Dr. Yunan Xu

Assistant Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Yunan Xu. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Yunan Xu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge, specializing in the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS). They hold a PhD in Development Studies from the International Institute of Social Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Yunan’s research focuses on China-global interconnections, particularly in the areas of agri-food transformation and the political ecology of land and rural dynamics. Their doctoral research examined the rise of industrial tree plantations in southern China through a critical political economy lens, revealing the complex role of China in the global land rush. Yunan has worked as a postdoctoral researcher on the ERC Advanced Grant project (RRUSHES-5) at the International Institute of Social Studies, exploring how global land rushes affect various social spheres across multiple countries including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Colombia, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and China. They are currently investigating the agrochemical complex in China through a global interconnection perspective. Yunan has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including survey methodologies and data analysis techniques using SPSS and R.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Cambridge

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
UK Bachelor's Degree with good Upper Second Class Honours or international equivalent Background in international relations, politics, law, economics, security or history is a definite asset
Application Checklist
  • Two academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Personal statement (approx 500 words)
  • Research proposal (1-2 pages/500 words)
  • Application fee (£50)
Specialization Notes

Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.