Do I still have to learn Chinese on an English-taught degree in China?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
Yes. Chinese and an "Overview of China" course are compulsory in higher education degree programmes under Order No. 42, and the 2018 quality standards set a Chinese level that students must reach by graduation even on programmes taught in a foreign language. For those programmes the level is at least level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards for bachelor's students, and at least level 3 for master's and doctoral students.
What the rules say
Article 16 of Order No. 42 (Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools, issued by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, in force since 1 July 2017 under Article 48) states that Chinese and an Overview of China shall be compulsory courses in higher education degree programmes. The article does not make an exception for programmes taught in a foreign language. Article 16 also leaves course arrangements to the school's curriculum and teaching plan. The English wording in this answer is this site's translation of the Chinese text.
The Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), attached to Ministry of Education notice Jiaowai [2018] No. 50, set the language level. Section 1 states that on programmes taught in a foreign language, a bachelor's student's Chinese must reach at least level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards by graduation, and a master's or doctoral student's at least level 3. The same section sets level 5 for programmes taught in Chinese. These levels are measured against the International Chinese Proficiency Standards, not HSK test levels.
| Programme type | Chinese level required by graduation (Quality Standards, Section 1) |
|---|---|
| Taught in Chinese | Level 5 |
| Taught in a foreign language, bachelor's | Level 4 |
| Taught in a foreign language, master's or doctoral | Level 3 |
Section 6.2 of the quality standards says a degree training plan must include the Chinese proficiency requirement and the compulsory China overview courses. Section 6.2 does not give a credit value or a number of hours for these courses.
Two more points come from Order No. 42. Article 18 says standard Chinese is the basic teaching language for international students, and that a school may provide the remedial Chinese needed by a student whose level falls short. Article 19 allows qualified schools to offer professional courses taught in a foreign language.
Thesis language
Article 19 of Order No. 42 says that an international student on a degree programme taught in a foreign language may write the thesis in the corresponding foreign language, but the thesis abstract must be in Chinese. The same article leaves it to the school to decide whether the thesis defence uses a foreign language. Section 6.4 of the quality standards says schools shall encourage and support Chinese-language theses, and that the degree committee sets the language requirements for writing and defending a thesis in line with Order No. 42.
Who decides
The Ministry of Education issued the quality standards and sets the minimum levels. Order No. 42 leaves the curriculum, the teaching plan and the choice of foreign-language courses to the university: Article 10 gives schools their enrolment plans and majors, Article 16 ties course arrangements to the school's teaching plan, and Article 22 requires each school to name an office in charge of international students.
Where to check the rest
Ask the university's international student office which Chinese and China overview courses your programme includes, how many credits they carry, when they are timetabled, and whether a remedial Chinese course applies to you. Those details are set by the school, not by the two documents above.
Related questions
What Chinese level do I need to enter a bachelor's programme?
Section 1.2 of the quality standards says that for programmes taught in Chinese, the entry Chinese requirement must be at least level 4. For programmes taught in a foreign language, the standards require the school to state its own foreign-language requirement at entry, and do not give a Chinese level for that case.
Can I write my master's thesis in English?
Yes, if your programme is taught in English and the school allows it. Article 19 of Order No. 42 permits a thesis in the corresponding foreign language, but the abstract must be in Chinese. Whether the defence is in English is decided by the school.
Can a university offer extra Chinese lessons to students who are behind?
Yes. Article 18 of Order No. 42 says a school may provide the remedial Chinese conditions that a student needs when that student's level falls short of the study requirement.
Sources
- Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security or any university. If the official text differs from this page, or if the instructions of your university's international student office or your exit-entry office differ, those prevail.