HSK Exam Guide Which HSK level do you need to study in China? What the official documents state
There is no single HSK level for "studying in China". Three kinds of document set the requirement: a national quality norm from the Ministry of Education, the guide to the scholarship you apply for, and the admission brochure of the university. This page covers the first two, which apply across universities.
The national floor for degrees taught in Chinese
The Ministry of Education's Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), issued in 2018, say that for subjects taught in Chinese a university's entry standard must ask for Chinese at Level 4 or above of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards. By graduation, students in those subjects should reach Level 5.
The norm names the Standards, not the HSK test. Which HSK level and score a university accepts as proof is written in its own brochure.
Degrees taught in English
For subjects taught in a foreign language the norm sets no Chinese level at entry. It tells universities to state the foreign-language requirement. It does set a level for graduation: at least Level 4 for bachelor's students and at least Level 3 for master's and doctoral students.
What the Chinese Government Scholarship asks for
| Programme taught in Chinese | Requirement in the application guide |
|---|---|
| Master's or doctoral | HSK (Level 4) passed |
| General scholar, other than Chinese language majors | HSK (Level 3) passed |
| Senior scholar | HSK (Level 3) passed |
| Bachelor's | CSCA score report; the guide names no HSK level |
Applicants for programmes taught in another language meet the language requirement of the university, for example an IELTS or TOEFL score. A valid HSK score report is listed among the application documents for Chinese-taught master's, doctoral and scholar programmes.
The teachers scholarship sets scores, not only levels
The 2025 guidelines for the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship ask for at least 210 on HSK 4 and 60 on HSKK Intermediate for a bachelor's degree, 210 on HSK 5 and 60 on HSKK Intermediate for a master's degree, and 200 on HSK 6 and 60 on HSKK Advanced for a doctorate.
The study in China section lists every row with its source.
Questions people ask
Is HSK 4 enough for a Chinese-taught bachelor's degree?
The national norm puts the entry floor at Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards. A university may ask for more, or for a minimum score, so read its brochure.
Do I need HSK for an English-taught programme?
The norm sets no Chinese level for entry to those programmes. It expects Level 4 by graduation for bachelor's students and Level 3 for master's and doctoral students.
How old can my HSK score be?
CTI states that HSK scores are valid for two years from the test date, and the scholarship guide asks for a valid score report.
Sources: Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education, Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese); Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Campus China; Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, Center for Language Education and Cooperation; HSK on chinesetest.cn. Checked 11 October 2026. This page is an unofficial summary.