English taught programs in China: how the rules treat the teaching language
Under Article 18 of Order No. 42, Chinese is the basic teaching language for international students. Article 19 allows universities that meet conditions to offer specialised courses taught in a foreign language. Whether a given programme is taught in English is therefore the university's decision, and the admissions brochure is where that decision should be stated.
Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) are published in Chinese. The English wording on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese text.
Chinese is the default (Article 18)
Article 18 has two sentences.
The first says that the common spoken and written language of the PRC, Chinese, is the basic teaching language for universities educating international students.
The second says that for international students whose command of the national common language does not reach the level needed for study, the university may provide the necessary remedial conditions.
Foreign-language courses (Article 19)
Article 19 says that universities that have the conditions may offer specialised courses taught in a foreign language to international students.
Article 19 does not list those conditions.
Thesis and defence language (Article 19 and section 6.4)
These are two separate provisions.
Article 19 says that international students in degree education taught in a foreign language may write their thesis in the corresponding foreign language. The thesis abstract shall be in Chinese.
Article 19 also says that the university decides whether the thesis defence uses a foreign language.
Section 6.4 of the Quality Standards says that universities shall encourage and support international students to write their theses in Chinese.
Section 6.4 also says that each university's degree evaluation committee shall set the specific language requirements for writing and defending theses, in line with Order No. 42.
Language requirements in entry standards (section 1.2)
Section 1.2 of the Quality Standards covers two cases.
For disciplines taught in Chinese, the Chinese-language requirement in the entry standards shall be at least level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards.
Section 1.2 does not give an HSK equivalent for that level.
For disciplines taught in a foreign language, the university shall state the foreign-language ability required in its entry standards.
Section 1.2 names no test and no score for that requirement.
What the university must publish (section 2.1)
Section 2.1 says that universities shall provide admissions information that is true and comprehensive and suited to international students. The information shall include at least the following items:
- basic information about the school, such as the city and the school's conditions;
- programme information, such as academic level, training objectives, length of study, degree awarded, and rules on transfer and change of major;
- admission procedures and entry requirements, such as application deadlines and methods, entry standards, examination and assessment methods, financial guarantee requirements, handling of violations, and the admission timetable;
- financial rules and policies, such as fee standards, payment methods and refund policy;
- campus life, such as accommodation conditions and how to apply for them, meals, medical care, insurance, transport, sports and clubs;
- consultation contacts and complaint or reporting channels.
Section 2.1 does not name the teaching language among these items. Entry standards appear in the third item, which is where section 1.2 places the language requirement.
Summary of the provisions
| Provision | What it says |
|---|---|
| Order No. 42, Article 18 | Chinese is the basic teaching language; remedial conditions may be provided |
| Order No. 42, Article 19 | Qualifying universities may offer some courses taught in a foreign language; thesis and defence language rules |
| Quality Standards, section 1.2 | Entry standards must state the Chinese or foreign-language requirement for the discipline |
| Quality Standards, section 2.1 | Admissions information must include the listed items |
| Quality Standards, section 6.4 | Chinese thesis is encouraged; committees set thesis language requirements |
Checking a brochure (suggestion, not a requirement)
The following steps are a reading suggestion based on the provisions above. They are not requirements.
- Find the line that states the teaching language of the programme.
- Find the entry standards section.
- Find the foreign-language requirement in that section.
- Find the statements on thesis language and defence language.
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
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. If the official text differs from this summary, the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail.