Chinese Courses
Learn Chinese in Leeds with the Business Confucius Institute at the University of Leeds. Our teachers are native speakers of Mandarin Chinese from China, and they are here in the UK to share their language and culture with you.
Join us in class for one or two evenings a week to unlock new opportunities and make new connections through learning Mandarin Chinese.
Our courses are open to members of the public from Leeds and the surrounding areas as well as staff and students at the University of Leeds. Classes cover speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on communicative language skills.
Whether you’re enhancing your CV, connecting with Chinese-speaking family and friends, preparing for an exciting trip to China, or simply eager to embrace a new challenge, our courses offer a delightful journey into the Chinese language.
2025-26 course details
Courses typically run for 10 weeks and we have 3 terms throughout each academic year.
Weekend Classes
Following the success of weekend classes, we are set to continue them in the new academic year!
Levels available: Beginners, Beginners Plus, Elementary Chinese 1, Elementary Chinese 2
Day and time: 10:00-12:30 on Saturday, once a week,
Course duration: 10 weeks, 2.5 hours per session, 25 learning hours total
Term 1 dates: Saturday 4th October 2025 until Saturday 13th Dec 2025
Term 2 dates: TBC
Term 3 dates: TBC
Cost: £225 per term
Extra requirement: Classes will only run with a min 5 students
Evening Classes
Levels available: Beginners, Elementary Chinese 1, Elementary Chinese 2
Day and time: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Course duration: 30 hours over 10 weeks (2 lessons per week)
Cost: £270 per term
Term 1 dates: Week beginning 06/10/2025 until 10/12/2025
Term 2 dates: TBC
Term 3 dates: TBC
Speaking Classes
Levels available: Intermediate, Advanced
Day and time: Wednesday evenings, 6:00 - 8:00pm
Course duration:2 hours per session, once a week , 10 weeks, 20 hours in total
Cost: £180 per term
Term 1 dates: Week beginning 06/10/2025 until 10/12/2025
Term 2 dates: TBC
Term 3 dates: TBC
Chinese Writing Classes
Day and time: Wednesday evenings, 6:00 - 7:00pm
Course duration: 1 hours per session, once a week , 10 weeks, 10 hours in total
Cost: £90 per term
Term 1 dates: Week beginning 06/10/2025 until 10/12/2025
Term 2 dates: TBC
Term 3 dates: TBC
Private Classes
Our private classes provide individualized, one-on-one instruction tailored to each student’s needs and goals. With only a limited number of spaces available each term, students receive focused support in a personalized learning environment.
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Availability: Only 5 spaces are offered per term for private 1:1 tutoring.
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Format: Each space is structured as a 10-hour block of private instruction.
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Timeline: Students are expected to complete their 10-hour block within the term.
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Benefits of Private Tutoring:
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Fully customized lessons to match learning goals.
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Dedicated, uninterrupted time with the instructor.
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Flexible pacing to strengthen understanding and boost confidence.
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Perfect for students seeking targeted support, enrichment, or accelerated learning.
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Please contact us at Confucius@leeds.ac.uk if you are interested
Course fees, discounts and student numbers
Fees
Class fees are listed on the above tabs.
Extra requirement: Classes will only run with a min 5 students
Sign up by making your payment through the University of Leeds online store.
Discounts
Combine the discounts below to get up to 20% off your course fees!
Early enrolment (one month before the course begins): 10%
Continuing students: 5%
Full time students & staff of University of Leeds: 5%
Discount not requested at the time of the enrolment may not be claimed at a later date.
Student numbers
There is no minimum number for a class to run and classes have up to 16 students.
Register for our Chinese courses
Make your payment via our online store to secure your place
Get in touch
Which level is right for me?
Click on each level to view the resources used and content covered. If you are still unsure about which level to sign up for, please contact us. After the first lesson it is possible to switch class if necessary, subject to availability and after discussion with your teacher.
Weekend Classes
Textbook
New Practical Chinese Reader (3rd edition) Textbook 1
Topics covered in the course
Beginners
Pinyin and Unit 1-4
Beginners Plus
Units 4-7
Elementary Chinese 1
Unit 7-13
Requirement: 30 hours learning/Has passed HSK 1 / Has completed previous L2 &3 Courses.
Elementary Chinese 2
Unit 14-20
Requirement:60 hours learning/Has passed HSK 2 / Has completed previous L4 &5 Courses.
Beginners, Elementary 1 and 2 Chinese Course
Textbook
New Practical Chinese Reader (3rd edition) Textbook 1
Topics covered in the course
Beginners
Pinyin and Unit 1-6
Elementary Chinese 1
Unit 7-13
Requirement: 30 hours learning/Has passed HSK 1 / Has completed previous L2 &3 Courses.
Elementary Chinese 2
Unit 14-20
Requirement:60 hours learning/Has passed HSK 2 / Has completed previous L4 &5 Courses.
Intermediate Spoken Chinese
Topic covered in the course
Topics: 自我介绍 Self-introduction/ 谈论旅行经历 Talking about Travel Experiences/ 谈论美食 Talking about Food/ 交通方式 Transports/ 庆祝节日 Celebrating Festivals
Requirements: Has passed HSK 3 or been able to pass HSK 3
Advanced Spoken Chinese
Topic covered in the course
Topics: 旅行 Travel/ 饮食 Diet/ 阅读 Reading/ 购物 Shopping/ 节日 Festivals
Requirement: Has passed HSK 5 or been able to pass HSK 5, students number no less than 5
Chinese Characters
This course will cover the history, evolution, character formation methods, structure, strokes, stroke orders, radicals and components of Chinese Characters.
Requirements: HSK 1, 30 hours learning or has completed L 1 previously with BCI
Private Classes
Flexible
Course levels and HSK exams
Note that the numbered courses do not correspond to levels for Chinese Proficiency Exams (HSK). Students working through levels 1-6 of our courses should be able to complete HSK levels 1-3, if they wish.
We hope that you will choose to take HSK exams to measure your progress but this is not a requirement. Your teacher will offer guidance and additional resources to anyone interested in working towards the test.
Student case studies
Discovering Chinese during lockdown: BCI student Kim McGreal
Kim McGreal's fascination with languages and love of words led her down a Mandarin-learning rabbit hole after a Netflix TV series got her hooked on...
Gary Chambers: an 8-week investment to connect with students
Gary Chambers runs the TESOL Studies MA course at the University of Leeds; a course populated almost entirely by Chinese students. As an investment in...
Creating connections through Mandarin: recent graduate Marina Rupp
Marina Rupp is a student from Austria who came to Leeds to study Geography and Mathematics. She had her eyes on the Business Confucius Institute...
Meet the teachers
Visit our teacher profiles to learn a bit more about them and pick up some tips!