Learning Mandarin for Study in Taiwan & Hong Kong

Do you need Mandarin to study in Taiwan or Hong Kong?

For many international students the honest answer is: not to be admitted, but yes to get the most out of daily life. Both Taiwan and Hong Kong offer a growing range of English-taught degree programs, so you can complete a full qualification without Mandarin — but some programs are taught partly or fully in Chinese, and everyday tasks off campus are easier with the local language.

So the language question has two layers: what your specific program requires, and how much you want to function comfortably outside class. Check the medium of instruction for your exact program on the official university page, and treat language learning as an investment in living well, not only in admission.

Mandarin Language Centers in Taiwan (MLCs)

Taiwan is a popular place to study Mandarin because of its network of university-affiliated Mandarin Language Centers (MLCs). These centers run intensive courses, usually organised into terms of a few months with several class hours per week, and they cater to complete beginners through advanced learners.

The Ministry of Education maintains the recognised list of these centers, published through the Study in Taiwan portal, so you can pick a center attached to a university and city that suit you. Course fees, schedules and start dates are set by each center — verify them on the official Study in Taiwan site and the center's own page.

• University-affiliated, term-based intensive courses — verify schedules
• Levels from beginner to advanced
• Official list via the Study in Taiwan portal — verify

The TOCFL: Taiwan's official proficiency test

The TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) is Taiwan's official Mandarin proficiency test, administered by the Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP) under the Ministry of Education. It is organised into bands and levels covering beginner through advanced ability, and it is the standard way to certify your Mandarin for study, scholarships or work.

Some Chinese-taught degree programs and some scholarships ask for a TOCFL certificate at a particular level, and holding one can strengthen a language-scholarship application. Test levels, fees and registration dates are published by SC-TOP — confirm the current details on the official TOCFL website.

• Official Taiwan Mandarin test, run by SC-TOP (Ministry of Education)
• Multiple bands and levels, from beginner to advanced
• Used for admission, scholarships and work — verify requirements
• Levels, fees and dates on the official TOCFL site — verify

Scholarships for language study: the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship

If your main goal is to learn Mandarin in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education's Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) is the flagship program. It supports a period of full-time Mandarin study at a recognised language center, typically as a monthly stipend for a chosen duration.

Eligibility criteria, stipend amount, duration options and application windows are all set by the MOE and change year to year, the program is competitive, and selection is never guaranteed. Check the official Study in Taiwan and MOE pages for the current rules, and apply through the designated Taiwan representative office for your region.

Mandarin (Putonghua) in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's language mix is different. At its universities, English is very commonly the medium of instruction, which is a major reason international students choose the city. Cantonese is the main spoken language in daily life, while Mandarin — known locally as Putonghua — is also widely used and taught.

If you want to build Mandarin or Cantonese while studying in Hong Kong, universities typically offer Chinese-language courses through their language centres, from beginner upward. Because provision and requirements differ by institution, verify the medium of instruction for your program and the available language courses on each university's official pages and the Study in Hong Kong portal.

• English is a common medium of instruction at HK universities — verify per program
• Cantonese is the main local spoken language; Putonghua (Mandarin) is also widely used
• University language centres offer Chinese-language courses — verify

English-taught options if you don't speak Mandarin

You do not have to speak Mandarin to earn a degree in either place. Taiwan has expanded English-taught programs across many universities, and Hong Kong offers a large number of full degrees taught in English. These programs usually ask for proof of English proficiency — commonly IELTS or TOEFL — rather than a Chinese test.

The practical rule is simple: confirm the language of instruction and the exact entry requirements for your specific program before you apply, since these are set program by program. Learning some Mandarin alongside an English-taught degree is optional but genuinely useful for daily life and internships.

How to choose your path

There is no single 'right' path — it depends on your goal, your program and how long you plan to stay. Use the steps below to decide, and verify every requirement against official sources.

• Studying in English only? Confirm your program is English-taught and its IELTS/TOEFL needs
• Program taught in Chinese? Check the TOCFL level required
• Want to learn Mandarin specifically? Look at Taiwan MLCs plus the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship
• In Hong Kong? An English-taught degree is common; add a university language course for Cantonese or Putonghua
• Always confirm medium of instruction and language requirements on the official page