International student counsellor: the staff post every university must set up
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
An international student counsellor (国际学生辅导员) is a staff post that higher education institutions shall set up under the second paragraph of Article 25 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security). The post holder understands international students' study and living needs and provides information, consultation and cultural and sports activity services. This entry is an unofficial glossary entry; see also Universities and degrees on this site for the institutions that the Order covers.
Definition
Under Article 25 of Order No. 42, a higher education institution shall set up international student counsellor posts. The counsellor's task is to understand the learning and living needs of international students and to provide information, consultation and cultural and sports services to them in good time.
What the official text says
Order No. 42, Article 25, second paragraph. The text states three things:
- The institution shall set up international student counsellor posts (应当设置国际学生辅导员岗位).
- The counsellors shall understand the learning and living needs of international students and shall promptly provide information, consultation and cultural and sports activity services.
- The number of international student counsellors shall be not less than the ratio of Chinese student counsellors (配备比例不低于中国学生辅导员比例), and international student counsellors enjoy equal treatment with Chinese student counsellors (享有同等待遇).
Order No. 42, Article 22. The institution shall specify the office in charge of international student management (明确承担国际学生管理职能的工作机构). This office coordinates recruitment, teaching, daily management and services for international students, and contact with alumni after graduation. Article 22 does not name the counsellor post; Article 25 sets it up.
Ministry of Education press Q&A on Order No. 42 (2 June 2017). The Q&A is an explanation of the Order and is not itself a rule. It states that the Order requires higher education institutions to set up the counsellor post to provide information, consultation and cultural and sports activity services. It also states that the Order sets a clear rule on the counsellor ratio and treatment.
Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), section 9. Section 9 states that higher education institutions shall provide student guidance suited to the development of international students. Section 9.1 covers orientation: institutions shall help international students become familiar with the training programme, teaching requirements and assessment methods. Section 9.2 covers teaching tutoring and learning support: institutions shall build a tutoring system and promptly identify and intervene in academic difficulties. Sections 9.1 and 9.2 set no staffing ratio. The Quality Standards are trial standards addressed to higher education institutions.
The English in this entry is this site's translation of the Chinese text.
Related terms
- Office in charge of international student management (Order No. 42, Article 22)
- Chinese student counsellor (Order No. 42, Article 25)
- Student guidance and tutoring (Quality Standards, section 9)
- Admission and documents
- Tests and verification
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Ministry of Education press Q&A on Order No. 42, 2 June 2017, Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the PRC
Checked 11 October 2026.
This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. The official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.