Master of Social Sciences in China and Global Governance

In light of the post-Covid-19 pandemic, we have implemented revised requirements for admission test scores. It is important to note that we will exclusively accept the following online tests for admission. Additionally, these tests must have been taken no later than 31 December 2023. Test report reflecting date beyond 31 December 2023, will not be eligible to meet admission requirements.

1. TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
2. TOEFL ITP Plus for China students
3. IELTS Indicator

Note: Existing final year undergraduate students may apply for admission with a softcopy of their provisional degree certificate and/or yearly examination results to date. Original degree certificate and academic transcripts/complete yearly results must be provided for verification at the point of matriculation. 

Each course counts as 3AUs, while dissertation counts as 6AUs. A total of 30AUs is required for graduation. 

To benefit further from NTU's outstanding faculty and resources, students will also have the option to select up to two relevant courses from NTU's other graduate programmes as electives to fulfil their programme requirements. These courses, howver, must be approved by both MCGG and the NTU School of division concerned.

Class Schedule

Classes are typically conducted on: 

It is mandatory to complete the two core courses. Student are required to select the electives from the three main clusters: Economy and Business, Politics and International Relations, and Society and Culture.

CORE COURSES

CC6003 Leaders, Party and State: Contemporary Chinese Politics

This course analyses the domestic politics of the People’s Republic of China from the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 to the present. It focuses on the Maoist and reform eras and examines the legacy of Chinese political history, Communist party structure and state apparatuses (including the People’s Liberation Army), the role of leaders and the dynamics of leadership, ideological change, policy-making processes, and the challenges of governance.

CC6303 China and Globalisation

This course aims to equip students with a good understanding of the dramatic social and political changes in contemporary China, and their impact on the world in general. At the end of the course, students would have gained an insight into the dynamism and vibrancy of a ‘new’ China and its new-found role in the centre of the world stage.

ELECTIVES

CC6002 China's Economy in Transformation

China’s economic development consists of a two-fold transformation: from a centrally planned economy to a bureaucratic market economy and from an overwhelmingly agrarian economy to a rising economic power in the twenty-first century. This course develops a broad understanding of the current state of Chinese economy from a historical perspective with focus on political, social, demographic and cultural factors. In examining the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese economy, the course also assesses the changing economic reform agenda and the problems and prospects of economic growth.

CC6100 Transition Economies: The Chinese Case

This course introduces major issues concerning the failure of socialism and the challenge of economic transition. It considers factors such as political constraints, institutional requirements, the speed and sequence of reform, price liberalisation, privatisation of State Owned Enterprises, and the phenomenon of corruption. It adopts a comparative perspective, examining the transition strategies of China, Russia, and other East European countries. In so doing, it evaluates the problems and prospects of China’s economic transition and draws lessons for other transitional economies.

CC6101 China's Role in Global Economy

What are the implications of China's emergence as a major player in the global economy? This course investigates China’s integration into the international economic order and its challenges for the rest of the world. It analyses changing bilateral economic relations between China and the United States, the European Union, Japan, and the ASEAN countries. In addition, it examines how China’s participation in regional trade agreements and multilateral agencies such as the World Trade Organisation has opened up opportunities for trade, investment, and international cooperation. The impact of China’s increased global competitiveness on other economies is also discussed.

CC6102 Economic Policy in China

This course analyses macro-economic policies such as fiscal policy and monetary policy. It also examines economic policies related to social development, rural development, the revitalization of the old industrial bases in northeast China and the development of the western regions. Attention is given to key state construction projects and state support for areas such as environmental protection, re-employment, and social welfare.

CC6103 Macroeconomic and Trade Policies in China: Strategies & Issues

This course is designed as an up-to-date course to equip our students with the appropriate analytical framework and updated knowledge on the Chinese economy. The course will cover China’s latest macroeconomic and trade issues. Students will know enough about China’s fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policies (especially during the global financial tsunami), China’s exchange rate system reform, China’s banking reform, China’s property inflation and stock market developments in China.

