Do I need HSK to study in China?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
It depends on the language your programme is taught in. For a Chinese-taught programme you will usually need an HSK score, and the Chinese Government Scholarship fixes the level: HSK 4 for a master's or doctorate, HSK 3 for scholar programmes. For a programme taught in English or another language, the university sets the language condition, and national rules do not require HSK for entry.
Where each requirement comes from
| Situation | Requirement | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Government Scholarship, Chinese-taught master's or doctorate | Passed HSK Level 4 | The scholarship guide |
| Chinese Government Scholarship, Chinese-taught senior scholar programme, or general scholar programme outside Chinese language majors | Passed HSK Level 3 | The scholarship guide |
| Chinese Government Scholarship, bachelor's programme | CSCA score report; the guide states no HSK level | The scholarship guide |
| Chinese Government Scholarship, programme taught in another language | The university's own language requirement | The university |
| Self-funded study, any language | Whatever the university's admission brochure states | The university |
The Ministry of Education's Order No. 42 explains the background. Chinese is the basic teaching language for international students, and a university may offer extra tuition to students whose Chinese is not yet good enough (Article 18). Universities that are equipped to may teach degree courses in a foreign language (Article 19). The entry condition itself is left to each university's brochure (Article 11).
You will study Chinese either way
Order No. 42, Article 16, makes Chinese and an Overview of China course compulsory for degree students. That applies to English-taught degrees too. Whether your university also asks for an HSK certificate before graduation is a matter for its own rules; the national rule does not name a level.
Related questions
What HSK level do the language teacher scholarships ask for?
The International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship sets its own scores. Under the 2025 guidelines: at least 200 on HSK Level 6 for the doctorate, 210 on HSK Level 5 for the master's and 210 on HSK Level 4 for the bachelor's, each with an HSKK score.
Can I enter with no Chinese at all?
For an English-taught programme, national rules do not stop you. Check the university's brochure. For the Chinese Government Scholarship, the guide says the scholarship can cover a year of Chinese language (preparatory) study before the major.
Is IELTS or TOEFL accepted in place of HSK?
For programmes taught in a language other than Chinese, the scholarship guide asks for the certificate the university requires and gives IELTS and TOEFL reports as examples. It sets no score of its own.
What is the CSCA and does it replace HSK?
The CSCA is the China Scholastic Competency Assessment, which the scholarship guide requires of bachelor's applicants. It is an academic test with subjects that depend on the major. The guide does not describe it as a language test.
Sources: Campus China (China Scholarship Council), Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, sections II, IV and VI, checked 10 October 2026; Ministry of Education, Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Order No. 42, Chinese), Articles 11, 16, 18 and 19, checked 11 October 2026; Center for Language Education and Cooperation, Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, checked 10 October 2026. This is an unofficial summary.