Application guide

Tests and requirements for studying in China

CSCA, HSK, IELTS, TOEFL, the physical examination and police clearance — what is required, when, and by whom.

Test or documentWho needs itTypical thresholdWhen
HSKApplicants to Chinese-taught programmesHSK 4 postgraduate, HSK 5 undergraduateBefore applying
HSK (speaking)Several Chinese-taught programmesHSKK Intermediate for postgraduateWith the HSK written test
IELTS / TOEFLApplicants to English-taught programmesIELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 80–90Before applying
CSCAChinese Government Scholarship undergraduate applicantsSubject and aptitude test, results uploadedNational test dates
Foreigner Physical Examination FormAll applicants for study over 180 daysCompleted by a licensed clinic, blood tests includedBefore visa application
Police clearance certificateMost scholarship applicants, all long-stay applicantsIssued in the last 6 months8–10 weeks before the deadline
Recommendation lettersAll graduate programmes, most scholarshipsTwo, academic or professional4–8 weeks before the deadline
Study plan / research proposalAll graduate programmes, most scholarships1,000–3,000 words, programme-specificWith the application
Notarised diploma and transcriptsAll applicantsCertified translations8–10 weeks before the deadline

How the language requirements actually work

The language requirement follows the language your examinations are delivered in, not your nationality. If your programme is taught entirely in English you normally do not need HSK at all, and if it is taught in Chinese you need HSK even if you hold an English-taught bachelor's degree. Some universities waive the IELTS or TOEFL requirement for applicants who completed their previous degree in English, and some do not — this is a question worth putting in writing to the international office.

CSCA in one paragraph

The China Scholastic Competency Assessment is a subject and aptitude test that Chinese Government Scholarship undergraduate applicants must sit and pass. It is not a Chinese language test. Mathematics is compulsory for every candidate; physics and chemistry are required for science, engineering and medical tracks. Registration is through csca.cn and test dates are national and fixed, so the test calendar sets the tempo of an undergraduate scholarship application.

Documents people forget

  • The Foreigner Physical Examination Form must be completed in the applicant's own country by a licensed clinic, and the blood test results must be attached. Arriving without it delays enrolment.
  • Photographs must meet the Chinese visa specification: 33mm × 48mm, white background, taken within six months, no headwear. Digital uploads are rejected more often than people expect.
  • Recommendation letters must be signed and on institutional letterhead, and must include the recommender's work email and phone number. Unsigned PDF letters are treated as templates.
  • Award certificates and internships only count if they can be verified. Keep original documents and a scanned set, and name every file exactly as the portal instructions require.
  • Your name must appear identically — same order, same spelling — on the passport, diploma, forms and portal profile. Inconsistent name fields are one of the most common causes of an application being returned.

Read in full

Detailed guides on each requirement.

All guides →