CC6104 Law and Legal Development in China

This course begins with a survey of contemporary Chinese legal institutions in historical and comparative perspective. It examines the key features in China's traditional legal order. This is followed by an analysis of the formal and informal legal institutions and practices in the criminal and civil processes of contemporary China. In assessing China's contemporary legal reform efforts, emphasis is placed on the role of the People’s National Congress, the People’s Court, the People’s Prosecutor’s Office, and the judiciary system and legal profession in China.

CC6105 The Dynamics of Investment in Greater China

This course introduces the process of analysing, evaluating, and managing various kinds of financial instruments in the emerging markets of Greater China. It analyses China’s regional economies, industry, finance and banking, and the latest development in trade, and the Chinese governments’ changing policies regarding foreign investment and multi-national corporations.

CC6107 One Belt One Road Initiates (BRI): Applied Learning Approach

The concept of applied learning focuses not just practical learning experiences but increasingly pays attention to the links between classroom lectures and visits. In other words, Applied Learning approach relies on contextualized learning which can empower and motivate students to learn, retain and apply knowledge as they study the challenges facing China and those countries which take part in the BRI. 

This course uses applied learning approach to enhance classroom learning with visits to selected institutions and firms with the objective to understand how and why BRI evolves.

CC6108 International Economics Governance and China

 This course engages students in an examination of the key issues surrounding the international economic governance, with a focus on understanding: (i) the nature and evolution of the international economic architecture; as well as (ii) the interplay of forces that impact this structure and China. The aim is to help students develop a comprehensive and balanced understanding of the relationship between international economic governance and China.

CC6190 Special Topics in Economy and Business: Political Economy of Greater China

This course provides analytical and in-depth study of selected topics in contemporary Chinese economy and business.

CC6191 Special Topics in Economy & Business: Decision under uncertainty, Insurance Theory, and China’s Insurance Markets
This course will arm the students with basic economic decision-making theory under uncertainty and the related analytical skills. Students will learn how to analyse the practical problems arising from China’s insurance markets and other financial markets.

CC6001 The Making of Modern China: Historical and Social Perspectives

This course provides an overview of Chinese history, with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries. It examines the key events – and analyses the domestic and international factors – that shaped the course of modern Chinese history. In particular, the course discusses the decline of the Qing Dynasty, the Western impact, and the dynamics of reform and revolution in the making of modern China. Topics include social change, intellectual discourse, political movements, nationalism, and foreign relations.

CC6200 China and Southeast Asia

China and Southeast Asia have a long history of political and economic relations. The relationships have experienced significant leap since the 1990s. As trade volumes increased steadily, political and cultural exchanges at the bilateral/multilateral level have also become more common. This course examines the development of the relations between China and Southeast Asia and how these regions have dealt with one another from the past to the present. Topics such as the ancient tributary system, impacts of nationalism and communism, foreign policies of ASEAN toward China, role of ethnic Chinese capital, military build-up and threat perceptions, non-traditional issues such as migration and drug trafficking, FTAs, East Asia community-building etc will be discussed.

CC6201 Policy Formulation and Implementation in China

This course analyses the processes involved in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policy in contemporary China. Examples are drawn from policy areas such as economic and fiscal policy, industrial policy; social welfare policy; population policy; science and technology policy; agriculture policy and environmental policy. It examines the key political variables that shape policy making and administrative reform.

CC6203 International Law and China

This course discusses the role of international law and legal institutions that have shaped and will continue to shape China. It examines selected aspects of law and institutions and evaluates their impact on current problems such as secession, regulation of the use of force, pre-emptive action, human rights and humanitarian interventions, and the role of multinational and multilateral organisations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, as well as the problems of reconciling national law and international law.

CC6204 Chinese Foreign Policy

This course analyses the evolution of China’s foreign policy since 1949. It examines China’s growing role in the international system by drawing on concrete historical examples. It also considers the objectives and processes in formulating foreign policy in relation to the domestic political context and the international environment. Special emphasis is placed on China’s policies toward the United States and the ASEAN countries.

