International student: who the Ministry of Education's rules count as one
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
Under 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), an international student (国际学生) is a foreign student who does not hold Chinese nationality under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China and who receives education at a school. Article 2 gives this definition. For admission and documents, see Admission and documents.
Definition
Article 2 defines a school as an institution in mainland China that provides preschool, primary, secondary or higher education.
Chapters 2 to 5 of the Measures apply to higher education institutions. For schools that provide preschool, primary and secondary education, Article 2 states that admission, teaching and internal management of international students follow the rules of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government.
What the official text says
The Chinese texts are quoted here in this site's own English translation.
Article 3 (duties)
- Schools that recruit and educate international students shall comply with Chinese laws, regulations and national policies.
- They shall safeguard national sovereignty, security and the public interest.
- They shall manage in a standardised way and ensure quality.
- International students shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations, respect Chinese customs, follow school rules and complete their study tasks.
Article 9 (categories)
Article 9 sets the categories of international students at higher education schools:
| Type | Category |
|---|---|
| Degree education | Junior college students (专科生); undergraduate students (本科生); master's degree students (硕士研究生); doctoral students (博士研究生) |
| Non-degree education | Preparatory students (预科生); advanced-study students (进修生); research scholars (研究学者) |
Article 45 (short-term and long-term study)
- Short-term study means study at a school in China for not more than 180 days, inclusive.
- Long-term study means study at a school in China for more than 180 days.
Article 46 (scope)
- Scientific research institutions in China that are approved to undertake graduate education and that recruit international students are handled under the Measures.
- Educational institutions that are approved by an education administrative department to provide non-degree education and that recruit international students are handled by reference to the Measures.
- The admission, training and management of students from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, and the admission, training and management of schools for children of foreign personnel within mainland China, follow other relevant national provisions.
Effective date
The promulgation text states that the Measures take effect on 1 July 2017.
Quality Standards
The preface of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), issued by Ministry of Education notice Jiao Wai [2018] No. 50, states that the standards apply to higher education of international students nationwide, including higher vocational education. The preface also states that the standards were formulated in accordance with the Measures.
Related terms
- Visas and residence
- Universities and degrees
- Short-term study (Article 45 of the Measures)
- Long-term study (Article 45 of the Measures)
- Degree and non-degree education categories (Article 9 of the Measures)
- School (Article 2 of the Measures)
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
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. If the official text differs from this summary, the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail.