Appealing a university decision in China: the 10-day and 15-day time limits

Yes. If a university disciplines you or asks you to withdraw, you may appeal, and two time limits in Order No. 41 decide whether your appeal is in time: you file the first written appeal within 10 days of receiving the decision, and you file the second appeal to the provincial education authority within 15 days of the review decision.

The English text in this article is this site's translation of the Chinese text of Order No. 41, Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial).

How these rules apply to you

Order No. 41 (Provisions on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions) is the general national student regulation. Order No. 41, Article 66 says a school's management of students receiving higher continuing education, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese students, and international students (留学生) is by reference to these provisions. Order No. 42, Article 31 says higher schools conduct international student status management by reference to the Chinese student status management regulations. A university's own published rules for international students give the actual periods and procedures it applies.

Who hears the first appeal

Order No. 41, Article 59 says the school shall establish a student appeal committee to accept and handle appeals from students who are dissatisfied with a handling or disciplinary decision. The committee shall be composed of the school's relevant leaders, heads of functional departments, teacher representatives, student representatives, and heads of the body responsible for legal affairs, and may engage external experts in law and education. The school shall formulate the specific appeal methods, improve the committee's composition and working rules, and provide the conditions needed for it to perform its duties objectively and fairly.

First time limit: 10 days to file with the school

Order No. 41, Article 60 says a student who objects to the school's handling or disciplinary decision may, within 10 days from the date of receiving the school's decision document, file a written appeal with the school's student appeal committee.

The school's review: 15 days, extendable by 15

Order No. 41, Article 61 says the student appeal committee reviews the appeal and, within 15 days from the date of receiving the written appeal, makes a review conclusion and informs the appellant. Where the case is complex and a conclusion cannot be made within the time limit, the period may be extended by 15 days with the approval of the school's leader. The committee may suggest that the school suspend execution of the decision where it considers necessary. Where the committee finds on review that the facts, basis or procedure of the decision are improper, it may give a review opinion suggesting revocation or change, and require the relevant functional department to study the matter and resubmit it to the president's office meeting or a special meeting for a decision.

Second time limit: 15 days to the provincial authority

Order No. 41, Article 62 says a student who objects to the review decision may, within 15 days from the date of receiving the school's review decision document, file a written appeal with the provincial education administrative authority where the school is located. The provincial education administrative authority shall, within 30 working days from the date of receiving the written appeal, handle the appellant's matter and make a decision.

Withdrawal or expulsion: filing for the record

Order No. 42, Article 31 says higher schools conduct international student status management by reference to the Chinese student status management regulations. Where a school makes a withdrawal (退学) or expulsion (开除学籍) decision for an international student, it shall file for the record (备案) in accordance with the provisions of the State Council education authority.

The university must tell you the channel

Section 17.3 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) says a higher school shall clearly inform an international student who has been handled or disciplined of the channel and method for appeal, and shall handle the international student's appeal properly.

Questions people ask

Can the school take longer than 15 days to review my appeal?

Order No. 41, Article 61 says the student appeal committee shall make its review conclusion within 15 days of receiving the written appeal. Where the case is complex and a conclusion cannot be made within that limit, the period may be extended by 15 days with the approval of the school's leader.

What happens if the committee finds the decision was wrong?

Order No. 41, Article 61 says that where the committee finds on review that the facts, basis or procedure of the decision are improper, it may give a review opinion suggesting revocation or change, and require the relevant functional department to study the matter and resubmit it to the president's office meeting or a special meeting for a decision.

Does the university have to tell me how to appeal?

Sources

Provisions on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions (Order No. 41) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security
Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) — Ministry of Education of the PRC

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary and is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university. It is not legal advice. If the official text or the current notice of the university or authority handling your case differs, that text or notice prevails.