CC6205 International Relations and Security Issues in Asia

This course examines the international role of China in the larger context of Asia, especially in relation to its neighbours in East Asia and South Asia and to the ASEAN countries from World War II to the present. Examples are drawn China’s relations with Japan, the two Koreas, and India and Pakistan. Moreover, the role of the United States vis-à-vis China in the Asian region is discussed. Theoretical perspectives are drawn from the literature on international relations, national security, and political economy. Topics include the arms race and nuclear proliferation, energy, and international terrorism and anti-terrorism.

CC6207 Transnational Issues & China

This course aims to equip students with an understanding of the most pressing transnational problems and issues and its implications on China. It prepares students to critically evaluate how China has responded to and managed issues ranging from religion, emerging technologies, climate change, pandemics, and political violence, among others.

CC6290 Special Topics in Politics & International Relations: The Politics of the Rise of China

This course aims to introduce students to the issues involved in the rise of China; to critically analyse the factors underlying China’s political and military development; to explore trends and developments in the rise of China; to provide a systematic framework for assessing the regional and global implications of China’s rise; and to encourage discussion and debate of the issues involved in the rise of China.

CC6291 Special Topics in Politics and International Relations: Political Theories of China’s Economics Reforms

This course aims to understand the market transition process in China since 1978 from a political economic perspective. Market transition here is understood as a process of not only economic transformation, but also sociopolitical change. Thus, in addition to introducing the facts and policy issues behind China’s recent economic “miracle”, the course also discusses the broad implications of economic reforms on the political and social systems in China. Theories to explain China’s transition process will also be discussed.
 

CC6300 Social Change and Inequality in Contemporary China
Rapid economic growth in China has engendered significant social change. This course examines the demographic shifts and social divisions that have resulted from urbanization, internal migration, unemployment, and the growth of a consumer society. Emphasis is placed on the gaps between social groups in terms of income and wealth, education and occupation, status and lifestyle. It discusses various forms of social inequality and exclusion (e.g. poverty, gender discrimination, and the urban-rural divide) and the policies (e.g. social welfare, population and employment) that are intended to address new social problems.

CC6301 Modern Chinese Intellectual Life

This course offers a critical review of modern Chinese intellectual life, particularly as it has developed in response to the western impact and the demands for modernisation. It considers the ways in which Chinese intellectuals have reflected on the sustainability of their cultural traditions and the appropriation of western ideas. In so doing, the course considers the significant cultural transformation of Chinese cultural life in the modern era and its continuing effects on intellectual discourse in contemporary China.

CC6302 Media in China: Political and Economic Implication

By exploring the relationship of the media with the political, economic, social and cultural contexts in which they operate, this course provides an overview of the development and regulatory frameworks of the media in China and the roles and functions they played in political and economic development in China. It will introduce students to the current development of reform in Chinese mass media in its various forms – broadcast, print and internet. It will also analyse the media as an industry in China, its role, ownership, representation, influence, responsibilities, etc. This module aims to engage the students in a critical evaluation of the roles of the media, and how they can be used as a tool to study China. 

CC6304 Reading Contemporary China through Literature

Chinese literature offers a window to an understanding of social transformation in contemporary China. This course focuses on selected literary texts – in English translation – produced in the post-Cultural Revolution era. Genres include novels, novellas, short stories, poems, and plays. In reading and reviewing key texts, special attention is given to themes such as social problems and cultural identity, as well as the everyday anxieties and frustrations of Chinese in the midst of historical change.

CC6305 Religion in Contemporary China

The religious revival witnessed in China in recent years is a poignant indication of the significant role religion continues to play in the lives of many Chinese, despite numerous attempts by the Communist state to stamp it out. As China globalizes and persists in its modernization effort, the various religions exist in a tense and ambiguous relationship with an officially atheistic ruling party that seeks to maintain hegemonic control over society. Through the examination of various important methodological, theoretical, and substantive issues relating to religions in China, this course aims to enable students to analyse the complex ways in which religion shapes, and is shaped by, China’s contemporary social, political, and cultural developments.

CC6306 China and the Chinese Overseas

The course analyses the causes and consequences of Chinese migration to various parts of the world. It also examines processes of migration, including the networks that facilitate the formation of Chinese communities outside of China. Topics include the relations between the Chinese Overseas and China, the impact of migration on both the migrant-sending localities and the host societies, and issues related to Chinese identity. Attention is given to recent patterns of Chinese migration since the opening of China and issues such as potential “brain drain” and the return of Chinese students and professionals. 

CC6307 The Changing Chinese Institutions
This course aims to provide an in-depth study of the main institutions of Chinese society. It will survey how these institutions have been changed by the revolutions and upheavals of the 20th century, particularly after 1949 and during the reform era. Topics to be included are rural society, urban society, family, household, population, education, work and labour, health care, and changing nature of resources distribution. These topics will be examined within comparative and historical frameworks.

CC6308 Health & Globalisation

This course explores beliefs, practices, and experiences of health and illness as a function of historical, social, cultural, political and economic forces operating at multiple levels (individual, community, nation-state, transnational and global). As China’s political and economic status rise, the question of individual and population health become increasingly important due to its implications for political legitimacy and economic power. Empirical studies can inform global and public health policy.

CC6309 Globalisation and Sustainability 

The concept of transnational Chinese cinemas ruptures the traditional boundaries of national cinemas, exemplifying the effect that diaspora, globalization, and transnationalist capitalist practices have had on filmmaking and its related industries. This module will tackle the theoretical issues emerging from this phenomenon by looking at films from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Chinese diaspora; and covering work by filmmakers and stars such as Wong Kar-wai, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Wayne Wang, Chu Yuan, Tsai Ming-liang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Feng Xiao-gang, Jackie Chan, and even Quentin Tarantino.

CC6393 Special Topics in Society and Culture: China in Regional and Global Perspectives

This seminar is concerned with approaches to contemporary China from multi-disciplinary and transnational perspectives. It will trace the origins and evolution of Asian/Chinese Studies since the end of World War II and examine the ongoing debates between area studies and disciplines. It will look at East Asia as an evolving historical and cultural entity from regional and global perspectives and discuss multi-faceted patterns of interactions between nation-states and different sub-regions, with a focus on the roles of historicity, culture, network and contact zone. Attention will also be given to the impact of globalisation and transnationalism upon Chinese/East Asian studies and the responses from the field. This course will critically introduce various new geo-cultural frameworks of understanding modern Asia, especially China, Southeast Asia, and Japan, as well as their complex interactions since 1900.

Others 

Dissertation

The student is expected to complete an original research paper dealing with a chosen topic under the supervision of a faculty member. The dissertation must be written in English.

In the classrooms, our students from various professions and nationalities create a diverse and dynamic learning community, bringing with them global perspectives. MCGG is backed by the extensive NCPA alumni network of close to 20,000 members in China and other countries, offering students professional development opportunities in Singapore and beyond.

