Foto by Kristoffer Trolle https://www.flickr.com/photos/kristoffer-trolle/35106929735/
Confucius Institute at Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Venice Confucius Institute

Our mission

The Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice was established in 2008 in collaboration with  the Beijing Capital Normal University, under the aegis of the Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban)  of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China. The agreement between the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the Beijing Capital Normal University and Hanban was signed in Venice on September 22, 2008.

Confucius Institutes are present in over 100 countries worldwide. Like other language and cultural organizations, such as the Dante Alighieri Society for Italian, they aim to promote and develop the Chinese language and culture by organizing tiered language courses and activities to raise awareness of both ancient and modern Chinese societies and cultures. Activities include conferences, seminars, special events, performances, editorial projects and the creation of teaching materials. Confucius Institutes also promote student and teacher exchange programmes amongst their partner universities and award scholarships to students and researchers according to merit.

The presence of Confucius Institutes do not supplant the academic and research institutions that have traditionally operated in the field of Chinese studies. Instead, Institutes work alongside with these universities, offering teaching and cultural activities held by highly qualified Chinese Studies and Language experts.

The Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University Venice is also the only authorised HSK - Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi  (Chinese Proficiency Test) examination centre in the Veneto Region. This exam is designed to assess Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers, overseas Chinese and Chinese national minorities.

HSK Test

The HSK (汉语水平考试 Hanyu shuiping kaoshi) Exam is a Chinese national standardized Proficiency Certificate that tests the language competencies of non-native speakers of Chinese (foreigners, overseas Chinese, Chinese national minorities). This exam has international recognition and is held in more than 116 centres in over 46 countries.  More than 200 000 people sat for the exam in 2007 alone and the number of candidates increases yearly.
Certificates are issued by the State Committee for the Chinese Proficiency Test of China and are recognized worldwide.

Why take the HSK exam?

Sitting for the HSK exam is important to both improve and test your Chinese. Further, the Certificate is an internationally recognized qualification and, as such, useful if you wish to study in a Chinese University or if you intend to apply for a Chinese Language Scholarship.

How is the exam organized?

Level CEFR Level Knowledge of approximately characters Costs
HSK 1 A1 150 € 20
HSK 2 A2 300 € 20
HSK 3 B1 600 € 30
HSK 4 B2 1200 € 30
HSK 5 C1 2500 € 50
HSK 6 C2 5000 € 50

Next test dates and registration period

Next test date: May 19th, 2018
Registration period: March 2018 (now registrations are closed)

How do I register for the exam?

Non Italian citizens should follow these 4 steps:

  1. register at  www.chinesetest.cn (choose the Confucius Institute at Ca' Foscari University of Venice as the Test Center);

  2. send an email to  iscrizioniconfuciovenezia@unive.it these information in this order: 

    1. Surname and Name;
    2. Full address (Country, province, city, street and postal code);
    3. Email, telephone number, mobile phone number;
    4. Level of HSK you'd like to take;
    5. Report the fact that the test taker is not an Italian citizen;

  3. only during the registration period, make a bank transfer (according to the cost of the level) to:
    Department of Asian and North African Studies, Palazzo Vendramin dei Carmini, Dorsoduro 3462, 30123 Venezia
    Banca Popolare FRIULADRIA - San Marco 4121 Salizzada San Luca, 30124 Venezia
    IBAN code: IT 08 O 05336 02020 000046603522 (use this code for bank transfers from Italy)
    BIC/ SWIFT code: BPPNIT2P326 (use this code for bank transfers from abroad)
    Object/reason: “SURNAME, NAME, HSK (N. OF THE LEVEL) May 2018”;

  4. send an email to  iscrizioniconfuciovenezia@unive.it with the scanned copy of the bank transfer receipt and the scanned copy of a valid ID.

We will then send you an email with the confirmation of the registration, test time and classroom (please do not consider the time indicated on the Admission Ticket).

Where is the Test Center?

Department of Economics of Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Fondamenta San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873, 30121 Venice, Italy

What do I take to the exam?

The day of the exam you must bring with you:

  1. Admission Ticket ("HSK 准考证 zhunkaozheng"). You can find this document in your personal chinesetest.cn account. It is available from two weeks before the day of the test. 
    Candidates are required to exhibit  their Admission Ticket at the exam. The ticket must also be kept in the examinee’s possession after the day of the test;
  2. valid ID (the same used for the registration on chinesetest.cn);
  3. pencils and rubber.

All the personal electronic devices must be switched off before entering the classroom. No dictionaries and books are allowed.

Where do I find my results?

The results will be posted at www.chinesetest.cn approximately 30 days after the exam. The results may be visualized after logging in your admission ticket number.

Where do I retrieve the certificate?

Certificates are made available approximately 60 days after the exam date and may be collected from the offices of the Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

The test taker may also delegate others to collect the certificate. In this case the person who is going to collect the certificate must show a valid ID and a written delegation.

Address of the Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice: Palazzo Vendramin ai Carmini, Dorsoduro 3462, 30123 Venice, Italy.

HSKK Test

The HSKK (汉语水平口语考试 Hanyu shuiping kouyu kaoshi) Oral Test is a Chinese national standardized  Proficiency Certificate that tests the language competencies of non-native speakers of Chinese (foreigners, overseas Chinese, Chinese national minorities). This exam has international recognition and is held in more than 116 centres in over 46 countries.  More than 200 000 people sat for the exam in 2007 alone and the number of candidates increases yearly.
Certificates are issued by the State Committee for the Chinese Proficiency Test of China and are recognized worldwide.

Why take the HSKK Test?

