Planning to begin an undergraduate degree in China in 2026 or later? You may start seeing CSCA in university admission requirements. Understanding this new assessment early is important because the required subjects, schedule and score expectations can vary by university and degree.
If you are not ready for CSCA, you do not necessarily have to abandon your plan to study in China. You may evaluate English-taught options at Sino-British universities such as the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). However, never assume that an English-taught degree is automatically exempt from CSCA. Requirements must be confirmed for the university, course, scholarship route and intake year.
What is CSCA?
CSCA stands for the China Scholastic Competency Assessment, a standardised academic assessment for international students planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in China. According to its official website, CSCA is organised by the China Scholarship Council and developed with experts from Chinese universities. Results may be considered in university admission and scholarship assessment.
CSCA evaluates academic and language readiness relevant to the applicant's intended programme. It is therefore not a replacement for IELTS or TOEFL, nor is it simply a Mandarin test.
Which subjects are included in CSCA?
CSCA offers several subjects, each scored from 0 to 100:
- Mathematics: available in Chinese or English;
- Physics: available in Chinese or English;
- Chemistry: available in Chinese or English;
- Professional Chinese: Humanities Chinese or STEM Chinese, taken in Mandarin.
Undergraduate applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship are generally required to take Mathematics and Professional Chinese, with Physics or Chemistry determined by the intended programme. For non-scholarship applicants to participating universities, Mathematics is a core requirement; Professional Chinese is required for Chinese-taught programmes, while Physics or Chemistry depends on the degree.
CSCA dates, formats and fees for 2026
The official CSCA website lists five anticipated testing periods in 2026: January, March, April, June and December. Initial delivery includes home-based online testing, alongside computer-based and paper-based testing at selected centres.
The published fee is RMB450 for one subject or RMB700 for two or more subjects. Results for home-based and computer-based tests are expected within seven working days, while paper-based results are expected within 14 working days.
Dates, formats available in Indonesia and fees can change. Check the official CSCA platform before registering.
Who needs to take CSCA?
Whether you need CSCA cannot be determined by the study destination or teaching language alone. Check:
- whether your university uses CSCA;
- whether you are applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship or independently;
- whether your programme is taught in Chinese or English;
- which subjects your intended degree requires.
Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine and Natural Sciences may require combinations of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Each university sets its own admission benchmark, so there is no universal passing score for every institution.
Not ready for CSCA? Explore English-taught pathways
If preparation time is limited, your mathematics or science foundations need development, or you are more comfortable studying in English, a Sino-British university may be worth considering. International admission at these institutions generally reviews school qualifications, relevant subjects and English proficiency.
Important: choose this route because it suits your academic profile and learning goals, not simply to avoid an assessment. CSCA policies may continue to develop, so requirements should be checked directly for your intended degree and intake.
University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC)
UNNC delivers a University of Nottingham education in Ningbo, China, with programmes taught in English. Areas include Business, Economics, International Studies, Communications, Computer Science, Engineering and Architecture.
For applicants from Indonesia, UNNC's current admission page states that an Ijazah SMA with grades of 70 or above may be considered for the Preliminary Year or Year One. The listed English requirement for this route is IELTS 6.0, with at least 5.5 in each component. Individual degrees may have additional academic requirements.
The Preliminary Year in a four-year structure can help students develop academic and English skills before progressing. It is a structured part of the degree pathway rather than a simple remedial course.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)
Located in Suzhou, XJTLU is a partnership between Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. The university states that its degree programmes are taught in English, with options across Business, Finance, Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, Design, Media, Humanities and Sciences.
For Year One, international applicants are generally expected to hold suitable high school qualifications with at least a B average overall and in relevant subjects. The listed English requirement is IELTS 5.0 with a minimum of 4.5 in each component, or TOEFL iBT 62. Year Two has higher academic and English requirements, while certain programmes require Mathematics and Physics backgrounds.
CSCA or a Sino-British university: which route fits you?
- Prepare for CSCA if your priority university and degree require it, particularly when pursuing the Chinese Government Scholarship.
- Consider UNNC or XJTLU if you want an English-medium environment and meet the programme's academic, language and financial requirements.
- Prepare both routes if you want to broaden your options while waiting for final confirmation from universities.
Compare curricula, degree awards, location, tuition and living costs, scholarships, international mobility and career plans. The easiest option is not always the best option.
Build your application strategy early
RIM Education can help identify universities that require CSCA, select the appropriate test subjects, assess your academic readiness, and compare English-taught programmes at UNNC and XJTLU. An early strategy reduces the risk of taking the wrong subjects or missing application deadlines.
Discuss your China study plans with RIM Education via WhatsApp at +62 877 1501 6028.
CSCA and university admission requirements may change. Always verify the latest rules for your intended programme, funding route and intake before applying.