MSc China: Chinese-taught or English-taught, and the HSK line
For a Chinese-taught master's, the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship requires HSK Level 4 (Section IV, item 10). For a program taught in another language, the same guide sends you to the university's own requirements (Section IV, item 11). These are conditions of the Chinese Government Scholarship. They are not general admission rules for self-funded students.
Chinese-taught and English-taught programs under the Order
The Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security) sets the basic language rule in Article 18. It says that the standard common language and script of China is the basic teaching language for higher education institutions that train international students. For international students whose command of that language falls short of the study requirement, the school may offer necessary remedial conditions.
Article 19 allows a different route. A qualified institution may offer professional courses taught in a foreign language to international students. For an international student pursuing a degree through a foreign language, the thesis may be written in that language, and the abstract shall be in Chinese. The school decides whether the thesis defence uses a foreign language.
Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards cited below are published in Chinese. The English wording in this article is this site's translation of the Chinese text.
HSK Level 4 for a Chinese-taught master's
Section IV, item 10 of the scholarship guide says an applicant must have passed HSK Level 4 when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral program. Item 10 covers those two program types and names no other level for them.
Section VI, item 5 of the same guide says applicants for Chinese-taught master's and doctoral programs must submit a valid HSK score report that meets the corresponding Chinese language proficiency requirements. Item 5 sets the document; item 10 sets the level.
Programs taught in another language
Section IV, item 11 says an applicant for a program taught in a language other than Chinese must meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others. Item 11 names no HSK level and no test score.
Section VI, item 5 says applicants for programs taught in other languages must provide relevant language proficiency certificates, such as IELTS or TOEFL score reports, in accordance with the requirements of each university. Item 5 uses IELTS and TOEFL as examples and gives no score for either.
The Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), section 1.2, says that for disciplines taught in a foreign language, the university shall state the foreign-language ability required in its entry standards for international students. The university therefore sets that requirement in its own entry standards.
What the Quality Standards level 4 means
Quality Standards, section 1.2 says that for disciplines taught in Chinese, the Chinese ability required at entry shall be at least level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards. Section 1.2 names no HSK level and gives no conversion to one. The level 4 in the Quality Standards and the HSK Level 4 in the scholarship guide come from different documents, and this article does not treat them as the same.
Quality Standards, section 1.2 is titled as a trial standard and is addressed to higher education institutions.
Self-funded applicants
The HSK rule in Section IV, item 10 belongs to the scholarship. For a self-funded applicant, the scholarship rule does not set the admission requirement.
Planning suggestion, not a rule: check the language section of the admissions brochure of each university you consider as early as you can, because the brochure is where that university states its own requirement.
Questions people ask
Do I need HSK for an English-taught master's in China?
Section IV, item 10 covers Chinese-taught master's and doctoral programs. For a program taught in another language, Section IV, item 11 refers you to the university's requirements, and it names no HSK level.
Is HSK Level 4 the same as level 4 in the Quality Standards?
Quality Standards, section 1.2 refers to level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards and names no HSK level. Section 1.2 gives no conversion between the two, so the two levels should not be read as the same thing.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, China Scholarship Council (Campus China)
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the PRC
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.