A distinctive feature of the Edge Hill University Confucius Institute is its provision of language and cultural activities and opportunities that are available for University students, teachers, primary and secondary schools, colleges, members of the local community, and businesses.
Courses
All our language teachers are native Mandarin speakers, awarded certification from the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) and fully qualified teachers of Chinese as a foreign language.
Edge Hill University offers:
- activity sessions for children of all ages
- professional development for teachers and trainee teachers wanting to enhance the quality of Mandarin Chinese teaching
- opportunities for students studying at Edge Hill, the local community and businesses to gain a greater understanding of Chinese language and culture
- all courses are free and open to University students, staff and the general public
These courses are delivered face-to-face at the Ormskirk campus and are free of charge
Introduction to Chinese Culture and Language (10-week course)
Thursday, 5 March – 21 May (10 weeks)
On campus (6pm-7.30pm)
The course aims to provide learners with an experiential and reflective introduction to Chinese culture. Rather than focusing on factual memorisation, the course emphasises cultural experience, interpretation, helping learners understand how cultural values shape everyday life in China.
Conversational Mandarin (Beginners)
Thursday 5 March – 21 May (10 weeks)
Online (6pm – 7.30pm)
This course is designed for adult learners who wish to learn practical spoken Mandarin Chinese for everyday communication. Emphasis is placed on real-life, situational language use, helping learners develop confidence in listening and speaking.
The course avoids heavy grammar instruction and writing, focusing instead on interactive and functional communication, including social interaction, shopping, dining, travel, and basic services.
Learners will practise Mandarin through guided dialogues, role-play, pair/group activities, and scenario-based exercises.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Communicate in basic spoken Mandarin in everyday contexts
- Introduce themselves and exchange simple personal information
- Ask for help, directions, and services politely
- Handle common interactions such as shopping, eating out, and travel
- Gain awareness of cultural norms in Chinese communication
School activities
A distinctive approach of the Edge Hill University Confucius Institute is the engagement with schools from one off sessions such as assemblies and activity days through to Mandarin Chinese clubs and full programmes of language development.
We have a full suite of CPD opportunities for primary, early years and secondary teachers to complement the suggested activities mentioned and to allow for further cross curricular learning to be established. Please see an example of a sample activity day and what we can provide for your school.
The institute is able to offer a suite of opportunities for teachers working in schools through negotiation with the Confucius Institute.
Contact us for more information
Scholarships
The following range of Confucius Institute scholarships are currently being offered:
- Scholarship for master’s degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL)
- Scholarship for bachelor’s degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (BTCSOL)
- Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Study
- Scholarship for One-Semester Study
- Scholarship for Four-Week Study
Enquire about a scholarship
More information can be found on the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) website.
Chinese Test Dates in 2026
Chinese Proficiency Test 2026
| Test Date | Tests | Deadline for Test Registration | Date of Score Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 22 March | HSK1 | Wednesday 21 February | Tuesday 7 April |
| HSK2 | |||
| HSK3 | |||
| HSK4 | |||
| HSK5 | |||
| HSK6 | |||
| Saturday 16 May | HSK1 | Wednesday 15 April | Monday 1 June |
| HSK2 | |||
| HSK3 | |||
| HSK4 | |||
| HSK5 | |||
| HSK6 | |||
| Sunday 28 June | HSK1 | Wednesday 27 May | Monday 13 July |
| HSK2 | |||
| HSK3 | |||
| HSK4 | |||
| HSK5 | |||
| HSK6 | |||
| Saturday 17 October | HSK1 | Friday 16 September | Monday 2 November |
| HSK2 | |||
| HSK3 | |||
| HSK4 | |||
| HSK5 | |||
| HSK6 | |||
| Sunday 13 December | HSK1 | Thursday 12 November | Monday 28 December |
| HSK2 | |||
| HSK3 | |||
| HSK4 | |||
| HSK5 | |||
| HSK6 |
HSK Speaking Test (HSKK) in 2026
| Test Date | Tests | Deadline of Test Registration | Date of Score Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 22 March | HSKK (Primary) | Wednesday 21 February | Monday 13 April |
| HSKK (Intermediate) | |||
| Sunday 28 June | HSKK (Primary) | Wednesday 27 May | Monday 20 July |
| HSKK (Intermediate) | |||
| Saturday 17 October | HSKK (Primary) | Friday 16 September | Friday 6 November |
| HSKK (Intermediate) |
Chinese Proficiency Test (Youth)/ YCT in 2026）
The YCT is an international standardised test of Chinese language proficiency. It assesses young students’ abilities to use Chinese in their daily and academic lives.
| Test Date | Test Type | Deadline of Test Registration | Date of Score Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 24 May | Written and Speaking | Thursday 23 April | Monday 15 June |
| Sunday 17 October | Written and Speaking | Wednesday 16 September | Friday 6 November |
The new YCT consists of a writing test and a speaking test, which are independent of each other. The writing test is divided into four levels, namely, the YCT (level I), YCT (level II), YCT (level III), and YCT (level IV). The speaking test is divided into the YCT (Beginner Level) and YCT (Intermediate Level).
The YCT (Level I) is intended for young students who have studied Chinese for three months, with 2-3 class hours per week. These students have mastered 80 commonly used words and related grammar patterns.
Registering for exams
The deadline for each HSK examination is one month before the exam date. Applications received after the deadline will not be processed. As places are limited, early registration is recommended. The precise test time and venue will be confirmed by email once you have registered with Chinese test centre.
How to register to take a test:
- Register on the Chinese Test Centre website as a new user and complete your details as required.
- Then select ‘Test Registration’ in the menu that runs along the top of the page.
- Next, click the button for your HSK level or YCT level and then select ‘Register’.
- Complete your details as requested.
Once the Chinese Test Centre have confirmed registration, an email from the Confucius Institute will be sent with a payment link. To pay for a test (whether your are on an Edge Hill course or an external candidate) you will need to go to the Edge Hill University online payment facility.
