Menu

The Chinese-language preparatory year under the scholarship: when it applies to graduate students

Sources checked

The scholarship provides for a Chinese-language preparatory year, but the official provisions describe it in separate pieces rather than as one rule for graduate students. Section II(II) of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship states that the scholarship covers both major study and Chinese language (preparatory) study, and that the language courses last one year. None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a condition for placement in that year: section II(II) gives the length of the courses and names no group of applicants who must take them.

The next question is what the official provisions do say about language before a graduate programme. Section IV, item 10 of the guide requires HSK Level 4 to have been passed when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme. The Ministry's 2009 page (dated 17 September 2009) says that applicants with no command of Chinese are generally required to take Chinese language courses for 1-2 years before pursuing their major studies, and that no language pre-session is arranged when master's or doctoral courses are conducted in English.

What the scholarship guide says about the preparatory year

Section II of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship is titled "Supporting Categories, Duration, Institutions, and Majors". Section II(I) says the programmes sponsor undergraduates, postgraduates, general and senior scholars. Section II(II) says:

  • the scholarship covers both major study and Chinese language (preparatory) study;
  • the language courses last one year;
  • the duration of the scholarship for major study conforms to that as required.

Section II(II) states the length of the language courses. It gives no list of the applicants who are placed in them, and it gives no link between the one-year courses and any language-test result. None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a condition for placement in the one-year language courses.

The guide's other sections deal with different matters. Section I sets out the scholarship categories and where an applicant files an application: with the dispatching department of the home country for the Bilateral Program, with Chinese universities undertaking the University Program, with the international organizations and institutions concerned for the Designated Scholarship Programs, and with Chinese universities and their foreign partners for the Student Exchange Program (section I, items I to IV). Section V sets out the application process, and section VI lists the application documents. None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a rule that places a graduate applicant in the language year.

The language requirement for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme

Section IV of the guide is titled "Eligibility". Item 10 of section IV requires an applicant to have passed the HSK (Level 4) when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme. Item 11 of section IV requires an applicant, when applying for a programme taught in a language other than Chinese, to meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others.

Section VI, item 5 of the guide requires applicants for master's, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar programmes taught in Chinese to submit a valid HSK score report that meets the corresponding Chinese language proficiency requirements. For programmes taught in other languages, item 5 requires relevant language proficiency certificates, such as IELTS or TOEFL score reports, in accordance with the requirements of each university.

These are conditions of the Chinese Government Scholarship. Section IV, item 10 is not presented here as a general admission rule for self-funded students; the guide states the conditions of that scholarship.

What the Ministry's 2009 page says

The Ministry of Education's page dated 17 September 2009 is an old page. Its section 4 says that Chinese institutions of higher education generally use Chinese as the language of instruction, and that applicants with no command of Chinese are generally required to take Chinese language courses for 1-2 years before pursuing their major studies. Section 4 of that page also says that in some institutions some courses set for visiting, senior visiting scholars and postgraduate students can be conducted in English.

The table "1. Categories of Applicants and Duration of Scholarship" on the 2009 page gives the following periods for the Chinese language pre-session:

Category Duration of Major Studies Duration of Chinese Language Pre-session Duration of Scholarship
Master's degree students 2-3 years 1-2 years 3-5 years
Doctoral degree students 3 years 1-2 years 4-5 years

The sentence after that table on the 2009 page says that Chinese language pre-sessions are arranged prior to major studies. It says that if the major courses for doctoral and master's degree students are conducted in English, then Chinese language pre-sessions will not be arranged. It says that the duration of scholarship is determined at the time of admission. This is the Ministry's 2009 statement.

The difference in length between the two pages

The two pages give different lengths for the language study. Section II(II) of the scholarship guide says the language courses last one year. The Ministry's 2009 page says 1-2 years in section 4, and its table gives 1-2 years for the Chinese language pre-session for both master's and doctoral degree students.

Nothing in the provisions set out above resolves the difference. The 2009 page is dated 17 September 2009; the scholarship guide's section II(II) is the provision that states the length of the language courses for the scholarship. This page does not choose between the two: the reader should follow the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling the case.

Remedial language conditions under Order No. 42

Order No. 42, Article 18 reads:

"The standard spoken and written Chinese language is the basic language of instruction for higher education institutions in educating international students. For international students whose level of the national common language does not meet the study requirements, the school may provide necessary remedial conditions."

The English rendering of Article 18 above is this site's translation of the Chinese text. The verb keeps its original force: Article 18 says a school "may" provide necessary remedial conditions; it does not say a school must. Article 18 of Order No. 42 gives no length for any remedial study, names no scholarship programme, and gives no rule on placement in a one-year language course.

Questions people ask

Does the scholarship guide say I must spend a year learning Chinese first?

Section II(II) of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship states that the scholarship covers both major study and Chinese language (preparatory) study, and that the language courses last one year. None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a condition for placement in that year. Section II(II) gives the length of the courses and names no group of applicants who must take them.

If my master's or doctoral programme is taught in Chinese, what language level does the scholarship require?

Section IV, item 10 of the guide requires HSK Level 4 to have been passed when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme. Section VI, item 5 requires a valid HSK score report for Chinese-taught master's, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar programmes. These are conditions of the Chinese Government Scholarship.

What did the Ministry's 2009 page say about the length of the language pre-session?

The Ministry's 2009 page (dated 17 September 2009) says in section 4 that applicants with no command of Chinese are generally required to take Chinese language courses for 1-2 years before their major studies. Its table gives 1-2 years for the Chinese language pre-session for both master's and doctoral degree students. The sentence after the table says no pre-session is arranged if the major courses for master's and doctoral students are conducted in English.

Can a university give language help if my Chinese is not good enough for the programme?

Order No. 42, Article 18 says that for international students whose level of the national common language does not meet the study requirements, the school may provide necessary remedial conditions. Article 18 gives no length for any remedial study and names no scholarship programme.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary, is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, CHSI or any university, is not legal advice, and the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.

Turn this into dates

The timeline tool counts back from your start month and shows where each step falls. Or see all guides.

Graduate Desk