HSK Exam Guide HSK for the Chinese Government Scholarship: level 4, level 3, or CSCA
The Chinese Government Scholarship application guide names HSK Level 3 for Chinese-taught general and senior scholar programs, and HSK Level 4 for Chinese-taught master's and doctoral programs. Bachelor's applicants must take the CSCA instead of an HSK level. Rows 8 to 10 of Section IV name the levels and state no score.
HSK level by program
Section IV of the application guide lists the language requirement for each program type. The table below follows rows 7 to 11.
| Program | Teaching language | Requirement in Section IV |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | — | China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA), not HSK |
| General scholar | Chinese-taught (excluding Chinese language majors) | HSK Level 3 |
| Senior scholar | Chinese-taught | HSK Level 3 |
| Master's or doctoral | Chinese-taught | HSK Level 4 |
| Any program | A language other than Chinese | The admission requirements of the university of preference |
Rows 8 to 10 of Section IV name HSK Level 3 or Level 4 and state no score. Row 7 asks bachelor's applicants to take the CSCA and upload a valid score report, not an HSK level. Row 11 says applicants 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.
The HSK score report you submit
Section VI, on application documents, sets the document rule. Applicants for master's, doctoral, general scholar, and senior scholar programs taught in Chinese must submit a valid HSK score report that meets the corresponding Chinese language proficiency requirements. Applicants for programs taught in other languages are required to provide relevant language proficiency certificates, such as IELTS or TOEFL score reports, in accordance with the requirements of each university.
One year of Chinese language study
The guide's section on duration states one sentence on preparatory study. The Chinese Government Scholarship covers both major study and Chinese language (preparatory) study. The language courses last one year, whereas the duration of the scholarship for major study conforms to that as required.
Questions people ask
Which HSK score do I need to reach?
Rows 8 to 10 of Section IV name HSK Level 3 or Level 4 and state no score. The guide does not name a score you must reach.
What if my program is taught in English or another language?
Row 11 of Section IV does not state what those requirements are. Ask the university of preference.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China)
Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary; it is not published by Chinese Testing International, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation or the Ministry of Education, and the official page prevails if they differ.