Chinese is the most challenging language I have learnt but our teacher has said many times in class: ‘See, learning Chinese is easy!’ and somehow it does feel easy with her. (Olivia Wolfheart)

Available courses

We offer a variety of classes based on the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK ) framework, which is an international standardised test for Chinese language proficiency.

The following Mandarin Chinese courses are available for members of the public, although not every course runs every term. Check the class timetable below to see which classes are running in Autumn and Spring 2025-26.

Stage 1.1: Enrol on this course if you have never studied Chinese before, or if you know a few basic phrases. We recommend you take a 'Chinese Characters' course alongside this course at no additional cost.

Stage 1.2: Enrol on this course if you have taken Stage 1.1 with us, or if you can:

• note down words and phrases you hear using pinyin
• engage in basic conversations, exchanging information such as age, name, nationality, and occupation
• read and write around 50 basic Chinese characters

We recommend you take a 'Chinese Characters' course alongside this course at no additional cost.

Stage 2.1: Enrol on this course if you have completed Stage 1.2 with us, or achieved the Chinese standard examination HSK 1, or if you can:

• engage in conversations on topics such as the weather, routine and leisure activities, state preferences
• read and understand short texts written in Chinese characters on familiar topics
• produce short texts using Chinese characters to give basic information and describe simple situations

We recommend you take a 'Chinese Characters' course alongside this course at no additional cost.

Stage 2.2: Enrol on this course if you have completed Stage 2.1 or achieved the Chinese standard examination HSK 1, or if you can:

• perform simple tasks such as shopping and ask for information such as directions and opening hours
• understand straightforward written resources on familiar topics written in Chinese characters
• write short texts using Chinese characters to give essential information and describe simple experiences

Stage 3.1: Enrol on this course if you have completed Stage 2.2, or achieved the Chinese standard examination HSK 2, or if you can:

• engage in conversations on a number of non-abstract topics such as travel and leisure activities
• read and understand straightforward written resources on a variety of familiar topics
• produce structured texts in Chinese characters on a variety of familiar topics, including past events and future plans

Stage 3.2: Enrol on this course if you have completed Stage 3.1, or achieved the Chinese standard examination HSK 2, or if you can:

• engage in conversations in a variety of situations with a degree of confidence
• read and understand written resources in Chinese characters on familiar matters and some abstract topics
• produce structured texts in Chinese characters with a degree of confidence on topics such as shopping, travel, jobs and abstract topics

Learn Chinese with Weekly News: Enrol on this course if you have completed Stage 3.2 or have reached the Chinese standard examination HSK level 3 or above. In this course we will discuss bite-sized news items that are written in graded Chinese following the HSK levels. During this course you will:

• further develop your independent learning skills
• have personalised learning experiences to take your Chinese language skills to a higher level
• develop your intercultural competence and improve your employability skills

Chinese in your Suitcase: This course sits alongside our core course offer and gives those students who prefer a less intensive option the chance to learn how to use the language effectively in real life situations. It is ideal if you already have some basic knowledge of the language and would like to brush up to be able to hold simple conversations when travelling. Enrol on this course if you:

• have a basic knowledge of the language
• prefer a slower and more relaxed pace of learning
• would like to brush up your language for travel purposes

Chinese Characters:  These classes are designed to supplement the core Mandarin Chinese courses. We strongly encourage all Stage 1 and Stage 2 students to register for this additional course, as it offers valuable practice with the Chinese characters - an essential part of the Mandarin Chinese curriculum. It is offered free of charge and is only available to students enrolled on a Stage 1 or Stage 2 Mandarin Chinese course. Please speak to your teacher if you'd like to attend.

HSK Exam Preparatory Workshops: A set of 5 preparatory workshops for all students who opt to sit for the HSK qualifications. These are held in the spring and are offered free of charge to anyone enrolled in another Mandarin Chinese course; they are not available to join as standalone classes.

Placement test

If you have never learned Mandarin Chinese with us before, please take this placement test so that you know which course is suitable for you.

We recommend reading our Terms and Conditions for information about what to do if you enrol at the wrong level and need to transfer to a different class.

2025-26 course timetable

Enrolment on our Autumn courses is now closed.

Spring 2026

Enrolment on our Spring 2026 courses will close on 23 January 2026 at midday.

Teaching starts w/c 9 Feb until w/c 27 April 2026. There is no teaching w/c 30 March 2026 and w/c 6 April 2026 due to Easter.

Come and meet the teacher before teaching starts the following week. For all Meet the teacher sessions, drop in at the time that suits you best.

Please read and understand our Terms and Conditions before enrolling.

**Available for students on a core course. Not available as a standalone course. Please submit this form if you would like to join an HSK workshop course.

Course fees

Course fees for 2025-26 are:

Fees include all tuition and course materials and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment, through our online booking system.

Available discounts

We offer a 10% discount to Discovery Card holders. To qualify for the discount, you should:

1. Enrol on your chosen course and pay the full course fee.
2. Complete this form to request your Discovery Card discount.
3. We will verify the details you have provided and issue you a refund of 10% of the course fee within 5 working days of receiving your refund request.

The Discovery Card discount is only available on full course fees, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts, including the subsidised prices offered to University students and staff.

Qualification fees

You may wish to take up the opportunity of entering for a globally recognised language qualification, to accredit your language proficiency. Exam preparation workshops are offered in the Spring alongside the core language course at no additional charge. You must be enrolled on a language course to be able to join the exam preparation workshops; they are not available to enrol onto as standalone courses.

If you choose to enter for an examination, additional costs will be payable for examination entry to the respective awarding organisations. These costs vary by language, level and provider and are subject to change, but typically range from £70 to £250 per exam. Full details of costs can be found on the awarding bodies' websites and will be provided by your teacher. Please note that if you choose not to take an exam, the costs are limited to the course fees.

Terms and Conditions

Please make sure you have read and understood our Terms and Conditions before enrolling on a course. By purchasing a course, you will be deemed to have accepted the Terms and Conditions, so it's important you have read them before you complete your purchase.

Qualifications

In the spring, you have the option of sitting HSK qualifications 1, 2 or 3. Exams take place in official HSK centres in London and other cities (please note, there is no test centre in Bath).

To help you prepare for the exams, you can join our HSK preparation workshops, which are offered free of charge to anyone enrolled on another Mandarin Chinese course; they are not available to join as standalone classes. If you would like to join the relevant workshop, please speak to your teacher after you have enrolled on your core course.

More ways to develop your Mandarin Chinese language skills

For more information on what it’s like to learn Mandarin Chinese with us, check out our blog.

We also organise our own cultural events and Language Cafés. If you are enrolled on a language course, you are welcome to take part in these; please ask your teacher for more details after you have enrolled.

Meet the teacher

You can come along to meet the teacher and ask any questions about your course before teaching starts the following week. There are also opportunities to meet the Languages Team. For all the sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Spring 2026

To locate a room, read more information on finding your way around campus.