Degree and non-degree study in China: the seven student categories
Chinese universities enrol international students in seven categories. Four are degree categories: junior college student, undergraduate, master's student and doctoral student. Three are non-degree categories: preparatory student, advanced student and research scholar. The list comes from Article 9 of Order No. 42, the national Measures on recruiting and educating international students.
The seven categories
| Category | Chinese term | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Junior college student | 专科生 | Degree education |
| Undergraduate | 本科生 | Degree education |
| Master's student | 硕士研究生 | Degree education |
| Doctoral student | 博士研究生 | Degree education |
| Preparatory student | 预科生 | Non-degree education |
| Advanced student | 进修生 | Non-degree education |
| Research scholar | 研究学者 | Non-degree education |
What changes with the category
The certificate. Universities issue graduation certificates or other certificates of study under national rules, register degree students' enrolment and graduation certificates electronically, and award degree certificates to students who meet the conditions for a degree (Article 21).
The compulsory courses. Chinese and an overview course on China are compulsory in degree education (Article 16). The Measures do not state this for non-degree study.
The visa does not change with the category. The visa class follows the study period: X1 for more than 180 days, X2 for 180 days or fewer. A one-year non-degree student and a first-year degree student both fall on the long-term side.
How the scholarship guide names them
The Chinese Government Scholarship guide uses its own English labels. It sponsors undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars and senior scholars. General and senior scholar programmes are non-degree study: a general scholar applicant holds a high school diploma or higher and is under 45, and a senior scholar applicant holds a master's degree, or is an associate professor or above, and is under 50.
Where language students fit
The Measures have no separate category called language student. A student who comes to study Chinese without enrolling for a degree is in non-degree education, and the university's brochure says which of the three categories its programme uses. The scholarship guide adds that funding can cover Chinese language (preparatory) study before the major, with language courses lasting one year.
What stays the same for everyone
Whatever the category, the university recruits under its own brochure (Article 11), examines qualifications and proof of financial support and decides admission (Article 12), and requires insurance (Article 40).