Degrees taught in Chinese in mainland China and Taiwan
International students who want to study in Chinese choose between two systems. Universities in mainland China use the HSK, China's official proficiency test run by Chinese Testing International (CTI). According to CTI, international students need an HSK score for admission, graduation and scholarships in China. Each university sets its own requirement and often asks for at least HSK 4 for degrees taught in Chinese, and master's programmes frequently set the bar higher. Universities and scholarship programmes usually accept only results from the last two years.
Taiwan uses the TOCFL, the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language. It is run by SC-TOP, a committee set up under Taiwan's Ministry of Education. According to SC-TOP, the TOCFL certificate serves for applications to universities in Taiwan and to the Taiwan Scholarship.
Many universities in both places also teach programmes in English. These ask for an English test such as IELTS or TOEFL, and Chinese then helps with everyday life on and off campus.
Chinese levels for admission by type of degree
The HSK and the TOCFL use different scales. The current HSK has levels 1 to 6 plus a combined exam for levels 7 to 9, and the TOCFL has six levels in three bands, A, B and C.
| Study goal | Common proof | Typical level |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor taught in Chinese, mainland China | HSK | often HSK 4 or higher |
| Master's taught in Chinese, mainland China | HSK, sometimes with HSKK | often higher than HSK 4 |
| Any degree programme in Taiwan | TOCFL | Level 2 suggested by SC-TOP |
| Liberal arts in Taiwan | TOCFL | Level 4 suggested by SC-TOP |
| Chinese language or literature in Taiwan | TOCFL | Level 5 suggested by SC-TOP |
The HSKK is the separate speaking test of the HSK, and some universities ask for both results. SC-TOP bases its suggestions on research into the TOCFL. The binding requirement is always the one in the university's admission rules.
From 13 December 2026 the HSK switches to HSK 3.0 with nine levels. Ask the admissions office which version a requirement such as HSK 4 refers to, because the two versions use different syllabuses.
HSK 7-9 tests five skills for graduate study
HSK 7-9 is a single exam for the three advanced levels of the HSK, China's official proficiency test. According to CTI, it is aimed at master's and doctoral students in China, students majoring in Chinese and professionals who do research or work in Chinese.
The exam covers listening, reading, writing, translation and speaking. Listening and reading texts come from news reports, negotiations, lectures, documentaries and academic writing. In the writing part you describe and analyse charts and defend your own opinion. In the translation part you translate texts from a foreign language into Chinese, in writing and orally. The result places you under level 7 or at level 7, 8 or 9.
These tasks match what a graduate degree demands every week, so preparation for HSK 7-9 doubles as training for seminars and papers.
4 ways academic Chinese differs from everyday Chinese
Academic Chinese follows its own conventions, and a general course rarely teaches them.
1 Written register
Formal written Chinese uses more literary words and set phrases than spoken Chinese, among them four-character expressions called chengyu. Lectures and papers rely on this register.
2 Length in characters
Essays, assignments and exam tasks state their length in characters, because written Chinese does not separate words with spaces.
3 Typing and handwriting
Most coursework is typed through Pinyin input, the method that turns the official romanisation of Mandarin into characters. Paper-based exams still require handwriting.
4 Chinese punctuation
Chinese texts use their own punctuation, such as the hollow full stop 。 and a special comma 、 for lists.
An academic Chinese course should practise timed writing in characters, typed and by hand, and should comment on register as well as on grammar.
Preparation takes years at home or less in China or Taiwan
SC-TOP, the committee behind Taiwan's TOCFL exam, publishes course hours for each TOCFL level. It links level 4 to B2 of the CEFR, the European scale with six levels from A1 to C2. B2 means that you follow complex texts and discuss independently.
The hours roughly halve in a Chinese-speaking country, probably because you use Chinese all day outside class. At 20 class hours a week, the 480 to 960 hours in Taiwan or China take about six months to a year. Many students therefore combine online courses at home with a preparatory language year in China or Taiwan. Universities there run Chinese programmes for international students, such as the Mandarin Training Center of National Taiwan Normal University, which helped develop the TOCFL.
Plan backwards from the application deadline. An HSK result counts for two years, and registration for the exam closes several weeks before the test date.
5 checks for an academic Chinese course online
- Does the course move to reading without Pinyin early, with texts from newspapers and textbooks?
- Does it train listening with long recordings, such as lectures and documentaries?
- Do you write timed texts in characters and get comments on register and structure?
- Does it prepare you for the speaking test HSKK, if your university asks for it?
- Does the provider state whether it teaches for HSK 2.0, HSK 3.0 or the TOCFL?
Ask for a sample lesson with an academic text. You see at once whether the teacher explains written register and sentence structure or only translates new words.
A course that only drills multiple-choice mock tests may get you an HSK score. It leaves lectures, seminar discussions and term papers in Chinese untrained.
Frequently asked questions about online Chinese courses for university
Which HSK level do Chinese universities require for degrees taught in Chinese?
Chinese universities set their own HSK requirement for degrees taught in Chinese and often ask for at least HSK 4. Master's programmes frequently set the bar higher, and some universities also ask for the speaking test HSKK. The admission rules of each university state the binding level.
Which Chinese test do universities in Taiwan use for admission?
Universities in Taiwan use the TOCFL, the Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language, for admission in Chinese. SC-TOP, the committee behind the test, suggests at least level 2 for any degree programme, level 4 for liberal arts and level 5 for Chinese language or literature. The TOCFL also counts for the Taiwan Scholarship.
How old may an HSK result be for university admission in China?
An HSK result for university admission in China should be no more than two years old, according to Chinese Testing International. The certificate itself does not expire, but universities and scholarship programmes usually accept only recent results. Take the exam within two years before your application deadline.
Who is the advanced Chinese exam HSK 7-9 meant for?
The advanced Chinese exam HSK 7-9 is meant for master's and doctoral students in China, students majoring in Chinese and professionals who work or do research in Chinese, according to Chinese Testing International. It tests listening, reading, writing, translation and speaking in about 210 minutes and runs online only.
How many course hours does Chinese at CEFR level B2 take before university?
Chinese at CEFR level B2 takes about 960 to 1,920 course hours outside Chinese-speaking countries, according to SC-TOP, which links level 4 of its TOCFL to B2. In a Chinese-speaking country, SC-TOP estimates 480 to 960 hours. B2 is the fourth of six levels on the European scale.
How does academic Chinese writing differ from everyday Chinese?
Academic Chinese writing uses a formal written register with more literary words and four-character expressions called chengyu. Length is counted in characters, texts use Chinese punctuation, and coursework is usually typed through Pinyin input. An academic course trains these conventions with timed writing tasks.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.