Thesis language: writing and defending a degree thesis in a foreign-language programme

Thesis language is the set of rules on the language in which an international student writes a degree thesis, its abstract and its defence in a programme taught in a foreign language in mainland China. The rule on the thesis itself is in Article 19 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). Section 6.4 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (2018) sets further duties for universities on the same stages. See also Universities and degrees on this site.

Definition

Thesis language covers the language used for three parts of a degree thesis: the thesis text, the abstract, and the defence. The two official documents below address these parts in different ways. Order No. 42 sets the basic permission and the abstract requirement. The 2018 Quality Standards address universities and the procedures they must follow.

What the official text says

The Chinese text is quoted as published. The English wording on this page is this site's own translation.

Article 19 of Order No. 42 (Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students):

• Higher education institutions that meet the conditions may offer professional courses taught in a foreign language to international students.
• International students receiving degree education in a foreign language may write their theses in the corresponding foreign language.
• The thesis abstract shall be in Chinese.
• Whether the thesis defence uses a foreign language is decided by the institution.

Section 6.4 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). These are trial standards addressed to higher education institutions:

• Universities shall encourage and support international students to write theses in Chinese.
• Each university's degree evaluation committee shall, in accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students, specify the requirements on the language used in the writing and defence of international students' theses.
• Universities shall standardise the review, submission and defence of international students' theses. They shall also carry out plagiarism detection, anonymous peer review and random thesis checks in line with the school's unified requirements.

Section 6.4 refers to the Measures by name. The Measures are a separate document, and Article 19 is the provision that addresses the thesis language.

Related terms

• Degree thesis
• Thesis abstract
• Thesis defence
• Foreign-language-taught programme
• Plagiarism detection
• Anonymous peer review
• International Chinese Proficiency Standards

Sources

• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) — 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 Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security or any university named. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this entry, the official text and those instructions prevail.