Starting the 2026W session, the Chinese Language Program has revised how students’ progress through Chinese courses in the Heritage stream.
The Heritage stream of courses was designed for students who may have background in spoken Chinese due to family origin, prior lived experience in Chinese-speaking environments, and/or previous exposure to Chinese through living, studying, or working in Chinese-speaking countries or regions. These students often have different needs compared to students in the Non-Heritage stream.
Courses from beginner to advanced levels are offered in the Heritage stream so that the Department can offer differentiated instruction to students at all levels.
The new progression in the Heritage stream better reflects the level of work and language proficiency expected of students in the Heritage stream.
For students who have taken courses in the Heritage stream prior to the 2026W session, please consult the conversion chart to determine which course you should register for next.
Do note that all students who intend to take a CHIN course must continue to complete the mandatory placement questionnaire before they are approved for registration. To complete the placement procedure, please go to: https://chinese.arts.ubc.ca/placement/
