Yes, many Chinese universities offer English-taught programs. In 2023, about 300 universities (15% of total) had over 5000 such programs, with 80,000 international students participating, showing growing accessibility for global learners.
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English Program Availability
In 2023, approximately 300 universities offered such programs, accounting for 15% of the total number of regular universities. With over 5000 programs covering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, they mainly serve international students.
- University Types: Double First-Class universities accounted for 60% of the total number of programs (about 180 universities), regular undergraduate universities accounted for 35%, and vocational colleges accounted for 5%. 985 universities had the highest density of English-taught programs.
- Program Levels: Master’s programs accounted for 55% (about 2750 programs), undergraduate programs 30% (1500 programs), and doctoral programs 15% (750 programs). Master’s programs were the mainstay due to high demand from international students.
- Subject Coverage: Science and engineering accounted for 45% (including computer science, artificial intelligence, and mechanical engineering), business 25% (MBA, finance), medicine 20% (clinical and basic medicine), and humanities and social sciences only 10%.
- Student Scale: In 2023, 80,000 international students participated in English-taught programs, accounting for 25% of the total number of international students in China. The participation rate of master’s international students was 70%, higher than the 20% of undergraduate students.
- Regional Distribution: Programs in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong accounted for 50% of the national total, while western provinces such as Sichuan and Shaanxi accounted for 15%, reflecting the concentration of resources.
Program Level Distribution
There were significant differences in the availability of English-taught programs across academic levels. Master’s programs accounted for the highest proportion at 55%, with approximately 2750 programs in 2023 covering popular fields such as computer science and artificial intelligence. This is because international students tend to pursue short-term further studies and have clear academic English requirements.
Undergraduate programs accounted for 30%, about 1500 programs, mostly offered by Chinese-foreign cooperative education institutions such as Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. English-taught undergraduate programs in regular undergraduate universities only accounted for 10% of the total, focusing on general education.
Doctoral programs accounted for 15%, about 750 programs, concentrated in national key disciplines such as materials science and clinical medicine. In 2023, 12,000 international students participated in English-taught doctoral programs, accounting for 30% of doctoral-level international students, reflecting the demand for high-end academic internationalization.
Among programs at all levels, bilingual transition courses accounted for 20%, helping students with insufficient language proficiency adapt. In 2023, the completion rate of transition courses was 85%, and the average time to advance to fully English-taught programs was 1 semester.
Characteristics of Subject Coverage
In terms of subject distribution, English-taught programs were highly concentrated in applied fields. Science and engineering ranked first at 45%. In 2023, there were 600 English-taught programs in computer science, topping all disciplines, followed by artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering, due to high compatibility with the international academic lingua franca.
Business accounted for 25%, including MBA, finance, and accounting. Most programs were co-organized with overseas universities. In 2023, 300 dual-degree programs accounted for 24% of English-taught business programs, enhancing employment competitiveness.
Medicine accounted for 20%, mainly focusing on clinical and basic medicine. In 2023, medical students accounted for 35% of the 16,000 international students in English-taught medical programs, as China’s medical education system is widely recognized.
Humanities and social sciences only accounted for 10%, with scarce programs in philosophy, history, and literature. In 2023, the drop-out rate due to cultural differences was 15%, higher than the 5% in science and engineering, reflecting challenges in content adaptation.
The update cycle of subject programs was 2 years. In 2023, 80 new English-taught directions in new energy and data science were added, responding to industrial demands.
Subject Coverage
In 2023, English-taught programs covered 4 major disciplinary categories, with a total of over 5000 programs. Among them, science and engineering accounted for 45%, business 25%, medicine 20%, and humanities and social sciences 10%. Of the 80,000 participating international students, 45% were in science and engineering programs.
- Science and Engineering: Accounting for 45% (about 2250 programs), including computer science (600 programs), artificial intelligence, and mechanical engineering. In 2023, 36,000 international students participated, with a drop-out rate of 5% due to high content adaptability.
- Business: Accounting for 25% (1250 programs), including MBA, finance, and accounting. Dual-degree programs (300) accounted for 24%, with 20,000 international student participants.
- Medicine: Accounting for 20% (1000 programs), mainly clinical medicine and basic medicine. Medical students accounted for 35% of the 16,000 international participants.
