About the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS)
Established in 2013 within the Asia Institute at the Faculty of Arts, the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS) is a leading hub for research and engagement on China. The Centre plays a pivotal role in shaping an Australian perspective on contemporary China, providing rigorous, research-based insights into Chinese societies, economies, and transformations in the twenty-first century.
CCCS is dedicated to advancing high-quality research, teaching, and public engagement at the University of Melbourne. Its mission is to deepen understanding of China’s ongoing changes and their impacts both within China and globally. As a key partner in Australia–China academic collaboration, CCCS fosters strong institutional ties with top Chinese universities and serves as Melbourne’s focal point for scholarship on contemporary China.
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Contact CCCS
- Address
- Sidney Myer Asia Centre (Building 158)
The University of Melbourne
761 Swanston Street VIC 3010 Australia - china-centre@unimelb.edu.au
- Phone
- +61 3 8344 3758
Bluesky
China Centre @melbournechinacntr.bsky.social
The health, safety and wellbeing of our community is our number one priority. Our events program is now online. Find out more about the University’s COVID-19 response.
Priority Research Themes
CCCS serves as a national hub for contemporary Chinese studies, fostering interdisciplinary research that brings together scholars from across the social sciences. Anchored at the University of Melbourne, the Centre leads a dynamic research program that spans key disciplines such as sociology, geography, development studies, public policy, and beyond. Our work is grounded in a commitment to understanding China’s complex transformations and their global implications. By linking the domestic and the global through the lens of Global China, we treat China’s overseas presence not simply as an empirical object but as a lens through which to rethink existing analytical categories, foregrounding the relational, contested, and multi-sited nature of China’s engagements with the world.
To guide and focus our efforts, we have established five research streams aligned with the core themes of our scholarly agenda:
- Civil Society and Youth
- Environment and Energy
- Gender and Sexuality
- Migration and Diaspora
- Transnational Crime
Initiatives
As part of our mission to support innovative and interdisciplinary research on contemporary China, CCCS hosts and supports a wide range of initiatives. These programs are designed to bring together scholars, practitioners, and students from across disciplines, fostering vibrant intellectual exchange and cultivating new perspectives on China’s evolving role in the world. By building research capacity and encouraging collaboration, our initiatives create spaces where ideas can be tested, partnerships can grow, and projects can take shape. Below you will find our current and ongoing initiatives.
Biannual Conference of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia (2025)
In December 2025, CCCS will host the biannual conference of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia. For instructions on how to apply and the full program of the event, see this page.
China Water Network
Under the guidance of Associate Professor Sarah Rogers and Prof Mark Wang from CCCS, as well as Professor Alison Browne, Professor Deljana Iossifova, and Professor Saska Petrova from the University of Manchester, the China Water Network brings together early-stage researchers interested in China’s water-related topics across universities and disciplines. It is a platform for communication, peer support and networking to accompany the professional development of researchers, through virtual meetings, on-site events and networking activities at conferences. Read more at this link.
Chinese Studies Research Group
The Chinese Studies Research Group (CSRG) is a postgraduate academic group representing all Chinese Studies researchers at the University of Melbourne, regardless of department, school, or faculty. We provide events, resources, training, and support. For more information about the group and how to become a member, see this page.
Global China Knowledge Network
Global China Knowledge Network aims to be a platform that enables the development, sharing and articulation of knowledge on China’s process of ‘Going Global’. Read more at this link.
Seed Funding
The purpose of our Seed Grants is to encourage and support new research ideas, collaborations and high-quality publications by University of Melbourne staff and PhD students, with a focus on contemporary China studies.
Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies
China is a key global player with enormous influence. Australia has many links to China economically, culturally, socially and increasingly, politically. If you’re interested in understanding China and its role in the world, the Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies (MCCS) could be for you. The Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary program accommodating a wide range of interests. You’ll develop a comprehensive understanding of the people, environment, cultures, society, politics, and economy of contemporary China. You’ll choose subjects from a wide range of disciplines including sociology, political science, international relations, media and cultural studies, law and Chinese language studies.
PhD Program
CCCS welcomes enquiries from prospective graduate students with strong analytical skills in the social sciences who are interested in pursuing PhD research on contemporary China’s economy, politics, society, and environment. Our team of experienced researchers offers supervision across a wide range of topics, including economic development, politics, trade and security, crime, civil society, social policy, urbanisation, agricultural development, and environmental management.
Enquiries should be directed to china-centre@unimelb.edu.au.
Scholarship Opportunities
Applicants should consider theAustralian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities available at the University, includingGraduate Research Scholarships and the Faculty of ArtsGraduate research scholarships.
Students can reach out to the Australia Awards team at aus-awards[at]unimelb.edu.au and your in-country contact for specific eligibility information about the Australia Awards Scholarship .
For a comprehensive overview of available opportunities, prospective students are encouraged to visit the University of Melbourne Scholarships website. This platform allows applicants to filter scholarships based on their individual circumstances, helping students to identify potential funding options relevant to their situation.
