The words of studying in China, defined.

A type of degree under the Degree Law. A master’s candidate must show the ability to do academic research; a doctoral candidate must do so independently and produce innovative research results.

SourceDegree Law, Articles 2, 20 and 21See alsoProfessional degreeDegree education

Registration of where a foreigner is staying. Hotels do it for their guests. Anyone living elsewhere, or the person hosting them, registers with the local public security organ within 24 hours of arrival.

SourceExit and Entry Administration Law (NIA), Articles 39 and 76See alsoResidence permit for study

The document a school in China issues to a student it has admitted. It is submitted with every X1 and X2 visa application.

SourceEntry-Exit Regulations (NIA), Article 7(11)MOE Order No. 42, Article 35See alsoJW202 formX1 visa

The document each university publishes for international applicants. The university admits students by the conditions and procedure written in it.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Articles 11 and 23See alsoInternational student

The body entrusted by the Ministry of Education with the admission, enrolment and administration of Chinese Government Scholarship recipients.

SourceCSC application guide, introductionSee alsoChinese Government ScholarshipJW201 form

The scholarship the Chinese government sets up for international students in higher education. It covers tuition, a dormitory place or accommodation subsidy, a monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance.

SourceCSC application guide, introduction and section IIIMOE Order No. 42, Article 32See alsoChina Scholarship Council (CSC)JW201 formHSK

The website run by the Center for Student Services and Development (CSSD) of the Ministry of Education. It verifies Chinese higher education student records and qualification certificates and issues verification reports in Chinese and English.

SourceCHSI, home pageSee alsoCSCSEAcademic degree

Schools in China run a full-coverage insurance system for international students. A student who does not buy insurance as required is not admitted or not registered.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Article 40See alsoInternational student

The China Scholastic Competency Assessment. Applicants for bachelor’s programmes under the Chinese Government Scholarship must take it before the application deadline and upload a valid score report; the university says which subjects are required.

SourceCSC application guide, section IV, item 7 and section VI, item 6See alsoHSKChinese Government Scholarship

The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, a Ministry of Education body. Its site carries the service that verifies degrees and diplomas obtained outside mainland China.

SourceCSCSE, home pageSee alsoCHSI

Study that leads to a qualification. For international students the categories are junior-college, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. Non-degree study covers preparatory students, advanced students and research scholars.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Article 9See alsoPreparatory studentAcademic degree

The national programme to build world-class universities and first-class disciplines. The list of universities and disciplines in its second round was published in February 2022 by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission.

SourceMOE notice, second-round Double First-Class list, notice textSee alsoProject 985Project 211

The period a visa holder is allowed to stay in China after each entry. It is counted from the day after entry.

SourceEntry-Exit Regulations (NIA), Article 36(3)Exit and Entry Administration Law (NIA), Article 29See alsoX2 visa

The medical form printed by the Chinese quarantine authorities. Scholarship applicants staying more than six months submit a copy; it needs the physician’s signature, the hospital stamp and a sealed photo, and results are valid for six months. Schools confirm it at enrolment.

SourceCSC application guide, section VI, item 12MOE Order No. 42, Article 39See alsoResidence permit for study

The Chinese proficiency test whose score reports Chinese-taught programmes ask for. Chinese Government Scholarship applicants need Level 4 for a Chinese-taught master’s or doctoral programme, and Level 3 for Chinese-taught general and senior scholar programmes.

SourceCSC application guide, section IV, items 8 to 10Chinese Tests Service Website, home pageSee alsoCSCAPreparatory student

In Chinese rules, a foreign student who does not hold Chinese nationality and is being educated at a school in China.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Articles 2 and 9See alsoDegree educationAdmissions brochure

The Visa Application for Study in China form used for Chinese Government Scholarship students and students coming through intergovernmental exchange channels. The China Scholarship Council handles it with the university concerned.

SourceMOE reply on JW201/JW202, replySee alsoJW202 formChinese Government ScholarshipX1 visaRead the full entry

The Visa Application for Study in China form used for self-funded students. Each university handles it for the students it has admitted.

SourceMOE reply on JW201/JW202, replySee alsoJW201 formX1 visaAdmission noticeRead the full entry

One of the non-degree categories of international student. Under the Chinese Government Scholarship, Chinese language (preparatory) study lasts one year and comes before the major.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Article 9CSC application guide, section II(II)See alsoDegree educationHSK

A type of degree under the Degree Law. A master’s candidate must show the ability to take on professional practice; a doctoral candidate must do so independently and produce innovative results in practice.

SourceDegree Law, Articles 2, 20 and 21See alsoAcademic degree

A national university-building project. The Ministry of Education’s published list of Project 211 universities has 112 names.

SourceMOE list of Project 211 universities, listSee alsoProject 985Double First-Class

A national university-building project. The Ministry of Education’s published list of Project 985 universities has 39 names.

SourceMOE list of Project 985 universities, listSee alsoProject 211Double First-Class

The permit issued to foreigners pursuing long-term studies in China. A student whose visa requires it applies within 30 days of entry at the exit-entry administration of the public security organ where they will live. Non-work permits are valid for 180 days to five years.

SourceExit and Entry Administration Law (NIA), Article 30Entry-Exit Regulations (NIA), Articles 15 and 16MOE Order No. 42, Article 36See alsoX1 visaWork-study endorsementAccommodation registrationRead the full entry

A note added to a residence permit for study, stating where and for how long the holder may do off-campus work-study or an internship. It needs the school’s approval first; without it, such work is not allowed.

SourceEntry-Exit Regulations (NIA), Article 22MOE Order No. 42, Article 30See alsoResidence permit for study

The ordinary visa issued to people who come to China for long-term study, meaning more than 180 days. It is applied for before entry, and its holder must apply for a residence permit after arriving.

SourceEntry-Exit Regulations (NIA), Articles 6(11) and 36MOE Order No. 42, Article 35See alsoX2 visaResidence permit for studyJW202 formRead the full entry

The ordinary visa for short-term study in China, meaning a stay of no more than 180 days. Its holder stays for the duration written on the visa; no residence permit follows.

SourceEntry-Exit Regulations (NIA), Articles 6(11) and 36Exit and Entry Administration Law (NIA), Article 29See alsoX1 visaDuration of stayRead the full entry