Three alumni from Department of Chinese Studies of Xiamen University Malaysia have been selected for the 2024-2025 "China Studies Program" PhD Fellowships, heading to Peking University, Fudan University, and Nanjing University, to pursue their doctoral degrees. 

Launched by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education, “China Studies Program” collaborates with top Chinese universities and scholars to provide opportunities and support for young overseas researchers studying China-related topics in the humanities and social sciences.

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Chew Lup Heng: Tracing the Development of Ancient Chinese Literature

Admitted by Peking University

XMUM Class of 2019 Alumnus

Graduated from Xiamen University Malaysia in 2019, Chew Lup Heng is now a master's student in Chinese literature at Peking University, focusing on the literature of the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties, as well as the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties periods.

Under the China Studies Program, this fall, he will begin his doctoral studies at Peking University under the guidance of Prof. Du Xiaoqin, an expert in ancient Chinese literature.

Chew Lup Heng's research focuses on the period from the Southern Dynasties to the early Tang Dynasty, covering traditional poetics and poetic forms, including Yuefu and ancient verse. For his PhD, he plans to study the development of the Yongming poetic style to the early Tang five-syllable regulated verse.

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Chew Yan Herng: Religious Dialogue and Social Impact from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Admitted by Fudan University

XMUM Class of 2020 Alumnus

A master's student in religious studies at Fudan University, Chew Yan Herng found that despite the belief among many scholars that modern society has become disenchanted with religion, its influence remains strong. During his prograduate time, he used Malaysia as a case study to demonstrate how religion adapts and continues to play a significant role in modern society.

For his PhD, Chew Yan Herng will continue his studies at Fudan University, focusing on theories of religious dialogue and exploring how dialogue can occur between religions with different languages, values, and worldviews.

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Leong Siw Yau: Exploring the Differences and Integration of Global Chinese Vocabulary

Admitted by Nanjing University

XMUM Class of 2023 Alumnus

Leong Siw Yau completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees in the Chinese Department of Xiamen University Malaysia, with a primary interest in sociolinguistics, particularly language landscape studies. Under the guidance of Prof. Wang Xiaomei, she conducted field research across Malaysia and completed her master's thesis on the language landscape of primary and secondary schools in Sandakan, Sabah.

For her PhD, Leong Siw Yau plans to focus on vocabulary research, particularly the differences and integration of vocabulary from a global Chinese perspective. She aims to use Malaysian Chinese as a starting point to explore the vocabulary differences and integration between Malaysian Chinese and other regional Chinese languages.