Sitting for the HSKK Test is important to both improve and test your Chinese. Further, the Certificate is an internationally recognized qualification and, as such, useful if you wish to study in a Chinese University or if you intend to apply for a Chinese Language Scholarship.

How is the exam organized?

Level CEFR Level Knowledge of approximately characters Costs
Elementary A1 and A2 150 to 300 € 20
Intermediate B1 and B2 600 to 1200 € 30
Advanced C1 and C2 2500 to 5000 € 50

Next test dates and registration period

Next test date: February 8th (elementary level), February 9th (intermediate level) 2018

Registration period: from December 6th to December 19th, 2018

How do I register for the Test?

Non Italian citizen should follow these 6 steps:

  1. register at  www.chinesetest.cn (choose the Confucius Institute of Venice as the Test Center);

  2. send an email to  iscrizioniconfuciovenezia@unive.it these information in this order:

    1. Surname and name;
    2. Full address (Country, province, city, street and postal code);
    3. Email, telephone number, mobile phone number;
    4. level of HSKK you'd like to take;

  3. only during the registration period, make a bank transfer (according to the cost of the level) to:
    Dipartimento di Studi sull'Asia e sull'Africa Mediterranea, Palazzo Vendramin dei Carmini, Dorsoduro 3462, 30123 VENEZIA
    Banca Popolare FRIULADRIA - San Marco 4121 Salizzada San Luca, 30124 Venezia
    IBAN code: IT 08 O 05336 02020 000046603522 (this bank account is valid only from January 2nd, 2017)
    BIC/ SWIFT code: BPPNIT2P326 (use this code for bank transfers from abroad)
    Object/reason: “SURNAME, NAME, HSKK (LEVEL) February 2018”;

  4. send an email to  iscrizioniconfuciovenezia@unive.it the scanned copy of the bank transfer receipt and the scanned copy of a valid ID.

We will send you an email with the confirmation of the registration and Test time and classroom (please do not consider the time indicated on the Admission Ticket). Before the day of the exam we will send you the username and password that you must bring for the day of the exam.

Where is the Test Center?

Linguistic Centre of Ca' Cafoscari University of Venice
Campo San Sebastiano, Dorsoduro 1686, 30123 Venice

What do I take to the exam?

The day of the exam you must bring:

  1. Admission Ticket ("HSKK 准考证 zhunkaozheng").  You can find this document in your personal chinesetest.cn account. It is available from two weeks before the day of the test. 
    Candidates are required to exhibit  their Admission Ticket at the exam. The ticket must also be kept in the examinee’s possession after the day of the test;
  2. valid ID (the same used for the registration on chinesetest.cn);
  3. username and password of the personal account of the Ca' Foscari University's web site (for further information please contact confuciovenezia@unive.it);
  4. pencils and rubber.

All the personal electronic devices must be switched off before entering the classroom. No dictionaries and books are allowed.

Where do I find my results?

The results will be posted at www.chinesetest.cn approximately 30 days after the exam. The results may be visualized after logging in your admission ticket number.

Where do I retrieve the certificate?

Certificates are made available approximately 60 days after the exam date and may be collected from the offices of the Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

The test taker may also delegate others to collect the certificate. In this case the person who is going to collect the certificate must show a valid ID and a written delegation.

Address of the Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice: Palazzo Vendramin ai Carmini, Dorsoduro 3462, 30123 Venice, Italy

Confucius Classrooms and Teaching Points

The Confucius Institute at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice works with lower and higher secondary school institutions in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia Regions in activating Confucius Classrooms (孔子课堂) and Teaching Points (教学点), organizing curricular and extracurricular Chinese language lessons for students alongside workshops or conferences on Chinese culture, history, art and society. The aims of the project are to:

  • offer Chinese language programmes,
  • raise awareness of the Chinese culture,
  • develop effective competencies to facilitate Sino-Italian relations,
  • acquire useful  competencies  in the area of business,
  • collaborate with Chinese schools of similar type and level,
  • launch study holidays, language and/or work programmes in China.

To discover the details of each school click on the markers on the map.

For further information
 confuciovenezia@unive.it

The Confucius Classrooms under the aegis of the Confucius Institute at Ca' Foscari University of Venice that have official Hanban - Chinese National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language recognition are:

  1. Confucius Classroom at the Istituto "Aleardo Aleardi" di Verona;
  2. Confucius Classroom at the l'ITES "Luigi Einaudi" di Verona;
  3. Confucius Classroom at the Liceo Ginnasio Statale "A. Pigafetta" di Vicenza;
  4. Confucius Classroom at the l'Educandato Statale "Collegio Uccellis" di Udine.

Work with us

Work Experience for students and new graduates at Confucius Institute

Students and new graduates of second cycle degree programmes from Ca’ Foscari University interested in collaborating with the Confucius Institute can be involved in a 150 hour work experience programme. This allows them to gain 6 CFU university credits. 
75 hour work experience programmes have been organised for students and new graduates of first cycle degree programmes with allowing for 3 CFU university credits.

Main Duties

Receptionist-secretarial duties, public relations, assistance in the organization of cultural events and Chinese language courses.

Requirements

Working knowledge of Chinese (Mandarin) and English, good people skills, computer and internet experience.

How to apply

Please send all applications along with an updated CV to  confuciovenezia@unive.it.

Governance and staff

Italian Director Prof. Marco Ceresa Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Chinese Director Prof. Li Shuqing Capital Normal University
Support Dr. Federico Febbroni Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Support Dr. Giovanni Goffredo Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Chinese language Teacher Prof.Fu Yuping Capital Normal University
Volunteer Dr. Liu Qinghua

Our partners

Università Ca' Foscari
CICC - Center for Language Education and Cooperation
Capital Normal University
Department of Asian and North African Studies