# Which HSK Level Do You Need to Study in China? > Most Chinese-taught degrees ask for HSK 4 or 5; English-taught ones often ask for none. Here is how to find the exact level for your programme. Source: https://toey.app/en/blog/which-hsk-level-to-study-in-china Published: 2026-11-08T21:08:32.347987+00:00 Updated: 2026-11-08T21:08:32.347987+00:00 Category: resources Tags: hsk-levels, study-in-china, hsk-4, hsk-5, chinese-universities, hsk-3-0 --- ## Short answer: HSK 4 or 5 for Chinese-taught degrees If your degree will be taught in Chinese, most Chinese universities ask for at least HSK 4, and HSK 5 is the safer target for a bachelor's or master's course. If the programme is taught in English, many universities ask for no HSK at all. Every university sets its own rule, so the admissions page of your exact programme is the final word on which HSK level you need to study in China. ## Why the answer depends on the language of teaching The HSK level a university asks for is really a statement about how much Chinese you need to follow lectures, read course material and write assignments. That need changes a lot with the language of instruction. - **Chinese-taught degrees** (bachelor's, master's, PhD): the university needs proof that you can study in Chinese. Expect a minimum somewhere in the intermediate band, HSK 4 to HSK 6, depending on the level of the degree and the subject. - **English-taught degrees:** the language requirement is usually English (an English test or proof of English-medium schooling). Some of these programmes still ask for a basic HSK level, or recommend one for daily life, but many do not. - **Language-study programmes and foundation years:** these exist for people who start with little or no Chinese. The entry bar is usually low, and the programme itself is meant to bring you up to the level you need for a later degree. ## How the level shifts with subject and degree Within Chinese-taught programmes, the bar is not the same for every course. As a rough pattern, bachelor's programmes in general subjects often sit at the lower end of the intermediate band, while master's programmes, and subjects that depend on dense reading and precise writing, such as law, literature or education, often ask for more. A university can also accept a lower level on the condition that you finish a preparatory Chinese year first. Treat this as a pattern, not a rule. Two universities in the same city can ask for different levels for the same subject, so never rely on a forum post or a general table, including this one. ## Scholarships can add their own language rule If you apply for a scholarship, the scholarship may add a language requirement on top of the university's. Government and university scholarships for Chinese-taught degrees commonly name an HSK level, and some allow you to enrol first and reach the level during a language year. The exact wording differs from one scholarship to the next and from one year to the next. When you compare two options, compare the scholarship rule and the admission rule separately. Passing the university's bar does not automatically satisfy the scholarship's bar. ## HSK 3.0 or the old HSK: which score will they accept? HSK is moving from the older six-level exam to the HSK 3.0 standard, which has nine levels. During the move, a university may name the old levels, the new levels, or both, and the same number can mean a slightly different exam depending on the version. Check three things before you book a test: 1. Does the admissions page name a level and a version, or only a level? 2. Does the university accept a score from the version you are about to take? 3. Is there a time limit on how old a score may be at the date you apply? For the test date, version and format, use chinesetest.cn or your local test centre. Toey does not tell you which version a particular date uses, because that changes. ## How to find the exact requirement for your programme A short routine that avoids most mistakes: 1. Open the official admissions page of the university and find your programme, not the university's general page. 2. Write down the language of teaching, the required HSK level, the version and any score or date rule. 3. If the page is vague, email the admissions office and ask the question in one line: "Which HSK level and version do you require for [programme] starting [year], and is a preparatory Chinese year available?" 4. Keep the reply. If the rule changes, you can point to it. 5. Compare with the scholarship rule if you are applying for one. ## How to choose your target level and timeline Pick the level from the programme you want, then work backwards from the application date. - Aim one step above the stated minimum if your timeline allows it. A borderline score leaves no room for a bad exam day. - If the gap between your current level and the requirement is large, a preparatory Chinese year is often the realistic route. Ask whether it is offered before you plan a year of self-study. - Book the test early enough to retake it once before the application deadline. - Do not start by memorising word lists for a level you do not need. Start with the level your first-choice programme names, and let the other choices follow. Studying for the exam is also useful for life in China: lectures, group work and daily errands are all in Chinese, and an exam pass does not by itself guarantee you will follow a fast lecture. Practise listening as much as reading. ## Where Toey fits Toey has an HSK section on the web, where you can practise for the level your programme asks for. It is not an official score and it does not replace the real exam: Toey cannot register you for the test, and there is no mobile app yet. It also cannot tell you what a particular university requires; that stays on the university's own page. Checked on 8 November 2026 Ready to practise? [Start HSK practice on Toey](/en/hsk) ## FAQ ### What HSK level do you need to study in China? For a degree taught in Chinese, most universities ask for HSK 4 at the lowest, and HSK 5 is the safer target for a bachelor's or master's course. English-taught programmes often ask for no HSK. Each university sets its own rule, so check the admissions page of your programme. ### Do I need HSK to study in China in English? Often not. English-taught programmes usually ask for proof of English rather than Chinese, though some still ask for a basic HSK level or recommend one for daily life. Check the programme's admissions page. ### Is HSK 4 enough for a bachelor's degree in China? It can be, for some Chinese-taught bachelor's programmes, but many universities prefer HSK 5, and some subjects ask for more. Some universities accept a lower level if you first complete a preparatory Chinese year. ### Do scholarships require a higher HSK level? A scholarship can add its own language rule on top of the university's. Many scholarships for Chinese-taught degrees name an HSK level, so compare the scholarship rule and the admission rule separately. ### Will universities accept HSK 3.0 scores? It depends on the university. During the move from the old six-level exam to HSK 3.0, some name one version and some accept both. Ask the admissions office, and check chinesetest.cn or your test centre for the date, version and format.