Chinese Language Programmes in China: University Courses, 2026 Fees, Visas and Scholarships

Most Chinese language courses in China are run by universities as non-degree programmes (汉语进修) lasting a semester or an academic year, with intakes in September and March, 18–20 teaching hours a week and classes set by a placement test. At Fudan University and SISU in Shanghai, a semester costs about $1,490–1,565 (¥10,000–10,500) in 2026 and a year about $2,980–3,130 (¥20,000–21,000), excluding housing. Courses of 180 days or more need an X1 visa and a residence permit; shorter ones an X2. Private language schools start almost every week and usually price by the week, and the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship can fund study if you already have an HSK result.

This guide covers course formats, official 2026 fees and deadlines, entry requirements, visas and scholarships, and how to choose between a language course and a foundation year.

Types of Chinese language programme

If your goal is a Chinese-taught degree, a university programme is the logical choice: clear levels, visa support and usually an HSK centre on campus. For the difference between a language course and a foundation year with subjects, see our foundation year guide.

2026 fees: official examples

Official 2026 fees at two Shanghai universities, excluding housing, insurance, medical checks and residence permit costs:

How to read these fees:

• A year is simpler than two semesters. One X1 visa and one residence permit instead of two entries.
• Housing is separate. Fudan leaves language students to arrange accommodation and points to options near campus; SISU does not house students joining for 1–3 months mid-semester.
• Application fees are non-refundable.

We use two Shanghai universities as examples because their 2026 fees are fully published; elsewhere, check the specific university's brochure. For city-by-city budgets, see the cost of studying in China and student life and housing in China. Dollar figures use the ECB rate of 23 September 2026 and are rounded.

What classes look like

Fudan. Ten levels: four elementary (A–D), four intermediate (E–H) and two advanced (I–J). Each level lasts about nine weeks, so a semester covers two. Students take an online placement test on arrival. About 18 hours a week of intensive reading, extensive reading, listening and speaking and writing, with news and press reading at higher levels, culture electives and some undergraduate courses open to advanced students. An on-campus HSK centre offers several test dates.

SISU. Mornings: core Chinese at four levels (beginner, elementary, intermediate, advanced) covering grammar, vocabulary, reading and speaking. Afternoons: free electives such as Shanghai dialect, calligraphy, phonetics, tai chi, paper cutting and a Chinese corner. 20 teaching hours a week, each 45 minutes.

For planning: at Fudan a semester covers two of the ten levels, so a complete beginner reaches the first intermediate level (E) after two semesters and the advanced levels (I–J) after four. How long it takes to reach HSK 4, often required for Chinese-taught degrees, depends on your pace and self-study, so plan for at least a year. See our HSK guide for admission levels.

Deadlines and calendar 2026–2027

For a spring 2027 start, work to December deadlines (SISU's spring 2026 deadline was 31 December 2025) and allow 2–2.5 months for university documents and the visa.

Entry requirements

• Age. Fudan: 18–60. SISU: 18 to under 50 for semester programmes, 16–60 for short mid-semester courses.
• Education. SISU asks for a secondary school certificate; Fudan's brochure sets no education threshold.
• Chinese. None required; you are placed by test on arrival.
• Documents. Online form, passport copy (valid for the whole study period), school certificate copy, application fee. Under-18s need a notarised guardianship authorisation for a guardian in China.
• Finances. Some universities ask for a financial guarantee; Fudan provides a template.

Which visa for a language course?

Visa-free entry, available to many nationalities for up to 30 days, does not cover study. Our China student visa guide covers applications, fees and your first 30 days. Medical insurance is compulsory for international students; universities do not register students without it.

Scholarships for learning Chinese

The most accessible way to study Chinese in China for free is the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (国际中文教师奖学金), administered by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (chinese.cn). Despite the name, it is not limited to teachers. Terms at BLCU for 2026:

It covers tuition, accommodation, a monthly allowance (except the four-week programme) and medical insurance. Applicants must be 16–35 on 1 September 2026 (up to 45 for serving Chinese teachers), have a recommendation from a partner institution and HSK/HSKK results within two years. You may apply for only one Chinese government scholarship at a time, and semester or year applicants who held the same scholarship in the previous three years are generally not admitted again. The funder decides, so budget for a paid option as well.

How to choose a course and city

1. Start from your goal. For admission, look for a placement test, clear levels and an HSK centre nearby; for work, practical and business Chinese; for a first look at China, a one-month course is enough.
2. Check the calendar. University programmes start twice a year; private schools almost weekly.
3. Budget with housing. Tuition is only part of the cost: Fudan's brochure, for example, leaves housing to the student and only lists options near campus for reference.
4. Check who issues the visa form. A course of 180+ days needs a JW202 from an institution authorised to admit international students.
5. Plan the next step. If you want to continue to a bachelor's at the same university, ask whether the language programme counts and whether CSCA is required.

For city choice, see universities in Beijing and universities in Shanghai. We also profile Harbin Institute of Technology and SISU, and our China country page gives the big picture.

Can you work during a language course?

Not in regular employment on a study visa. Work-study and off-campus internships require university approval and an annotation on your residence permit. X2 students can also have internships arranged through the university, but at Fudan, for example, they receive a zero-entry S2 visa for the internship period, so leaving China ends it. See work and internships for students in China.

Common mistakes

• Going for a year on an X2 visa.
• Missing application windows: Fudan and SISU closed autumn 2026 applications about 2.5 months before classes.
• Not budgeting for housing when the university does not provide it.
• Counting on a scholarship without HSK and HSKK results.
• Choosing a private school only on weekly price, without checking visa support and level structure.

FAQ

Sources

• Fudan University — Chinese language programme, autumn 2026 (PDF)
• SISU — Chinese Language Program 2026, Hongkou campus
• BLCU — non-degree Chinese programmes
• BLCU — International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2026
• Ministry of Education — Measures on admitting and training international students (Order No. 42)
• NIA — Exit and Entry Administration Law
• NIA — Regulations on the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners (Art. 22)
• Fudan University — off-campus internship procedure for international students
• ECB euro reference rates

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 23 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1411 = ¥7.6538, i.e. $1 ≈ ¥6.71) and are rounded.

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