If your programme is cancelled or suspended: section 17.5 and your other rights
If a university cancels or suspends an international student programme, the main rule is section 17.5 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial). It says the university shall take respect for the student's wishes, fairness and reasonableness, and appropriate compensation as its principles. It also says the university shall properly settle the refund of fees, compensation for losses, transfer placement, and the necessary stay and residence formalities.
What kind of rule this is
The Quality Standards were issued by the Ministry of Education under notice 教外〔2018〕50号 as a trial standard. The Chinese text is the original. The English on this page is this site's translation of that Chinese text.
Section 17 is addressed to universities. Each of sections 17.1 to 17.5 states what the university shall do. These are duties the ministry places on universities. They are not a court remedy, and section 17 sets out no court procedure.
What section 17.5 requires
Section 17.5 applies when a university cancels or suspends (取消或中止) an international student programme. The provision names four matters that the university shall settle properly:
| Matter named in section 17.5 | What the text says |
|---|---|
| Refund of fees (退还费用) | The university shall settle it properly. Section 17.5 states no amount and no deadline. |
| Compensation for losses (损失补偿) | The university shall settle it properly. Section 17.5 gives no formula for calculating compensation. |
| Transfer placement (转学安置) | The university shall settle it properly. Section 17.5 names no receiving institution and no procedure. |
| Necessary stay and residence formalities (办理必要的停留居留手续) | The university shall handle them. Section 17.5 does not list the formalities. |
Section 17.5 names no time limit for any of these four matters. It also names no body that decides a claim.
Your other rights under section 17
Sections 17.1 to 17.4 set out related duties. Each one applies to a different matter.
| Section | What the university shall do | Scope as the text states it |
|---|---|---|
| 17.1 Information disclosure | Publish admission, teaching, management and service information in written form, electronic or paper, in a way that is easy to consult. | Section 17.1 names no notice period for a cancellation. |
| 17.2 Right to report and complain | Publicise the channels and methods for reporting and complaining about illegal and irregular acts in the university, and handle reports and complaints in a standard way. | The text concerns illegal and irregular acts inside the university. |
| 17.3 Right to appeal | Tell students who have been subject to handling or discipline how to appeal, and handle appeals in a standard way. | Section 17.3 is worded for students who have been subject to handling or discipline. It does not name programme cancellation. |
| 17.4 Information security and privacy | Set up systems and take effective measures to protect students' personal information and privacy, as national law requires. | Section 17.4 is about personal information and privacy. |
Section 17 opens by saying the university shall take effective measures to maintain the various lawful rights of international students. That opening sentence is general and names no specific remedy.
A practical suggestion (not a rule)
Keep copies of every written notice the university sends you about the programme, and keep your payment receipts. This is a suggestion. None of the provisions quoted above requires it.
Questions people ask
Is section 17.5 a court remedy?
No. It is a duty placed on universities by a ministry standard. Section 17.5 sets out no court procedure.
Does section 17.5 say how much I will be refunded or compensated?
No. Section 17.5 states no amount and gives no formula. It requires the university to settle the refund of fees and compensation for losses properly.
Does section 17.5 say when a refund must be paid?
No. Section 17.5 names no date and no time limit.
Sources
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, and it is not legal advice. If the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case differ, the official text and that notice prevail.