Language Proficiency Requirements

    International Students

    International Students’ Language Proficiency Requirements

    Minimum language proficiency requirements

    Applicants are required to submit a language proficiency certificate that meets the minimum language proficiency requirements in their degree program applications.

    Programs Conducted in Chinese

    If you are applying for a program that is conducted in Chinese, you will need to submit a Chinese proficiency certificate at CEFR A2 (Waystage) or above (Chinese Proficiency Test Comparison Chart).

    For example:

    • Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL): Band A Level 2
    • Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK): Level 4

    If you have not obtained a Chinese-language proficiency certificate at TOCFL Level 2, you may refer to Conditional Admission.

    Programs Conducted in English

    If you are applying for a program that is conducted in English (including English-taught programs and programs with sufficient English courses to satisfy graduation requirements), you will need to submit an English proficiency certificate at CEFR B2 (Vantage) or above (please refer to English Proficiency Test Comparison Chart).

    For example:

    • TOEFL iBT: 71
    • IELTS: 5.5
    • TOEIC: 750
    • GEPT: High-Intermediate

    Language Proficiency Required by Each Department

    The language proficiency required by each department may vary. Specific requirements of each department/graduate institute can be found at 2023/2024 Application Requirements for International Degree Students.

    Should the applicants meet the minimum language proficiency requirements, but fall short of the department’s or graduate institute’s requirements, the department or graduate institute committee reserves the right to reject admission, grant admission offer, or grant a conditional admission offer.

    Chinese conditional admission offer

    If an international student accepts a Chinese conditional admission offer, he or she will have to first study a Chinese language program at the Chinese Language Division (CLD) and obtain a Chinese proficiency certificate at the designated level or above in order to be accepted for enrollment. The Chinese conditional admission offer will remain valid for at most 1 year, and will be cancelled if he or she fails to provide such documents within the 1 year time frame.

    English conditional admission offer

    If an international student accepts an English conditional admission offer, he or she will have to submit an English proficiency certificate at the designated level or above in order to be accepted for enrollment. The English conditional admission offer will remain valid for at most 1 year, and will be cancelled if he or she fails to provide such documents within the 1 year time frame.

    Exemption from Submitting Language Proficiency Certificates

    Applicants that meet any one of the following criteria are exempted from providing certificates of language proficiency.

    Programs Conducted in Chinese:

    Applicants applying to a program conducted in Chinese do not need to provide a certificate of language proficiency if:

    • Chinese (Mandarin) is your mother tongue
      If your mother tongue is Chinese, please provide an introduction letter (written in Chinese) outlining your day-to-day use of the language, learning progress, and your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills.
    • Your previous degree was conducted in Chinese (Mandarin)
      If any of your previous degrees (including senior high school’s diploma) was conducted in Chinese (Mandarin), we will only require that you submit a certfication provided by your previous university/high school. No further proofs of Chinese language proficiency will be required.
    • You have previously majored in Chinese (Mandarin)
      If any of your previous degrees (including senior high school’s diploma) was of a Chinese (Mandarin) major, we will only require that you submit your graduation certificate or a certification provided by your previous university/high school. No further proofs of Chinese language proficiency will be required.

    Programs Conducted in English:

    Applicants applying to a program conducted in English (including English-taught programs and programs with sufficient English courses to satisfy graduation requirements) do not need to provide a certificate of language proficiency if:

    • You are from an English-speaking country
      Our application system will automatically exempt you from having to submit English proficiency documents. Our list of English-speaking countries is below.
    • Your previous degree was obtained from an English-speaking country
      If any of your previous degrees (including senior high school’s diploma) was from an English-speaking country, we will only require that you submit your graduation certificate. No further proofs of English language proficiency will be required.
    • Your previous degree was conducted in English
      If any of your previous degrees (including senior high school’s diploma) was entirely taught in English, we will only require that you submit a certification provided by your previous university/high school. No further proofs of English language proficiency will be required.
    English-Speaking Countries
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Botswana
    • Canada
    • Dominica
    • Federated States of Micronesia
    • Fiji
    • Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Kingdom of Eswatini
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Malawi
    • Namibia
    • Nauru
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • Philippines
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Saint Lucia
    • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Samoa
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Solomon Islands
    • South Africa
    • South Sudan (Republic of)
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Tuvalu
    • Uganda
    • United Kingdom
    • United Republic of Tanzania
    • United States of America
    • Vanuatu
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
    Overseas Chinese/Hong Kong & Macao Students

    Overseas Chinese/Hong Kong and Macao Students’ Language Proficiency Requirements

    Recommendation by Overseas High Schools

    Applicants are required to submit a proof of Chinese proficiency of at least CEFR level A2 (Chinese Proficiency Test Comparison Chart).

    Accepted proofs of Chinese proficiency are as follows:
    • Chinese Proficiency Certificates
      • Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) Band A Level 2 or above
      • Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) Level 4 or above
    • Graduation Certificates from a Chinese-Medium High School
      Besides your graduation certificate, you will also have to provide school-issued relevant documentation stating that Chinese is the medium of instruction of your high school
    • Self-Statements Written in Chinese
      Your self-statement has to be written in Chinese, and should include a description of your daily use of Chinese, learning progress, and LSRW skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)

    If you have not obtained a Chinese-language proficiency certificate at TOCFL Level 2, you may consider applying to Conditional Admission.

    Applications through University Entrance Committee for Overseas Chinese Students (UECOCS)

    United Distribution

    The united distribution application method does not have any minimum language proficiency requirements.

    Individual Application

    Overseas Chinese students applying for an undergraduate or graduate program through the individual application can find out more about the language proficiency requirements of each department at the UECOCS application quota webpage.

    Mainland Chinese Students

    Mainland Chinese Students’ Language Proficiency Requirements

    Requirements vary depending on each department or graduate institute. Mainland Chinese students are advised to refer to the University Entrance Committee for Mainland Chinese Students website to find out more about the language proficiency requirements of each department or graduate institute.