Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute was launched at the university in 2008. We are partnered with Beijing International Studies University, authorised by the Chinese International Education Foundation and supported by the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation.
Our aim is to broaden the cultural flavour and landscape of Preston, and the wider Lancashire community. In doing so, we aim to give learners a unique taste of Chinese culture as well as valuable opportunities to learn Mandarin Chinese.
Events and activities
We stage regular cultural and educational events in and around Preston and its surrounding towns. These include:
- ‘China Day’ in Preston’s Flag Market Square.
- Language classes for students and staff.
- Activity days at local schools and colleges.
- Taster sessions of Chinese culture including calligraphy, brush painting, tea ceremonies and more.
- Chinese New Year gala productions, performed by arts troupes from China.
- Annual Kite Festival and Dragon Boat Race.
- Guest lectures and art exhibitions.
Free HSK Chinese courses
The Confucius Institute offer free online HSK Chinese courses. You can learn to speak, read and write Chinese. Courses start at beginner level and progress to advanced.
Courses
We offer free online tutoring for students who are studying GCSE Chinese. This can help to improve your written and spoken Chinese skills.
Tutoring will take place on Teams at 5 - 6pm every Wednesday during term time.
To secure your spot, please complete our form. If you have any questions you can email us or call us on +44 (0)1772 894246.
We offer free online tutoring for Chinese A Level students. This will help you to improve your Chinese skills ahead of your exams.
Tutoring will take place on Teams every Wednesday at 5 - 6pm.
To secure your spot, please complete our form. If you have any questions you can email us or call us on +44 (0)1772 894246.
HSK 1 exam preparation course
This is an introduction to HSK 1 exam structure. You will understand the vocabulary, grammar, and sentence patterns used in the exam. You will also take part in topic discussions, mock tests and feedback sessions.
The HSK 1 exam preparation course is free and will take place on Teams. You will complete two hours per week for a total of five weeks
HSK 2 exam preparation course
You'll learn about the HSK 2 exam structure. You will understand the vocabulary, grammar and sentence patterns used in the exam. You'll also take part in discussions, mock exams and feedback sessions.
You'll need to have passed the HSK 1 exam to take part in this session.
The HSK 2 exam preparation course is free and will take place on Teams. You will complete two hours per week for a total of five weeks.
HSK 3 and HSKK Primary exam preparation course
This course will introduce you to the HSK 3 and HSKK 1 exam structure. You will understand the vocabulary, grammar and sentence patterns used in the exam. You'll also take part in discussions, complete mock exams and receive feedback.
You will need to have passed the HSK 2 exam to take part in this session.
The HSK 3 exam preparation course is free and takes place on Teams. You will complete two hours per week for a total of five weeks.
HSK 4 and HSKK Intermediate exam preparation course
This course will introduce you to the HSK 4 and HSKK 2 exam. You'll understand the terminology used in the exam. You'll also take part in discussions, complete mock exams and receive feedback.
You will need to have passed the HSK 3 exam to take part in this session.
The HSK 4 exam preparation course is free and takes place on Teams. You will complete two hours per week for a total of five weeks.
HSK 5 and HSKK Advanced exam preparation course
This course will introduce the HSK 5 and HSKK 3 exam structure. You will understand the vocabulary, grammar and sentence patterns used in the exam. You'll take part in discussions, mock exams and feedback sessions.
You will need to have passed the HSK 4 exam to take part in this session.
The HSK 5 exam preparation course is free and takes place on Teams. You will complete two hours per week for a total of five weeks.
HSK 6 and HSKK Advance exam preparation course
This course will introduce the HSK 6 and HSKK 3 exam structure. You'll understand the vocabulary, grammar and sentence patterns used in the exam. You'll take part in discussions, mock exams and feedback sessions.
You will need to have passed the HSK 5 exam to take part in this session.
The HSK 5 exam preparation course is free and takes place on Teams. You will complete two hours per week for a total of five weeks.
To secure your place on any of these courses, please complete our form. If you have any questions you can email us or call us on +44 (0)1772 894246.
HSK Exams in 2025
Exams (paper-based only) organized by the UCLan HSK Exam Centre in 2025:
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|
Date |
Exam Type |
Deadline of Registration |
|---|---|---|
|
11 January 2025 |
Written & Oral |
15 December 2024 |
|
17 May 2025 |
Written & Oral |
19 April 2025 |
|
6 December 2025 |
Written & Oral |
9 November 2025 |
To register for the exam, please visit the website and select the English language option in the top-right corner. If you are a new user, complete the registration process first. For optimal compatibility, it is recommended to use either Internet Explorer (version 6.0 or above) or Firefox browser. After successfully registering, you will receive a confirmation email from no_reply@chinesetest.cn, verifying that your pre-registration has been completed.
After this step, please go to the Online Store HSK Chinese Proficiency Exam (Written) to pay the exam fee. Please note that your registration will only be considered complete once the exam fee has been paid.
Exam fees
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| Exam | Fee |
|---|---|
| HSK Level 1 | £10 |
| HSK Level 2 | £20 |
| HSK Level 3 | £30 |
| HSK Level 4 | £40 |
| HSK Level 5 | £50 |
| HSK Level 6 | £60 |
| Oral Exam Basic Level | £15 |
| Oral Exam Intermediate Level | £25 |
| Oral Exam Advanced Level | £35 |
Please contact confuciusinstitute1@uclan.ac.uk about registration and payment if there are any issues.
Practice your Chinese speaking skills in a free online session. This will help you feel more confident speaking in Chinese about everyday topics.
You will complete 2 hours of conversational practice per week for five weeks.
To secure your spot, please complete our form. If you have any questions you can email us or call us on +44 (0)1772 894246.
YCT exams organized by the UCLan HSK Exam Centre in 2025:
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|
Date |
Exam type |
Deadline of registration |
|---|---|---|
|
24 May 2025 |
Written & Oral |
26 April 2025 |
|
22 November 2025 |
Written & Oral |
26 October 2025 |
Exam fees
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| Exam | Fee |
|---|---|
| YCT Level 1 | £5 |
| YCT Level 2 | £10 |
| YCT Level 3 | £20 |
| YCT Level 4 | £25 |
| Oral Exam Basic Level | £10 |
| Oral Exam Intermediate Level | £10 |
If you would like to register for any levels of the YCT exam, please contact confuciusinstitute1@uclan.ac.uk or call 01772 894246 for further information.
Useful links and resources
- Sina (Chinese News)
- China Today
To see our study abroad partners, please visit our study abroad page.