Do I need IELTS for MBBS in China?

You do not need IELTS specifically. China's 2007 standard for English-taught medical degrees requires strong English and, for students from non-English mother-tongue countries, proof of either full English-medium schooling or an English proficiency test — but it names no particular test and no score. Whether a given university accepts IELTS, another test, or its own school certificate is set out in that university's own admission brochure.

See also our language and Chinese page.

What the 2007 standard requires

Article 20 of the Interim Provisions on Quality Control Standards for Undergraduate Medical Education in English for International Students (annex 1 to 教外来〔2007〕39号, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China) states that applicants for undergraduate medical education in China taught in English shall have a strong English language ability. Article 20 then states that students from countries whose mother tongue is not English must provide proof of English-medium primary and secondary schooling throughout, or proof of an English proficiency test. Article 20 names no particular test and no score.

The English wording above is this site's translation of the Chinese original.

What the 2018 norms add about admission standards

The Quality Norms for Higher Education of International Students (Trial) (annex to 教外〔2018〕50号 of 3 September 2018, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China) state that, for foreign-language-taught disciplines and programmes, universities shall clearly state in their admission standards for international students the foreign-language ability required. That paragraph names no particular test and no score.

Who decides what is accepted

Order No. 42, the Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China), states in Article 11 that universities shall formulate and publish their own international-student admission brochure and admit students under the conditions and procedures in that brochure. Article 12 states that admission of international students is decided by the school, and that a school may not admit those who fail the admission conditions.

The test or proof a university accepts for an English-taught MBBS programme is found in that university's admission brochure, decided by the school under Articles 11 and 12.

Related questions

Does the 2007 standard require a Chinese test for admission?

Article 20 of the Interim Provisions sets the English requirement for admission to English-taught medical degrees and names no Chinese-language test for admission.

Is there a score I must reach on the English test?

Article 20 of the 2007 standard names no score, and the 2018 entry-standard paragraph names no score.

Must a school accept my English-medium school certificates instead of a test?

Article 20 of the 2007 standard offers school certificates or a test as alternative proofs. Order No. 42 Article 11 states the school publishes its own brochure and Article 12 states admission is decided by the school. Which proof the school accepts is set out in that brochure.

Do the 2018 norms require Chinese at graduation?

The Quality Norms for Higher Education of International Students (Trial) state that, for foreign-language-taught programmes, international students' Chinese ability at graduation shall reach at least Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards; the norms name that standard and level but use no test name and no HSK level.

Sources

• Interim Provisions on Quality Control Standards for Undergraduate Medical Education in English for International Students (annex 1 to 教外来〔2007〕39号) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
• Quality Norms for Higher Education of International Students (Trial) (annex to 教外〔2018〕50号 of 3 September 2018) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
• Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or professional-licensing advice, is not published by the bodies named, promises no admission, examination or registration outcome, and the official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.