China University Admissions / Documents
Documents
The documents an application asks for
The fullest official list is the one in the Chinese Government Scholarship guide. A university's own brochure may ask for more or less from self-funded applicants, so treat this as the reference list and the brochure as the final word.
What every school checks
A university must examine an applicant's entry qualifications and proof of financial support, and test or assess the applicant. The form that proof takes is set out in each brochure.
Language certificates
For Chinese-taught master's, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar programmes the guide asks for a valid HSK score report at the required level. For programmes taught in other languages it asks for the certificate each university requires, such as an IELTS or TOEFL report.
Study plan and recommendation letters
The study or research plan is written in Chinese or English: at least 200 words for undergraduates, 500 for scholars and 1,000 for postgraduates. Postgraduate applicants, and senior scholars in academic education, submit two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors.
For the visa
To apply for the X1 visa you submit the admission notice issued by the admitting institution and the certification documents provided by the competent authority. For the X2 visa you submit certification documents such as the admission notice. The visa office may ask for more in a particular case.
JW201 and JW202
The Visa Application for Study in China comes in two forms. JW201 is used for Chinese Government Scholarship students and students coming through intergovernmental channels. JW202 is used for self-funded students and is handled by the university that admitted them. The Ministry of Education describes both as important documents for the study visa, entry, registration at the school and residence formalities.
| Document | Note from the guide |
|---|---|
| Application form | Filled in online |
| Passport information page | Clear scan of an ordinary passport; renew first if under 12 months of validity from the expected start of study |
| Highest diploma | Notarised photocopy; current students submit a certificate of expected graduation or student status |
| Academic records | Records not in Chinese or English need notarised translations |
| Language certificate | Valid HSK report for Chinese-taught postgraduate and scholar programmes; otherwise what the university requires |
| CSCA score report | Bachelor's applicants |
| Pre-admission document | All applicants: pre-admission notice or invitation letter from the school or a professor |
| Study or research plan | In Chinese or English, with the minimum lengths above |
| Recommendation letters | Two, for postgraduate applicants and senior scholars in academic education |
| Own works | Arts and design applicants |
| Guardian's legal documents | Applicants under 18 |
| Foreigner Physical Examination Form | For study of more than six months; results valid six months |
| Certificate of Non-Criminal Record | Usually issued within six months before submission |
Sources
- Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security: Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students, Order No. 42 (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法, in Chinese) (checked 2026-10-10)
- China Scholarship Council: Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship (Campus China) (checked 2026-10-10)
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (English text published by the National Immigration Administration) (checked 2026-10-10)
- Ministry of Education: reply on the difference between forms JW201 and JW202 (in Chinese) (checked 2026-10-11)
This page is an unofficial summary and is not published by any of the bodies above.
Ask a question
Ask the Admissions Desk
An automated assistant that answers from the official texts cited on this site. It is not an official service and cannot decide admission.