12-week Chinese for Everyone is back for the Autumn Semester 2026!

Available to attend in-person or online, our courses offer a comprehensive learning journey, catering to individuals at each proficiency level - from beginners to advanced learners. Whether you are taking your first steps in Mandarin or aiming to refine your advanced language skills, our courses are designed to meet your specific needs.

Dates: From w/c 28 September 2026 to Wednesday 16 December 2026
Times: 6:30-8:30pm
Venue: TBC, please check timetable
Early bird deadline: Friday 18 September, 11:59pm
Registration deadline: Sunday 18 October, 11:59pm

Please note: Our Concession fees are available to current University of Sheffield staff and students only.

Courses:
Beginners 1 (online) - Monday
Beginners 1 (in-person) - Tuesday
Beginners 2 (online) - Monday
Beginners 2 (in-person) - Tuesday
Elementary 1 (online) - Monday
Elementary 1 (in-person) - Tuesday
Elementary 2 - Tuesday
Pre-Intermediate 1 - Monday
Pre-Intermediate 2 - Monday
Intermediate 1 - Tuesday
Intermediate 2 - Monday
Advanced - Tuesday

An Early Bird Offer is available until Friday 18 September, 11:59pm which provides a 10% discount on all courses.

If you sign up for one the courses listed above, you can also attend our Complimentary Chinese course on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:00pm. This course also runs for 12 weeks.

Cancellation Terms: Refunds for 12-week courses, excluding fees for attended sessions, are available within the initial three weeks of the course.
Refunds beyond this period can only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

Available by collection in-person, no posting service.

Books can only be purchased by current learners at Sheffield Confucius Institute, for either adult learners or young leaners. Please note: books can only be collected in-person. No posting service is provided. (You can always purchase books on the market, where postage can be included.)

1. For 12-week Mandarin Language courses, adult learners

(1). HSK Standard Coursebook, priced for one volume, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4-1, Vol 4-2, Vol 5-1, Vol 5-2. 

 (2). HSK Standard Workbook, priced for one volume, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4-1, Vol 4, Vol 5-1, Vol 5-2.

(3). Chinese in Steps, priced for one volume, Vol 2, Vol 3, Vol 4.

2. For young learners at the Star Mandarin School

 (1). My First Chinese Reader, priced for one volume, Vol 1-4

 (2). Chinese Paradise, priced for one volume, Vol 1-3

 (3). Kuaile Hanyu, priced for one volume, Vol 1-2

 (4). Youer Hanyu, Vol 1-4, four volumes together.

 (5). Zhongwen Textbook + Workbook A and B, priced for one volume, Vol 1-12

 (6) . Easy Steps to Chinese, Volume 1-3, priced for one volume and subject to    availability.

Please add your selected textbook to the basket. At Questionnaires, we collect information on the "Learner's Name" and "Which Volume."

Upon completing a purchase, you can collect your order of the book at the CI office located at 2-4 Palmerston Road, Sheffield S10 2TE. Alternatively, for adult learners, book collection is also available on the first evening of your course, week 1, at Bartolome House, School of Law, where your course is held. In addition, for young learners, book collection can be available when the Star School is open on Saturdays.

Please be aware that no posting service is provided for the books. Basically, you can always purchase these books on the market, where postage can be included. 

*** Our appreciation:***
 After finishing your course, we welcome your donation of textbooks back to the office if you no longer need them. However, please note that no refunds will be given for returned books.

Chinese Painting, Autumn Semester 2026

Chinese painting, known as ""Guóhuà,"" is a venerable art form that dates back to the Neolithic age.  It's not just about replicating the world on paper but about capturing its essence, its spirit.

In this art form, artists use brushes, ink, and rice paper or silk to create landscapes, floral scenes, and portrayals of animals that are more than just depictions; they are expressions of the artist's inner world, philosophical insights, and a deep connection with nature.

Dates: Wednesday 30 September - Wednesday 16 December 2026
Times: 7:00-9:00pm
Venue: TBC, please check timetable
Level: All levels
Attendance: In-person only
Early bird deadline: Friday 18 September, 11:59pm
Registration deadline: Sunday 18 October, 11:59pm

Please note: Our Concession fees are available to current University of Sheffield staff and students only.

An Early Bird Offer is available until Friday 18 September, 11:59pm which provides a 10% discount on all courses.

Cancellation Terms: Refunds for 12-week courses, excluding fees for attended sessions, are available within the initial three weeks of the course.
Refunds beyond this period can only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

Please note: These will be the last exams held through our test centre under the current HSK 2.0 format. HSK 3.0 will be officially launched worldwide on Saturday 13 December and our first exams under HSK 3.0 will be held in 2027.

Date: Saturday 5 December 2026
Location: The Diamond, Computer Room 4
Time: Please see our website site for specific exam time(s)

Registration deadline: Friday 20 November, 5:00pm
Payment deadline: Tuesday 24 November, 11:59pm

The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) is an international standardized Chinese language proficiency exam designed to assess the ability of non-native speakers to use Chinese in everyday life, academic environments, and workplace settings. Both HSK and HSKK are also linked to Confucius Institute Scholarships, providing opportunities for further study in China.

