Study in China · 语言要求
Do you need to know Chinese to study in China?
Look at the teaching language and the program, not the country. The 2026 pages we read give three different answers at three schools.
Written October 20, 2026. Each requirement below names the school, the program, and the document it came from.
Do you need to know Chinese to study in China? Check the specific program's language requirement. A Chinese-taught degree may ask for HSK 4, HSK 5, or HSK 6, and the same school can set a different rule for a scholarship route, a language program, or a pre-university year.
Start with the teaching language on the program page. If the degree is taught in Chinese, look for the HSK line and the sub-score conditions. If it is taught in English, look for the English requirement instead. If the page does not name either, email the international office before you pay an application fee.
Three schools, three different answers
| School and program | Teaching language | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peking University, 2026 undergraduate without written exam | Chinese | HSK 6 with a score of at least 210; specified IB, A-Level, and UEC routes allow named Chinese-exam alternatives. Read the row for your examination route. | PKU 2026 score requirements |
| Peking University, 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program | Chinese-taught undergraduate | HSK Level 6 with over 210 points or a corresponding level; otherwise a pre-university program is recommended | PKU CSC notice |
| Tsinghua University, 2026 international undergraduate | Chinese-taught | The 2026 upload checklist lists a valid HSK 4-or-above report, exempts English-taught applicants, and provides for HSK-waiver evidence. Confirm which condition applies to your program. | 2026 document checklist |
| Fudan University, 2026 Chinese-taught undergraduate | Chinese | HSK Level 5 (210+) or Level 6 (180+) is listed, and the same line says the certificate is not mandatory. The same PDF says the interview assesses Chinese language proficiency. | Fudan 2026 admission PDF |
| Tsinghua University, Chinese Language Program | Elementary in English; intermediate and advanced in Chinese | Placement is roughly HSK 3 or below, HSK 4 to 5, and HSK 5 to 6. The published eligibility does not list a required HSK certificate. | Tsinghua CLP page |
The table is the point of the page. Peking University's 2026 undergraduate route asks for HSK 6 with a 210 floor. Tsinghua's 2026 checklist requests HSK 4-or-above documentation, with separate English-taught and waiver conditions. Fudan lists HSK 5 or 6 but marks the certificate as not mandatory. Those are not three versions of one national rule. They are three different program rules.
What the numbers mean
HSK 6 with 210 is not the same as a bare HSK 6. The score has a floor, and a school can also ask for sub-scores. Tsinghua's checklist is a document requirement, not a guarantee of admission. Confirm any waiver with the admissions office. Fudan's line that the certificate is not mandatory means the absence of a certificate does not automatically disqualify you; it does not mean Chinese is unimportant.
A language program uses a different mechanism. Tsinghua's Chinese Language Program describes its classes in HSK terms, but the published eligibility does not list an HSK certificate. The page places elementary at roughly HSK 3 or below, intermediate at HSK 4 to 5, and advanced at HSK 5 to 6. The elementary class is taught in English, which is a real difference for a beginner.
If you do not meet the requirement
A pre-university year is one route. Peking University's Yuke program is designed for students who need Chinese and subject preparation before a Chinese-taught degree. Fudan's pre-university program divides students into classes at HSK 3, HSK 4, and near HSK 5. The pre-university page covers the costs and the limits.
The limit is important: a pre-university program does not guarantee admission to the university's degree program. It prepares you for the application. You still have to meet the degree program's own requirement in the year you apply.
How to check your program
Open the current prospectus, not a summary page. Look for the teaching language, the HSK level and sub-scores, the application deadline, and whether the requirement differs for a scholarship route. Save the PDF and note the date. If the page says HSK 5 or equivalent, ask what equivalent means before you assume your score counts.
Email the international office with a specific question: for the 2027 Chinese-taught bachelor's program in X, what HSK level and sub-scores do I need, and is the requirement different for the scholarship route? A specific answer is worth more than a general brochure.
If you are still at the beginning, the HSK study page explains what the level numbers mean, and the language program page compares the non-degree routes.
If the requirement is clear and you want a teacher or a course, the course decision page starts with the feedback you need. For live lessons, the italki vs Preply comparison covers the trial and cancellation rules.
Questions that still sit on the table
Do you need to know Chinese to study in China?
It depends on the program's teaching language and the school's rule. A Chinese-taught degree may ask for HSK 4, HSK 5, or HSK 6, and the score can carry sub-score conditions. A language program may place you by a placement test instead of a certificate. Check the current prospectus for your program and year.
What HSK level do Chinese universities require?
Read the requirement for the specific university and route. The 2026 pages we read show Peking University asking HSK 6 with at least 210 for one undergraduate route, Tsinghua's 2026 checklist listing HSK 4-or-above documentation with English-taught and waiver conditions, and Fudan listing HSK 5 or 6 as optional evidence for its regular Chinese-taught undergraduate programs. Treat each line as belonging to that school and program.
Can I study in China without HSK?
Some routes do not require an HSK certificate. Fudan's 2026 Chinese-taught undergraduate page lists HSK 5 or 6 but says the certificate is not mandatory. A language program may use its own placement test. An English-taught program may set a different language requirement. Fudan also assesses Chinese language proficiency at interview; an optional certificate does not mean Chinese ability is unnecessary. Check the specific program page before assuming either way.
What if my Chinese is below the requirement?
A pre-university year is one route. Peking University's Yuke program is designed for students who need Chinese and subject preparation before a Chinese-taught degree. Fudan also runs a Chinese-taught pre-university program with classes at HSK 3, HSK 4, and near HSK 5. A pre-university program does not guarantee admission to the university's degree program.
Does a language program count as studying in China?
Yes, the language programs described here are study routes without a degree award. Choose one by its level, timetable, and purpose, and check degree admission separately if that is your later goal.
Sources
- Peking University, “2026 Score Requirements for Undergraduate Program Without Written Examination”, read 20 October 2026.
- Peking University, “Information on applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program (Type A)”, read 20 October 2026.
- Tsinghua University, “2026 List of Uploading Documents for International Undergraduate Applicants”, read 20 October 2026.
- Fudan University, “2026 Admission Information on Chinese-taught Undergraduate Programs”, PDF, read 20 October 2026.
- Tsinghua University, “Admission to Chinese Language Program in THU”, published 20 August 2026, read 20 October 2026.
Version 1. Recheck when a named program publishes its next year's prospectus, or every six months.