	"It has been one of the most enjoyable and enriching periods of my life. I remembered always looking forward to the classes and each class had never failed me to feel “richer”. Seminar discussions on current affairs were also amazing where classmates and professors from diverse nationalities shared our views from both regional and global perspectives. The course is well-designed to empower students to follow their passions and to think creatively and critically. A high-quality learning experience indeed that is beneficial to me personally and professionally I am privileged to have had." Dr. Ng Ee Hong (Class of 2020) Assistant Director National Environment Agency
	"It has been a wonderful and memorable learning journey for me. After working for close to 17 years with Lianhe Zaobao Sports Desk, I have decided to embark on this learning experience on a part-time basis. I have put in two and a half years to complete this programme, and through the process, made many good friends whom I am still constantly in touch with. This has been very useful for my current job scope as a correspondent with Lianhe Zaobao China desk. Prior to my present stint, I have been a sports journalist since joining this national Chinese flagship daily since 1996. Currently, with the strong background, I have cultivated with my study at MACC on China, it has made an impact on my work with China desk. I am able to understand the relations between China and their foreign counterparts better."     Kwok Ka-Hui (Class of 2016) China Desk Correspondent Lianhe Zaobao
	“I enrolled in the MACC program thinking it would be practically useful in my work involving China, but it proved to be far more than that. I gained deeper insights into the rich culture, history and outlook of China than I expected, making for a more interesting and useful program. Learning from and beside these interesting people, from a culture so different from my own, gave a completely new dimension to the experience and brought it to a very human, personal level. I know of no other course where one is learning both from and beside the people whose country and customs one is studying. I thoroughly recommend the program to provide not merely knowledge about China but a better understanding of what has made her and a deeper feeling for her people.”   Cameron Ford (Class of 2015) Partner Squire Patton Boggs
	“A friend asked me recently why I couldn't read up these subjects on my own if I am so interested in contemporary China. Of course, you can. But how many of us would do it in a structured and systematic way if left to our own devices, while holding down a job? I am glad I took the dive and signed up as a student proper. It's only been a few months, but I already feel the benefits of this education. Through the Chinese literature class, I now understand why Yu Hua writes with the occasional streak of violence; through the history class, I finally deciphered why May 4th was such an important movement in modern China; and through the globalisation class, I better appreciate China's insistence on viewing the US as the number one hegemonic state. And it is a bonus that you can buy pretty decent 60-cents kopi from the canteen on the way to class!”     Huang Weixian (Class of 2015) Director, Adoption and Engagement Directorate Smart Nation and Digital Government Office, Singapore
	"Applying and studying for MACC was an easy decision given the diversity of course subjects - from China's political system to its role in the global economy, or on the cultural aspect such as transnational Chinese Cinema. The whole course provided me with a different perspective when it comes to looking at China - a perspective unique to Asians and Chinese. Unique courses such as Chinese Overseas and China in Regional and Global Perspectives by Prof. Liu Hong, provided me with a stronger understanding of China's connection and role in the East Asia Region and how it impacts me as a Southeast Asian. I fully recommend this course given how much I was able to utilize and impart the knowledge MACC provided to me, whether when I was working in the Philippine Defense Department or working in a Tech company." Juliene Svetlana Cruz (Class of 2015) Senior Digital Market Researcher Sqreem Technologies
	“The depth of learning in the programme provided new insights into China, while the breadth of subjects covered gave me a chance to cross into new academic disciplines I would never have delved into elsewhere. Most importantly, the opportunity to learn from veteran China-watchers who taught the courses, and to have my perspectives sharpened by other like-minded students from multi-faceted backgrounds was the most invaluable part of the whole experience.”     Phua Chiew Hua (Class of 2014) Deputy Commander (Training Curriculum & Policy) in Training Command Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore
	"If China were a sleeping lion, as described by Napoleon Bonaparte, has she woken up?   As I sought answers, I discovered MCGG enables students to acquire an advanced understanding of modern China through an interdisciplinary programme. The well-thought-out curriculum, delivered by respected China specialists, allowed me to widen my knowledge on China in a structured manner, while the lively classroom discussions and robust exchange of views deepened my insights into complex topics and issues. The learning experience was enhanced by an immersion trip to China and participation in a semester-long exchange programme at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan.   So, has China woken up and shaken the world? I would encourage you to explore MCGG to seek the answer yourself.”   Yong Chuk Kwin (Class of 2014) Senior Vice President DBS Bank
	“I have made a number of high profile C-level contacts during my tenure and have been in touch both personally and professionally with most of them. I also gained an in-depth knowledge of the underworkings and intricacies of development economics, principally that of China, other key movers and shakers, and contributory states and nations in the Belt and Road Initiative. The topics covered in the programme included corporate and global governance, and have provided interesting insights into the workings of such governmental and quasi-governmental organisations.”   Joel Pang (Class of 2014) Chief Operating Officer Crossbridge Capital Asia Pte Ltd
	“The programme has greatly enriched my understanding of China. What I like most about the programme is its multi-disciplinary nature covering politics, society, economics and history of China, with a wide range of electives to choose from. Apart from well-structured course content delivered by highly-regarded faculty members, I also benefited greatly from interactions with fellow classmates of diverse background, including several who had worked or lived in China. The immersion trip also brought me to places and institutions which I would otherwise not be able to visit as an ordinary tourist travelling in China.”      Lee Tiow Yong (Class of 2013) Senior Assistant Director-General  Singapore Customs
	“China’s emerging market is the most promising among developing countries. China’s new political, social and economic policies will determinate the new world structure. Therefore, it was vital for me to learn their history and understand how these changes will affect the market, in order to be prepared for what will be the future of Asia and the consequences for the rest of the world.”   Mr Guillermo Rodolfo Roa Urzua (Class of 2013)  Regional Director (TP) Los Lagos, Chile  Chile Government
	“The unique course topics challenged me to evaluate my own views on China and its stance on global governance. Through rigorous class discussions, I am enriched with in-depth knowledge of China and its world views, presenting me with a multitude of perspectives that is sometimes paradoxical – similar to today’s world. This has allowed me to apply the learnings to my everyday work and give me better leverage in my field.”     Eunice Neo (Class of 2013) Deputy Director Customer Operations Department, Work Pass Division Ministry of Manpower
	“The depth of learning in MACC provided new insights into China, while the breadth of subjects covered gave me a chance to cross into new academic disciplines I would never have delved into elsewhere. Most importantly, the opportunity to learn from veteran China-watchers who taught the courses, and to have my perspectives sharpened by other like-minded students from multi-faceted backgrounds were the most invaluable part of the whole MACC experience. I believe all who have gone through the MACC journey will emerge not just with new knowledge or understanding, but also find a renewed passion for learning and receive a whole new lens in which to understand China better.”   Mr Chew Qi (Class of 2013)   Executive Director AML/CFT Department Bank of Singapore
	"With expertise on both China Studies and Global Governance, graduates will be sought after in the job market as many MNCs, SMEs and government bodies are looking experts cognisant of China and the world, as China is playing an increasingly important role in global governance with the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative." Sophia Li (Class of 2012) Regional Director (Greater China) Times Higher Education
	“The programme has been very enriching for me. Across many topics, the professors raised thought-provoking issues, and the students from diverse backgrounds responded with robust, lively discussions and different perspectives. Another highlight of the programme is the China Immersion. In my case, I participated in the June 2009 immersion, which took us to Xi'an and Xinjiang, where we were exposed to different aspects of China."     Tan Teck Eng (Class of 2009) Senior Vice-President DBS Bank Singapore
	“Studying China’s history, politics, and culture with students from across the world gave me a powerful appreciation for understanding trends and events through the perspectives of people with different backgrounds. It taught me to listen and ask questions, to search for common ground, and where there were disagreements, to explore them in a spirit of shared intellectual inquiry. Across my career, I have found myself returning to the ideas and approaches I learned. In some sense, I feel these are themes very much a part of Singapore’s history and experience as a global trade hub, and my classroom discussions were made even more meaningful by the friends and connections I made outside of school, living in Singapore.”     Daniel Vallone (Class of 2008) Fulbright Scholar US Director More in Common
	“My story: a Chinese speaking Norwegian studying Contemporary China in Singapore. It’s a sign of the times as China’s importance and influence are growing. After previous exposures to China, I wanted to gain more in-depth knowledge and insights as to how China has become what it is, and also what’s in store for the future. In this respect, the Programme has greatly enabled me to acquire a fuller understanding and balanced view on what is China today.” 我选择，我喜欢。 Andreas Thorud (Class of 2006) 里斯（老外/北京通)  Chief Representative Greater China Aker BioMarine

On-Campus accommodation

MCGG students are encouraged to apply for the exchange. It is an excellent opportunity for students to experience living in Japan, attend classes in a Japanese university and carry out research in a foreign country/university.

As Waseda University’s academic year differs slightly from NTU’s, the Fall and Spring exchanges to Waseda will begin in September and April respectively.

Student Life in Waseda University Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies (GSAPS)

FAQs

Click on  MCGG FAQs.