HSK levels, registration and scores, checked against the official pages

• Entry standard set by the national normFor subjects taught in Chinese, a university's entry standard must ask for at least Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards. Ministry of Education of China — Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese)
• Level expected at graduationLevel 5 of the same Standards. Ministry of Education of China — Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese)
• Chinese Government Scholarship, bachelor's applicantsMust take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and upload a valid score report. The guide names no HSK level for bachelor's applicants. Campus China (China Scholarship Council) — Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship

The national norm names the International Chinese Proficiency Standards, not the HSK test. The HSK level and score a university accepts are written in its own admission brochure.

• Chinese Government ScholarshipApplicants must have passed HSK (Level 4) when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme, and submit a valid HSK score report. Campus China (China Scholarship Council) — Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship
• Entry standard set by the national normAt least Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards for subjects taught in Chinese; Level 5 by graduation. Ministry of Education of China — Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese)

The national norm names the International Chinese Proficiency Standards, not the HSK test. The HSK level and score a university accepts are written in its own admission brochure.

• Chinese level expected at graduationFor subjects taught in a foreign language, bachelor's students should reach at least Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards by graduation. Ministry of Education of China — Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese)
• Chinese level at entryThe norm sets no Chinese level for entry to these subjects. It tells each university to state the foreign-language requirement in its own entry standard. Ministry of Education of China — Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese)

The national norm names the International Chinese Proficiency Standards, not the HSK test. The HSK level and score a university accepts are written in its own admission brochure.

• Chinese level expected at graduationMaster's and doctoral students in subjects taught in a foreign language should reach at least Level 3 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards by graduation. Ministry of Education of China — Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 (in Chinese)
• Chinese Government ScholarshipFor programmes taught in a language other than Chinese, applicants meet the language requirement of the university they apply to, for example an IELTS or TOEFL score. Campus China (China Scholarship Council) — Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship

The national norm names the International Chinese Proficiency Standards, not the HSK test. The HSK level and score a university accepts are written in its own admission brochure.

• Chinese Government Scholarship, general scholarHSK (Level 3) passed when applying for a Chinese-taught general scholar programme. Chinese language majors are excluded from this rule. Campus China (China Scholarship Council) — Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship
• Teachers scholarship, one-year Chinese language studyAt least 210 on HSK Level 3 (2025 guidelines). Center for Language Education and Cooperation — Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 (PDF)
• Teachers scholarship, one-semester studyAt least 180 on HSK Level 3 plus an HSKK score for international Chinese language education, Chinese language and literature, Chinese history or Chinese philosophy (2025 guidelines). Center for Language Education and Cooperation — Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 (PDF)

• Bachelor's degreeAt least 210 on HSK Level 4 and 60 on HSKK Intermediate. Center for Language Education and Cooperation — Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 (PDF)
• Master's degreeAt least 210 on HSK Level 5 and 60 on HSKK Intermediate. Center for Language Education and Cooperation — Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 (PDF)
• Doctoral degreeAt least 200 on HSK Level 6 and 60 on HSKK Advanced. Center for Language Education and Cooperation — Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 (PDF)

• What the test body saysThe test body lists employee recruiting, training and advancement among the uses of HSK scores. It names no level for work: each employer decides which level and score it accepts. Chinese Tests Service Website (chinesetest.cn) — HSK