The HSKK is the corresponding spoken Chinese exam.

Please note: Our exams are computer-based and take place in-person on campus at the University of Sheffield.
We do not offer paper-based exams and it is not possible to take HSK/HSKK exams online through our test centre.

Terms and Conditions:

Exam cancellations can be accepted if submitted before 5:00pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

Aiming high and meeting your needs.

Tailored to meet individual learning objectives, our one-to-one private Mandarin tuition can be available throughout the year.

Before registering, please reach out to us to discuss your aims, objectives, mode of participation, and preferred time for regular sessions. You can choose 1 hour per week, two sessions of 1 hour per week, or 2 hours per week. We will check our teachers' availabilities to accommodate your preferences.

Upon completing registration and payment of fees, and if you are new to us, a complimentary meeting should be scheduled to assess your unique learning requirements. This meeting, lasting up to one hour, is provided free of charge and aims to formulate a personalised program before the start of the first private tuition session.

Mode of Participation: Sessions can be delivered either in-person or online. If it is in-person, the place will be the Confucius Institute office, located at 2-4 Palmerston Road, Sheffield S10 2TE.

Course Fees:
•    Fees for a minimum of 10 hourly sessions are £300 (at a rate of £30/h).
•    Fees for 33 hourly sessions are £900 (at a rate equivalent to £27.3/h).

Contacting us:
Email:  confucius@sheffield.ac.uk
Telephone: 0114 2228332 / 07593502130

For more information: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/confucius/study/courses

- Open to children attending Sheffield Schools only

1. Introduction
The Confucius Institute Star Mandarin School is a Learning Destination where the children/young people can earn CU award credits because of their extracurricular studies with us. We provide Mandarin Chinese, Maths and Arts tuition at Bartolome House, School of Law, the University of Sheffield, over the weekends.

2. What is CU award credits?
Sheffield Children's University (CU) is part of Sheffield City Council, and is now working in partnerships with the University of Sheffield (UoS) and Hallam University, to encourage children and young people to develop essential life skills by takin part in learning activities outside school hours.
One credit is awarded for each hour of learning that takes place. These are then converted into awards:
Bronze (30 hours), Silver (65 hours), Gold (100 hours)… CU Degrees (400 hours) … CU Master Degrees (800 hours) … and these continue right up to 1000 hours!

3. Why do we join CU Credits?
Sheffield Research shows that children who take part in CU activities:
• do better at school
• achieve higher results in SATs and GCSEs
• exceed expected results
• make more progress than other children
They also tend to have more confidence, motivation, and higher self-esteem.

4. How to collect CU Credits?
(1). Your child may have already enrolled for the CU through their local school. Ask in your child’s school if they are subscribed to Sheffield Children’s University.
(2). If not, get enrolled through the Star Mandarin School. Buy a CU Passport to Learning for £3 at the Star School through the university online shop:
You will then collect the CU Passport to Learning at the Star School (Bartolome House, School of Law) on Saturdays.
(3). You may already registered your child for the CU at the Star School before the Covid-19. Please register a CU Passport to Learning for £0 at the Star School through the university online shop.
You must bring your previous CU Passport to Learning to us for a checking at the Star School.

5. Consent and Signature: Permission will be given by Parent/Carer for name, date of birth and school to be recorded by Sheffield City Council so CU credits can be awarded.

For more information please visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/confucius/study/courses/children

Tai Chi, Autumn Semester 2026
Wudang 13 forms , a combination both with internal practice and martial elements

The original system of Tai Chi was developed as an internal form of martial arts. However, as the need for self defence lessened and the health benefits of Tai Chi have become apparent, most people now practise it solely for health reasons. Tai Chi is gentle, graceful and often described as ‘meditation in motion’, but when used as a martial art it is deceptively powerful. Age is no barrier and it can be practised by everyone.

This course covers a form of Tai Chi called Wudang 13 forms, a graceful internal practice rooted in the Wudang Mountains tradition, combining flowing movements, breath, and mindful awareness to cultivate balance, relaxation, and vitality. This accessible form develops coordination, flexibility, and inner calm while introducing the core principles of traditional Tai Chi.

Dates: Thursday 1 October - Thursday 17 December 2026
Times: Class 1: 6:00-7:00pm OR Class 2: 7:00-8:00pm
Venue: TBC, please check timetable
Level: All levels
Attendance: In-person only
Early bird deadline: Friday 18 September, 11:59pm
Registration deadline: Sunday 18 October, 11:59pm

Please note: Our Concession fees are available to current University of Sheffield staff and students only.

An Early Bird Offer is available until Friday 18 September, 11:59pm which provides a 10% discount on all courses.

Cancellation Terms: Refunds for 12-week courses, excluding fees for attended sessions, are available within the initial three weeks of the course.
Refunds beyond this period can only be considered under exceptional circumstances.