Transfer student: moving from one Chinese school to another

Transfer (转学) is an international student's move from one school to another while studying in mainland China. Article 13 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) allows a higher education institution to accept an international student who is transferring from another school, provided the original admitting school agrees. For the admission steps that apply to the receiving school, see Admission and documents.

Definition

Article 13 of Order No. 42 reads, in this site's English translation of the Chinese text: "A higher education institution may, with the consent of the original admitting school, accept international students who were admitted by another school or who are transferring." The article is the basis for the transfer entry in this glossary.

What the official text says

The Chinese texts below are quoted in this site's own English translation. The English is not the official wording.

Order No. 42, Article 13. The receiving institution acts only "with the consent of the original admitting school". Article 13 sets no deadline for that consent.

Order No. 42, Article 14. Article 14 states two things.

• Higher education institutions apply the fee items and fee standards for international students "in accordance with relevant national provisions".
• Higher education institutions "shall publish" the fee items, the fee standards, and the refund rules for withdrawal and transfer. Fees and refunds are denominated in renminbi (RMB).

Article 14 states no refund amount and no refund percentage.

Order No. 42, Article 17. Article 17 covers change of major, which is a separate matter from transfer between schools. After enrolment, an international student may change major on application and with the consent of the higher education institution. The conditions and procedures are set by the school.

Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), section 10.5. The 2018 trial standards, issued by Ministry of Education notice Jiao Wai [2018] No. 50, add the following to the Order No. 42 provisions.

• The student applies for transfer, and the transfer is handled after both the school where the student is enrolled and the receiving school agree.
• If the student meets the conditions for transfer out, the school where the student is enrolled provides the receiving school with the student's academic performance and conduct information, "truthfully and comprehensively".
• The receiving school reviews the transfer application on the principle that its standard is not lower than its own admission standard for international students, that the student meets its training requirements, and that the school has the capacity to train the student.
• Both schools handle the student status, immigration and entry-exit formalities "closely and smoothly" in line with national rules and their own duties, and they hand over copies of the documents and archives.

Section 10.5 does not list the conditions for transfer out; it refers to them only as conditions the student meets. Section 10.5 states no time limit for the receiving school's review.

Related terms

• Admission
• Admission and documents
• Change of major
• Withdrawal
• Refund rules for withdrawal and transfer
• Student status
• Immigration and entry-exit formalities
• Residence permit for study

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, it is not published by the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.