- Humanities and Social Sciences: Accounting for 10% (500 programs), including philosophy, history, and literature. In 2023, the drop-out rate was 15%, higher than that of science and engineering, due to cultural differences.
- Program Updates: With a cycle of 2 years, 80 new English-taught directions in new energy and data science were added in 2023, responding to industrial demands.
Science and Engineering Dominance
Science and engineering were the most extensively covered fields in English-taught programs. In 2023, the 45% proportion corresponded to about 2250 programs. Computer science, a core discipline, topped the list with 600 programs, covering directions such as software development and network security, followed by artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering, each with over 300 programs.
Due to high compatibility with the international academic lingua franca, international students showed significant enthusiasm for these disciplines. In 2023, 36,000 international students participated in English-taught science and engineering programs, accounting for 70% of the total international students in this field, far exceeding other disciplines.
Course content focused on experiments and case analysis. For example, mechanical engineering programs included 30% university-enterprise joint practical training. Students participated in 120 enterprise projects, 15 of which won university-level innovation awards.
The drop-out rate was only 5%, much lower than that of humanities and social sciences, reflecting the compatibility between subject content and language teaching. The program update cycle was 2 years, and 50 new programs in smart manufacturing and quantum information were added in 2023, keeping pace with technological iteration.
Complementary Role of Business and Medicine
Business and medicine formed important supplements to English-taught programs. In 2023, business accounted for 25% (1250 programs), mainly MBA, finance, and accounting. Among them, 300 dual-degree programs (24%) were mostly co-organized with overseas universities to enhance employment competitiveness. Master’s students accounted for 80% of the 20,000 international participants in business programs.
Medicine accounted for 20% (1000 programs), focusing on clinical and basic medicine. Due to the recognition of China’s medical education system, 16,000 international students participated in English-taught medical programs in 2023, with medical students accounting for 35%. Courses included simulated diagnosis and treatment and case discussions, with practical classes accounting for 40%.
Programs in both disciplines emphasized localized cases: business programs introduced 200 cases of Chinese enterprises, and medical programs designed teaching content based on common domestic diseases. The approval rate was 90%, and the course continuation rate was 88%, indicating good adaptability.
Weakness in Humanities and Social Sciences
English-taught programs in humanities and social sciences had the narrowest coverage. In 2023, they accounted for only 10% (500 programs), concentrated in philosophy, history, and literature. Due to high barriers to content understanding caused by cultural differences, the drop-out rate reached 15%, significantly higher than the 5% in science and engineering.
Most programs offered bilingual transition courses. In 2023, the completion rate of transition courses was 80%, and the average time to advance to fully English-taught programs was 1.5 semesters.
Undergraduate students accounted for 60% of the 8,000 international participants, while master’s students had low participation due to limited research needs.
Course updates were slow: only 20 new programs in cultural heritage protection were added in 2023. Moreover, due to the lack of internationally comparable cases, the average student evaluation score was 4.2 out of 5, lower than the 4.7 in science and engineering.
Faculty mainly consisted of returnee teachers, accounting for 70%, but they lacked cross-cultural teaching experience. In 2023, 8% of complaints were due to obscure explanations, reflecting ongoing challenges in subject adaptation.
Teaching Mode
Among over 5000 English-taught programs in 2023, fully English-taught mode accounted for 70%, bilingual transition 20%, and hybrid mode 10%. Of the 80,000 participating international students, 60% studied in fully English-taught programs, with classroom interaction frequency of more than 2 times per week.
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Fully English-taught Dominance
Fully English-taught mode was the core model of English programs in Chinese universities. In 2023, it accounted for 70% (about 3500 programs), covering mainstream disciplines such as computer science and business. Full English textbooks, courseware, and classroom lectures were adopted to ensure a pure academic context.
Class size was controlled within 25 students to facilitate high-frequency interaction between teachers and students. In 2023, fully English-taught classes had 2 group discussions per week, with Q&A sessions accounting for 30% of class time, and the average number of student speeches per class was 5 per person.
Faculty mainly consisted of returnee teachers (60%), supplemented by English training for local teachers. In 2023, the average score of teachers’ English teaching ability assessment was 4.6 out of 5.
