Non-degree student: preparatory students, advanced students and research scholars
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
Non-degree education (非学历教育) is one of the two ways Article 9 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) classifies international students at higher education institutions in China; the other is degree education. Article 9 names three non-degree categories: preparatory students (预科生), advanced students (进修生) and research scholars (研究学者). For the degree categories, see Universities and degrees.
Definition
Article 9 defines non-degree education by listing its categories. The three categories are:
| Category | Chinese name |
|---|---|
| Preparatory students | 预科生 |
| Advanced students | 进修生 |
| Research scholars | 研究学者 |
Article 9 sets the degree categories beside these: junior college students (专科生), undergraduate students (本科生), master's students (硕士研究生) and doctoral students (博士研究生).
What the official text says
The English wording below is this site's own translation of the Chinese texts.
Article 9 of Order No. 42 provides that higher education institutions recruiting international students admit them to degree education in the categories of junior college, undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. For non-degree education, the categories are preparatory students, advanced students and research scholars.
Article 45 of Order No. 42 defines two terms for the Measures:
- Short-term study means study at a Chinese school for no more than 180 days, inclusive.
- Long-term study means study at a Chinese school for more than 180 days.
Article 21 of Order No. 42 provides that higher education institutions issue degree certificates or other academic certificates to international students under relevant national rules. For international students in higher degree education, institutions shall register their student status and graduation certificates electronically in a timely manner. Institutions issue degree certificates to international students who meet the conditions for degree award. Article 21 does not state which certificate is issued to which category.
Section 3 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), issued by Ministry of Education notice 教外〔2018〕50号, addresses preparatory education (预科教育). It states that higher education institutions may open preparatory programmes and enrol international students who meet "appropriate standards". Preparatory programmes teach Chinese and basic subject knowledge so that students reach undergraduate entry standards and adapt to study life in China. Preparatory programmes shall meet the corresponding education and teaching standards and norms. Section 3 refers to "appropriate standards" without setting them out. The Quality Standards are trial standards addressed to higher education institutions.
Related terms
- Degree education (学历教育)
- Preparatory education (预科教育)
- Short-term study (短期学习)
- Long-term study (长期学习)
- Other academic certificates (其他学业证书)
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法), Order No. 42, Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (来华留学生高等教育质量规范（试行）), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026.
This entry is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, and is not published by the bodies named; the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.