Use the passport, not residence, to test eligibility
ETA eligibility follows the passport used for travel. The current GOV.UK list names Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR passports and specifies a qualifying Taiwan passport. A mainland Chinese ordinary passport is not listed, so its holder should not start an ETA application merely because another Chinese-speaking traveller can apply.
ETA does not replace a school offer or a visa decision
GOV.UK describes an ETA as travel authorisation for an eligible visitor and says that it does not guarantee entry. Whether a specific English-language course is permitted, and whether its duration or purpose requires another route, must be checked against current official guidance and the language school written course information.
Start with the official UK visa checker
Before paying for a non-refundable course, accommodation or flight, use GOV.UK Check if you need a UK visa with the real passport, purpose and intended duration. The result depends on those inputs. Recheck if the course, passport or travel plan changes rather than using a saved result or another student route.
Keep a consistent evidence trail
Store the course confirmation, accommodation record, travel plan, application reference and decision notice together. Names, dates and study purpose must truthfully match. A visa or ETA outcome does not replace border assessment on arrival, and passport images and application confirmations should not be shared in public chats.