Can You Study in China Without Chinese? English-Taught Degrees and CSCA
A source-checked guide to English-taught undergraduate study in China: Chinese and English language requirements, CSCA subjects, real university examples and an application checklist.
Yes. A student who does not yet speak Mandarin can apply to some English-taught degrees in China. The teaching language, however, is only one part of admission. Universities may still ask for English proficiency evidence and, for undergraduate applicants, specified China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) results. “English-taught” does not mean “no entrance requirements.” This guide uses published 2026 university notices and separates degree language, language-test evidence and CSCA papers so you can check each one.
What “without Chinese” does and does not mean
Choosing an English-taught program means its advertised instruction is in English. It does not guarantee that every service outside class will be in English, or that the admissions office waives all language and entrance tests. Start with the university’s own page for your major and intake. Confirm the instruction language, the degree awarded, required English evidence, CSCA subjects, scholarship conditions and deadline before paying any application fee. For example, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) lists English-taught undergraduate engineering and business programs. Its 2026 brochure asks for IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 or an equivalent English proficiency letter for English-taught applicants, while Chinese-taught applicants need HSK 4 or above. Those are NUAA’s published thresholds for that intake, not a national minimum.
Keep three requirements separate
First, the teaching language determines whether the degree is advertised in English or Chinese. Second, the university decides what proves you can study in that language: a test score, a qualifying previous-medium-of-instruction letter, or another accepted document. Third, CSCA assesses academic preparation for the undergraduate application; the required papers and their permitted languages depend on the university, major and route. Passing an English test does not replace a CSCA score, and taking CSCA in English does not automatically replace English proficiency evidence. Jiangsu University’s current eligibility page illustrates this separation: it asks English-taught applicants for English-test evidence and undergraduate applicants for a CSCA transcript. It directs Chinese-taught applicants to the HSK level required by their program.
Real 2026 examples: business and engineering
NUAA’s 2026 brochure names Mathematics in English for its business program and Mathematics plus Physics in English for its engineering programs. That is useful if you are deciding whether to book one or two papers, but it applies to those listed NUAA programs only. Read the exact program notice before selecting subjects. The brochure’s 2026 application deadline has passed, so check a newer notice for a future intake. Tianjin University’s published 2026 subject list says English-taught undergraduate applicants should choose the English-language CSCA papers. Its list gives different subject combinations by school and explicitly exempts certain fully English-taught programs from Professional Chinese. This is a university-specific example, not permission to omit Professional Chinese for a different institution or scholarship route.
How to find the right CSCA subjects
Write down the university, program name, degree level, intake year, teaching language and funding route. Then copy the CSCA subject list from that exact admission notice. Mathematics may be required alongside Physics or Chemistry, depending on the program. If the notice is unclear, ask the international admissions office which paper language it accepts and whether Professional Chinese is required. Keep its written answer. Do not select a paper just because a preparation website or another university lists it. Our CSCA subjects by major guide helps you understand common patterns; the university notice and the official CSCA site control your actual registration. Our exam-language guide explains how English and Chinese paper choices work.
What if you have no IELTS or TOEFL score?
Look for the exact evidence the university accepts. NUAA’s 2026 brochure mentions an equivalent English proficiency letter. Hefei University of Technology’s 2026 guide says applicants whose previous schooling was conducted in English or Chinese may submit proof of instruction language when they cannot provide a standardized test certificate. Other universities may have different rules, and a school letter is not an automatic waiver everywhere. Ask admissions whether your document is acceptable before treating it as sufficient. A helpful question is: “I completed secondary school in English and can provide a signed medium-of-instruction letter. Will this satisfy the English-language requirement for [exact program and intake], or do you require IELTS, TOEFL or another test?”
Does an English-taught course remove every Chinese requirement?
No universal answer covers every university and funding route. Tianjin University lists exemptions from Professional Chinese for named fully English-taught programs. Other notices and scholarship routes may use different wording. If Professional Chinese matters to your application, ask the university or scholarship office to confirm it for your exact program before you register. HSK, which measures Chinese-language proficiency, is a separate credential from CSCA and has its own program rules. Studying in English also does not mean Mandarin is useless. Even when a degree does not require HSK, basic Chinese can help with housing, transport, health care and daily conversations. That is practical preparation, not an extra admission rule claimed by this guide.
A simple application checklist
1. Shortlist English-taught bachelor’s programs on university websites and save the current admission notices. 2. Note each program’s English evidence and any accepted exemption. 3. Copy the CSCA subjects, paper languages and score deadline for that program. 4. Ask about Professional Chinese and scholarship rules if the notice is ambiguous. 5. Prepare passport, school records and translations in the format the university requests. 6. Compare your CSCA registration choices with the university’s written requirements before submitting. 7. Practise the actual subjects and paper language you intend to take. You can use CSCA.ai practice to review concepts and timed questions. It is independent preparation material, not an official CSCA past paper or a guarantee of admission.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a bachelor’s degree in China without HSK? Some English-taught programs do not ask for HSK, but they commonly ask for English proficiency and may require CSCA. The answer depends on the university, major, intake and scholarship route. Can I take CSCA in English? Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry have English-language versions, but a university may specify which language you must select. Professional Chinese is a separate paper in Chinese where required. Check the current official exam information and your university’s notice. Can I apply to an English-taught program with only a school letter? Some universities accept a medium-of-instruction or equivalent English letter; others insist on a named test. Ask the admissions office to confirm acceptance of your exact document.
Sources, date and editorial note
Checked 25 October 2026: NUAA 2026 undergraduate brochure for its English-taught programs, language evidence and CSCA subjects; Jiangsu University eligibility for separate English and CSCA requirements; Tianjin University’s 2026 CSCA subject list for program-specific paper languages and Professional Chinese exceptions; and Hefei University of Technology’s 2026 guide for language-evidence options. These are university examples, not one rule for every applicant. Intake deadlines and requirements change: use the latest university notice and confirm unclear points in writing. CSCA.ai is an independent preparation platform and is not the official CSCA exam authority.
