Entrance exams and interviews for international applicants
Most Chinese university programmes admit international students on documents alone. Some add a written test, a portfolio review (arts, design, architecture) or an online interview — and interviews are short, held in the language of instruction, and focused on your motivation and study plan.
Which programmes test you
- Medicine and some engineering or business programmes run their own written test.
- Arts, design and architecture require a portfolio and sometimes a practical test.
- Doctoral programmes usually involve an interview with the prospective supervisor.
What the interview covers
- Why this programme, this university and this city.
- Your study plan and what you want to do after graduating.
- Your academic background — expect questions about your transcript.
- Language ability: a short conversation in the language of instruction, sometimes both Chinese and English.
How to prepare
- Prepare a two to three minute self-introduction and practise it out loud.
- Reread your own application: interviewers ask about what you wrote.
- Have a clear answer for any gap in your studies or a weak semester.
- Test your connection and camera beforehand — most interviews are online.
Where the rules are written
- Each programme publishes its own admission method: documents only, test, interview, or a combination.
- If the programme page does not say, ask the admissions contact in writing before you apply.
Common questions
Do all international applicants need an entrance exam?
No. Most programmes decide on documents alone; tests and interviews are programme-specific and more common in medicine, arts subjects and doctoral study.
Do international students need the Gaokao to study in China?
Usually not for international admissions. The Gaokao is China's national entrance exam for domestic university applicants; international applicants are generally assessed on foreign qualifications, language evidence and programme-specific requirements. A particular university may still require its own test or interview.
Is there one national entrance exam for international students?
No single test is used by every university. Some programmes use the CSCA or an institution-specific written test; others require a portfolio or interview, while many decide on documents alone. Check the exact programme.
What language is the interview in?
The language of instruction — English for English-taught programmes, Chinese for Chinese-taught ones. Some programmes interview in both.
Can I fail the interview because of my Chinese?
For Chinese-taught programmes, language is part of the assessment. For English-taught programmes, the interview is normally in English and your Chinese level is not the deciding factor.
Research first, then verify at the source
VisChat is an independent information and data site. Compare programmes here, then use current university and government pages to confirm the details that apply to you.