Do Malaysian Independent Chinese School Students Need HSK?

🧩 HSK Overview

HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is a standardized Chinese language test established by the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. It consists of six levels and is used to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers. Typically, Chinese universities require international students to provide HSK scores as proof of their Chinese language abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

🇲🇾 Exemption Policy

✅ Most Chinese universities recognize the UEC Chinese language results and allow exemption from HSK requirements.

Since Malaysian Independent Chinese School students receive complete Chinese language education from primary to high school, and their UEC results can prove their good Chinese proficiency, many Chinese universities do not strictly require HSK scores for their applications, especially for:

• Undergraduate programs taught in Chinese

• University's independent enrollment programs (non-government scholarships)

⚠️ Important Notes

Each university's policy may vary slightly, so it's recommended to confirm with your target university whether HSK is 100% exempted before applying.

🏅 Latest Policy

According to the latest policy, Chinese Government Scholarship applications do not strictly require language test scores, but:

💡 Providing HSK or IELTS/TOEFL scores can help increase your chances of admission and evaluation!

• For Chinese-taught programs: HSK Level 4 or above is recommended (especially for popular majors)

• For English-taught programs: IELTS/TOEFL or other English proficiency certificates are recommended

Especially when there are many applicants and intense competition, having language test scores often gives your application an advantage. This is why many Independent Chinese School students choose to take HSK exams.

📌 SPM Student Requirements

Unlike Independent Chinese School students, SPM students do not have a complete Chinese education background, therefore:

• Most Chinese universities require SPM students to submit HSK scores as proof of Chinese proficiency

Especially when applying for Chinese-taught undergraduate or preparatory programs, they typically need:

• HSK Level 4 or 5 or above

• Some majors like Medicine and Law may even require HSK Level 6

✅ Recommendations

If you are an SPM student planning to apply to Chinese universities, please prepare for the HSK exam in advance. For specific requirements about which level to take and which universities accept which scores, feel free to contact E-Square for detailed requirements and preparation advice.

📊 Application Types and Requirements

• Chinese University Undergraduate (Self-funded): Exempted, most universities accept UEC Chinese, no HSK needed

• Chinese University Master's/PhD (Self-funded): Depends on university requirements, some graduate schools still recommend providing HSK

• Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC): Not mandatory, but recommended, language scores can add points and increase admission chances

• English-taught programs: HSK not required, English proficiency certificates (IELTS/TOEFL) recommended

💡 Application Advice

• If you plan to apply for scholarships or popular majors in the future, consider taking the HSK exam in advance, at least preparing for HSK Level 4

• If only applying for self-funded undergraduate programs, prioritize confirming with universities whether they accept UEC Chinese results, no HSK needed

• For English-taught programs, prepare English proficiency certificates (such as IELTS/TOEFL)