Look at more than the programme title
Check the current catalogue, compulsory modules and assessment language. Ask whether all required classes are available in the advertised language and whether projects, clinical placements or laboratory work introduce additional language expectations. An English admissions webpage alone is not evidence of an English-taught degree.
Separate evidence from readiness
Write down the accepted certificates, minimum scores, validity rules and any waiver conditions. Then assess what you can actually do: follow a lecture, discuss a reading and write an assessed assignment. Passing an entry threshold may still leave a preparation gap. A few focused weeks of academic-language practice can make arrival less stressful.
Put this guide into practice
Create a short record for your intended programme. Add the relevant notice or document beside each item; leave unpublished details marked “to confirm”.
- Language of compulsory classes and assessment
- Accepted language certificate, score and validity
- Language support needed outside the classroom
Give daily Chinese a place in the plan
Even if your degree is taught in English, Chinese can help with housing, shopping and conversations beyond the international classroom. Ask whether the university requires Chinese modules and whether they carry credits. A beginner language course can complement an English degree, but it should not be presented as a guaranteed pathway into another programme.
Compare like with like
When comparing two programmes, record subject content, language, duration and award level in the same table. A shorter non-degree language course and a full degree solve different problems. If the language requirement is unclear, send the admissions office the precise programme name rather than a broad question about the whole university.
Requirements depend on the university, programme, intake and your circumstances.
FAQ
Does a previous English-medium degree guarantee a waiver?
Only if the current programme’s rules accept it and you provide the required evidence. Ask about the wording, issuer and submission method for any language-of-instruction certificate.