At Fudan, Chinese Studies Becomes a Global Conversation
What does it mean to study Chinese language and literature in China today?
At Fudan University’s 2026 International Summer School of Chinese Language and Literature, Martin Kern, Professor of Asian Studies at Princeton University, offered a thought-provoking perspective: scholarship should not remain confined to one tradition, but should participate in and contribute to global academic discourse.
That idea has been at the heart of this summer’s programme.
Studying Chinese language and literature in China
Held from 12 to 24 August, the programme, titled “From the Ancient to the New: Milestones and Transformations in the Chinese Cultural Tradition”, has brought together scholars and students to explore Chinese language, literature and intellectual history from different perspectives.
Six scholars from China and overseas have delivered 24 lectures, covering topics ranging from Chinese literature and world literature to early Chinese texts, cultural memory, Chinese poetics and Tang-Song poetry.
The programme has included 114 participants from 59 universities in China and overseas.
Learning has not been limited to lectures. Question-and-answer sessions and group discussions have given students opportunities to ask questions, challenge ideas and exchange views with scholars and fellow participants.
For international students considering study in China, this kind of academic environment can offer a different experience from simply learning about China from outside the country.
Education in China: beyond the classroom
Studying a subject in China does not necessarily mean studying it from only one perspective.
A student choosing to study Chinese language and literature in China may encounter traditional literary scholarship alongside comparative approaches, international research and new technologies.
One participant, Liang Xinxin from Fudan University, reflected on how computational methods can help researchers work with large quantities of textual material, opening new possibilities for humanities research.
The same principle can be seen across education in China more broadly. International students studying subjects such as Chinese studies, business, engineering, medicine or other disciplines can encounter both local academic perspectives and increasingly international learning environments.
One subject, many academic conversations
The Fudan programme has been part of the university’s 2026 flagship postgraduate international summer school initiative, which has covered 12 areas across the humanities, social sciences, science, engineering and medicine.
For students planning to study a subject in China, the wider lesson is perhaps more important than the summer school itself.
Studying in China can mean entering an academic environment where Chinese perspectives meet international ones. It can also mean discovering new research methods, building academic connections and seeing how a particular subject is discussed in a different cultural and educational context.
For some international students, scholarships can make this opportunity more accessible. Chinese universities and scholarship programmes offer a range of funding opportunities for international students, particularly at postgraduate level. However, scholarship availability and eligibility vary by university, programme and intake, so students need to check the specific requirements of each opportunity.
From Chinese traditions to global dialogue
Fudan’s summer school has shown that studying Chinese language and literature does not have to mean choosing between tradition and international engagement.
Chinese studies can preserve its own intellectual traditions while taking part in a much wider academic conversation.
For international students thinking about study in China, that may be one of the most interesting possibilities: not simply to study a subject in another country, but to see how different academic traditions can meet, question one another and create new ideas.
About SICAS
SICAS is an admission platform for international students interested in studying in China. The platform provides information on Chinese universities, degree programmes, scholarships and admission requirements, helping students explore study opportunities across China and prepare their applications.
Read More
