15 credits
An integrated account of social and historical developments of contemporary China (from 1912 to the early 1990s) through a study of selected literary texts and films. No knowledge of Chinese is required.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241301 Chinese 3A 15 credits
Provides students with pre-advanced level proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Pre-advanced level structures, vocabulary and characters extend and refine linguistic capabilities through oral and written exercises, and students will acquire comprehension and communication skills to deal confidently and accurately with various situations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241302 Chinese 3B 15 credits
Provides students with advanced level proficiency in Putonghua (Mandarin), building on skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Advanced level structures, vocabulary and characters extend and refine linguistic capabilities through oral and written exercises, and students will acquire greater comprehension and communication skills to deal confidently and accurately with various situations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241304 Contrastive Study of Chinese and English 15 credits
A systematic study of Chinese grammar based on contrastive analysis as an approach to develop communicative skills through increased language awareness. Topics include basic concepts, sentence structure, special verbal constructions, tense and aspect, and complements.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241305 Translation from and into Chinese 15 credits
An advanced introduction to the theory and practice of translation from and into Chinese, with an emphasis on the development and application of written translation skills.
View full course detailsCourse code: 241395 Individual Research Project in Chinese Studies 15 credits
An advanced-level research project on an approved topic about Chinese language, literature, history, politics or other cultural aspect.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
If you have already completed a bachelor degree
If you have already completed a bachelor degree you may replace 230111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of your choice. You will need to apply for replacement courses via a Special permission request and you will need to attach evidence of your completed degree with the request.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and scholarships
2026 tuition fees
- Domestic students: $7,415
- International students: Not applicable
Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $1,164 for on-campus students and $948 for distance students for full-time study (120 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.
There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Course fees
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Inland Revenue website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Careers and job opportunities
An increasing number of skilled graduates in Chinese are needed to work in areas such as diplomacy, healthcare, international business, secondary teaching, and tourism.
Related study options
Chinese – Graduate Certificate in Arts
Develop your oral and written Chinese with the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Chinese). You can study Chinese without having to complete a second bachelor’s degree.
Chinese – Bachelor of Arts
Want to be a leader in the world’s global marketplace? Understand the language and culture of China to unlock the door to a lifetime of exciting careers.
Chinese – Graduate Diploma in Arts
The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Chinese) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Chinese without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
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