HSK / 汉语水平考试; pinyin: Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì is China’s official Chinese language Proficiency test for non-native speakers like international students. There are many benefits to having an HSK certificate some of which are not always obvious. If you are considering taking the HSK exam, here are some doors an HSK Certificate can unlock for you.

China is now one of the world’s most popular study destinations, with over 492 185 international students from 196 countries. 59.95% of these students are from Asia and over 63 041 are on Chinese government scholarship. China offers world class tertiary education facilities and various scholarship opportunities for international students. Chinese language proficiency (HSK Level) is one of the key metrics used to determine a candidate’s eligibility for scholarship.
- Admission & Scholarship
HSK is a prerequisite for students who want to study Chinese taught programs, with the minimum acceptable level for admission being HSK4. However, China’s top universities prefer a higher HSK level for both scholarship and admission application. For students taking English-taught programs having an HSK certificate can also make their admission and scholarship application process more competitive.
- Graduation
In some Chinese universities HSK is a graduation requirement. This means international students must attain a basic Chinese language level before they can graduate. While this may vary depending on the university or program, having an HSK certificate is definitely a plus.

Chinese global enterprises and start-ups are making their mark in the world. Chances are you have already heard of brands like Huawei and Alibaba, however there are many more Chinese start-ups redefining the tech landscape. They all have one thing in common, the need for localized talent to drive their overseas operations.
-Internship
One of the largest barriers international students face when looking for internship opportunities in global Chinese firms is Chinese language proficiency. Having an advanced HSK certificate particularly (HSK 5 & HSK 6) ensures you can effectively communicate in a Chinese business setting.
-Employment
An advanced HSK certificate is one of the basic employment requirements for leading Chinese enterprises. Being able to communicate during business meetings, write work reports and make presentations in Chinese is not easy. However, having an advanced HSK certificate gives you a solid foundation to be able to expand your vocabulary to meet the Chinese language needs of working in a Chinese enterprise.

If you are living in China or intend to, not being able to speak basic Chinese might be the source of many headaches. Using Alipay to pay for a meal at a restaurant, answering the phone to tell the Didi driver where your exact location is, ordering your favorite Chinese food on Ele Me or even buying the right sized outfit on TaoBao can be a real Challenge if you don’t have basic Chinese language skills. -Interaction The HSK vocabulary is based on words and characters you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in various contexts. This means basic HSK levels like HSK 1-3 can offer you a pretty strong foundation to interact with your Chinese environment. So, the next time you are in a taxi you don’t have to say “ Ting Bu Dong” 听不懂。 -Integration To successfully integrate into any society, you must be able to speak the language. Chinese language is not easy , however the more you practice and apply your knowledge in everyday situations the better you will become. HSK is a gateway to acquiring the relevant vocabulary to integrate into Chinese society however true integration requires an attitude of constant learning. Don’t give up on your Chinese language learning objectives, keep going, 加油!