English proof for an English-taught master's or PhD in China: who sets the requirement

No single national IELTS or TOEFL score governs English-taught master's or doctoral programmes in mainland China. The Quality Standards require each university to set its own foreign-language ability requirement for programmes taught in a foreign language (section 1.2), and the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship points applicants to each university's own requirements (section VI, item 5; section IV, item 11).

Who sets the English requirement

The Ministry of Education's Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) place the duty on the university. Section 1.2 states that, for disciplines and programmes taught in a foreign language, the higher education institution shall clearly specify the foreign-language ability requirement in its admission standards for international students. The same section sets no national score and names no specific test.

Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, Article 19, states that qualified higher education institutions may offer professional courses taught in a foreign language. For international students receiving higher education in a foreign language, the degree thesis may be written in the corresponding foreign language, with a Chinese abstract; whether the thesis defence uses a foreign language is for the school to determine. Article 19 names no admission language-proof requirement.

What the scholarship guide says

The Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, section VI, item 5, states that applicants for programmes taught in other languages are required to provide relevant language proficiency certificates, such as IELTS or TOEFL score reports, in accordance with the requirements of each university. Section IV, item 11 makes the same point for eligibility: an applicant for a programme taught in a language other than Chinese must meet the admission requirements of the preferred university in terms of language proficiency and academic ability.

None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a national English score, names a test beyond IELTS or TOEFL, or states an exemption. These are conditions of that scholarship; they are not presented here as general admission rules for self-funded students.

What a university decides

The score, the accepted tests and any exemption are the university's own decision, published in its admissions brochure. As a planning step, read the admissions brochure of each university you are considering and note the English requirement it states.

The Chinese provisions quoted above are this site's English translation of the published Chinese text.

Questions people ask

Is there one IELTS or TOEFL score every Chinese university accepts for English-taught master's programmes?

No. The Quality Standards, section 1.2, require each university to set its own foreign-language ability requirement for programmes taught in a foreign language and set no national score. The scholarship guide refers applicants to each university's requirements (section VI, item 5; section IV, item 11).

Does the China Government Scholarship fix an English score?

None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a national English score. Section VI, item 5 says applicants for programmes taught in other languages provide certificates such as IELTS or TOEFL in accordance with each university's requirements.

Can a university waive IELTS or TOEFL?

Quality Standards, section 1.2, sets no exemption and leaves the foreign-language requirement to each university. The scholarship guide sections VI, item 5 and IV, item 11 name no exemption and refer to each university's requirements; check the university's admissions brochure.

Sources

• Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China)
• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security

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.