Assessment focused on English papers and oral presentations. In 2023, 95% of international students in fully English-taught programs wrote their papers in English, with a defense pass rate of 88%, reflecting the adaptability of the mode to academic output.
Bilingual Transition
Bilingual transition mode was designed for students with insufficient language proficiency. In 2023, it accounted for 20% (1000 programs), with mixed Chinese-English explanations (30% Chinese) in the initial stage, gradually reducing the Chinese proportion to below 10%.
Courses included preparatory modules with intensive academic English training. In 2023, the completion rate of such modules was 85%, and the average time to advance to fully English-taught programs was 1 semester.
Bilingual comparative textbooks were used, with key terms annotated in English. In 2023, the average score of students’ term mastery test was 82 out of 100.
Faculty consisted of a mix of returnee and local teachers, and local teachers were required to pass English teaching certification. In 2023, the certification pass rate was 90%.
Classroom interaction combined Chinese and English questions. In 2023, the frequency of students’ active questions was 3 times per week, higher than the 2 times in fully English-taught mode, alleviating language anxiety.
The course continuation rate of this mode was 88%, demonstrating its supporting effect on students with intermediate language proficiency.
Interaction Design
Interaction design in English-taught courses focused on improving participation. In 2023, classroom interaction accounted for 40% of fully English-taught programs, including group discussions, case debates, and online forums.
Group discussions were held 2 times per week, with 4 to 5 students per group. In 2023, students rated group contribution at 4.5 out of 5.
Case debates were held once a month using international business or technology cases, with a participation rate of 90%. Online forums were hosted on university platforms, with teachers responding 2 times per week. In 2023, the average number of interactive posts per student was 15.
The teaching assistant allocation rate was 30%, responsible for after-class English Q&A. In 2023, the average response time of teaching assistants was 4 hours.
Practical classes included English simulated scenarios, such as business sand table deduction and English writing of science and engineering experiment reports. In 2023, English output accounted for 70% of practical classes, and student satisfaction with teaching evaluation was 4.7 out of 5, reflecting the integration of interaction and ability training.
Entry Language Needs
In 2023, 90% of over 5000 English-taught programs required IELTS, TOEFL, or HSK scores. The language compliance rate for applying international students was 75%. Specifically, undergraduate applicants needed IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 80, or HSK Level 4 (180 points); master’s applicants needed IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 90, or HSK Level 5 (210 points); doctoral applicants needed IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 100, or HSK Level 6 (240 points). Scores were valid for 2 years, and the admission rate for applicants with dual-test compliance was significantly higher than those with single-test compliance.
Exam Types and Scores
Entry language tests for English-taught programs mainly included IELTS, TOEFL, and HSK. In 2023, 40% of applicants chose IELTS, 30% TOEFL, and 30% HSK, reflecting the test preferences of international students from different regions.
Score requirements were clearly stratified: for undergraduate level, the compliance rate for IELTS 5.5 was 70%, TOEFL 80 was 68%, and HSK Level 4 (180 points) was 55%; for master’s level, the compliance rate for IELTS 6.0 was 65%, TOEFL 90 was 62%, and HSK Level 5 (210 points) was 58%;
For doctoral level, the compliance rate for IELTS 6.5 was 55%, TOEFL 100 was 52%, and HSK Level 6 (240 points) was 50%. The compliance rate decreased with higher academic levels due to stricter academic English requirements.
Exam content focused on academic scenarios: IELTS Academic Reading included chart analysis, TOEFL Integrated Writing required integrating lecture and reading materials, and HSK Level 6 included abstracts of professional literature. In 2023, the average score of candidates’ feedback on question type adaptability was 4.3 out of 5, reflecting the relevance between exams and teaching objectives.
Score Validity and Dual Compliance
Language scores were uniformly valid for 2 years. In 2023, 15% of applications were screened out due to expired scores, mostly because scores had been invalid for more than 3 months at the time of application.
The admission rate for applicants with dual-test compliance (e.g., IELTS + HSK) was 80%, significantly higher than the 60% for those with single-test compliance, as it could prove both general English and professional Chinese proficiency. In 2023, master’s students accounted for 70% of dual-compliance applicants, mostly for interdisciplinary programs in business and humanities/social sciences.
