Chinese PhD programmes taught in Chinese: HSK 4 and the thesis language

For a doctoral programme taught in Chinese, the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship requires an HSK Level 4 pass (section IV, item 10). That rule is a condition of the Chinese Government Scholarship, not a general admission rule for self-funded students. For a doctoral programme taught in a foreign language, the thesis may be written in that language, but the abstract must be in Chinese (Order No. 42, Article 19).

The Application Guide is an English original published by the China Scholarship Council. Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) are Chinese texts. The English wording on this page is this site's translation of those texts.

Chinese-taught and foreign-language programmes

The rules differ by the language of instruction. Section IV, item 10 covers programmes taught in Chinese. Section IV, item 11 covers programmes taught in another language, and it names no HSK level for them. Item 11 refers instead to the university's own admission requirements for language proficiency and academic ability.

Scholarship language conditions

Section IV, item 10: the applicant must have passed HSK Level 4 when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme.
Section IV, item 11: for a programme taught in another language, the applicant must meet the university's admission requirements in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others.
Section VI, item 5: applicants for a doctoral programme taught in Chinese must submit a valid HSK score report that meets the corresponding Chinese language proficiency requirement.
Section VI, item 5: applicants for a programme taught in another language must provide language certificates such as IELTS or TOEFL score reports, in accordance with the requirements of each university.

Thesis and defence language

Order No. 42, Article 19 covers an international student in degree education taught in a foreign language. It sets three separate rules.

The thesis may be written in the corresponding foreign language.
The abstract shall be in Chinese.
The university decides whether the thesis defence uses a foreign language.

Quality Standards, section 6.4 adds two points for universities. Universities shall encourage and support international students in writing their theses in Chinese. The degree evaluation committee sets the specific language requirements for thesis writing and defence, in accordance with Order No. 42. Section 6.4 names no language requirement itself.

Order No. 42, Article 18 states that Chinese is the basic language of teaching for international students in higher education institutions. Article 18 also says that a school may provide remedial conditions for a student whose Chinese falls short of the study requirement.

Chinese language level at graduation

Part One of the Quality Standards sets the Chinese ability that an international student shall reach at graduation. It uses the levels of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards, not HSK levels.

Language of instruction	Chinese ability at graduation (Part One)
Chinese (programmes taught in Chinese)	Level 5
Foreign language, undergraduate	At least Level 4
Foreign language, master's and doctoral	At least Level 3

The table describes graduation targets only. Part One does not set a language level for admission.

Suggestion, not a requirement

If you apply without the scholarship, read the admissions brochure of each university you are considering for its language of instruction, its thesis and defence language rules, and any language test it names. The brochure is where each university publishes its own conditions. See the brochure guide for how to read one.

Questions people ask

Does a doctoral programme taught in Chinese need HSK Level 4?

For a Chinese Government Scholarship applicant, section IV, item 10 of the Application Guide requires a pass at HSK Level 4 when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme.

Can an international doctoral student write the thesis in a foreign language?

Order No. 42, Article 19 states that an international student in degree education taught in a foreign language may write the thesis in the corresponding foreign language. The abstract must still be in Chinese.

Who decides the language of the thesis defence?

Order No. 42, Article 19 states that the university decides whether the defence uses a foreign language.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, and it is not legal advice. The official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.