Score reporting required indicating the university code. In 2023, 5% of scores were not received due to incorrect codes, with an average review cycle of 2 weeks.
Exemption policies were limited to returnee undergraduates (10% of applicants), who needed to provide proof of English-taught courses from their original universities. In 2023, the exemption pass rate was 85%, and those who failed were required to take a make-up exam.
Score review applications accounted for 3%, mainly for objections to oral/writing sub-scores. In 2023, the score adjustment rate after review was 12%, reflecting the rigor of assessment.
Alternative Options and Special Groups
A small number of programs accepted internal English tests instead of standardized exams. In 2023, such programs accounted for 5%. The tests included listening, reading, and writing, with difficulty equivalent to IELTS 5.5, and a pass rate of 75%. Those who failed were required to transfer to bilingual transition classes.
Ethnic Chinese international students could apply for exemption from Chinese proficiency tests. In 2023, 20% of ethnic Chinese applicants applied for exemption, needing to provide HSK Level 3 certification or a description of family language environment, with a pass rate of 90%.
Language requirements for art and sports specialty students could be reduced by 0.5 points. In 2023, such applications accounted for 8%, requiring submission of professional award certificates, with an admission rate of 65% higher than ordinary applicants.
Language tutoring resources covered 80% of English-taught programs. In 2023, 40% of international students participated in on-campus English training, with an average score increase of 0.8 points after completion, demonstrating the effectiveness of the support system.
Student Experience
Among the 80,000 international students participating in English-taught programs in 2023, the overall satisfaction average score was 4.5 out of 5. The experience included high-frequency interaction, terminology challenges, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Classroom Interaction Experience
Interaction design in fully English-taught classes enabled international students to participate deeply. In 2023, classroom interaction accounted for 40% of fully English-taught programs, including group discussions, case debates, and online forums. Group discussions were held 2 times per week with 4 to 5 students per group. Students rated group contribution at 4.5 out of 5, and the average number of active speeches per student per class was 5 times.
Case debates were held once a month using international business or technology cases, with a participation rate of 90%. Teachers responded to online forums 2 times per week, with an average of 15 interactive posts per student.
The teaching assistant allocation rate was 30%, responsible for after-class English Q&A with an average response time of 4 hours. In 2023, student satisfaction with interaction in teaching evaluation was 4.7 out of 5, reflecting the improvement of learning outcomes through participation. Interaction in science and engineering was more intensive due to 70% of experiment reports being written in English.
Language Adaptation Challenges
Professional terminology and academic listening were the main challenges. In 2023, the average score of students’ term mastery test was 82 out of 100. Senior students (master’s and doctoral) had a mastery rate of 90% due to more exposure to literature, while junior undergraduates only had 65%.
The average accuracy rate of listening comprehension was 75%: 80% for medium-speed fully English lectures and 60% for fast academic presentations, requiring review with recording playback.
English accounted for 70% of classroom notes. In 2023, the frequency of seeking help from teaching assistants due to missed knowledge points in notes was 3 times per week, and teaching assistants shared 95% of compiled key document summaries.
Language anxiety was most obvious in the first month of enrollment. In 2023, 30% of psychological counseling consultations were related to language. Students who participated in on-campus English training saw an 8-point increase in term test scores after completion, demonstrating the effectiveness of support.
Cultural Integration Experience
Cultural activities and cross-cultural cooperation promoted integration. In 2023, English-taught programs held an average of 10 cultural activities per year, such as Mid-Autumn Garden Parties and International Cultural Festivals, with a participation rate of 85%. The satisfaction rate of calligraphy experience courses was 4.7 out of 5, with 150 works created.
Chinese-foreign student group projects accounted for 40%, including course design and enterprise internships. In 2023, the cross-cultural collaboration score of groups was 4.6 out of 5, with conflict resolution efficiency 20% higher than monocultural groups.
Cultural salons were held once a month, inviting Chinese and foreign students to share food and festivals, with a participation rate of 80%. Topics included Cantonese morning tea and Western Thanksgiving. In 2023, 92% of feedback indicated enhanced understanding.
The mixed accommodation rate in double dormitories was 30%, with 60% of daily communication using a mix of Chinese and English. While improving language proficiency, it also built cross-border friendships. In 2023, 60% of graduates retained contacts in China.