Masters in China for international students: conditions and process

To be admitted to a master's programme in China, an international student needs a bachelor's degree or equivalent (Quality Standards, section 1.1). The university sets its own admissions conditions and procedures in its admissions brochure (Order No. 42, Article 11), and it makes the admission decision (Order No. 42, Article 12).

Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards are published in Chinese. The English on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese text.

Which category this is

Order No. 42, Article 9 places master's postgraduate students (硕士研究生) among the categories for degree education, together with junior-college (associate-level) students, undergraduate students and doctoral students. The same article places preparatory students, advanced students and research scholars in the category for non-degree education.

Minimum education

Quality Standards, section 1.1 sets the entry requirement for master's programmes as a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification. The section gives this requirement by reference to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011): successful completion of level 6 or level 7 courses.

Section 1.1 also states that where an intergovernmental agreement on mutual recognition of academic qualifications sets entry conditions for students from the other country or region, that signed agreement is applied.

Section 1.1 gives no list of accepted degree titles.

Language

Quality Standards, section 1.2 covers two cases.

• For programmes taught in Chinese, the Chinese ability required at entry must reach at least level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards (《国际汉语能力标准》).
• For programmes taught in a foreign language, the university must state the foreign-language ability it requires in its entry standards.

Section 1.2 does not convert the International Chinese Proficiency Standards into HSK levels. Section 1.2 also gives no foreign-language level for programmes taught in a foreign language. The university sets that level.

Examination or assessment

Quality Standards, section 2.2 requires the university to hold an entrance examination or assessment for applicants, so that the students it admits reach the set entry standard.

Section 2.2 says a university is encouraged to develop and run its own entrance examination, alone or jointly with other universities.

Section 2.2 also requires the university to set its academic standard and its assessment methods on the basis of a study of the education systems of its main source countries. It requires the university to judge an applicant's academic level using academic records and achievements, results in Chinese national education examinations, and results in foreign education examinations with public credibility.

What the master's degree certifies

Degree Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 20 describes the award of a master's degree, not admission. The degree is granted to a candidate who completes the required coursework or credits, completes academic research or professional practice training, and passes a thesis defence or a defence of the practice results. The candidate must also show two things.

1. Solid basic theory and systematic specialised knowledge in the discipline or professional field.
2. For an academic degree, the ability to do academic research work. For a professional degree, the ability to undertake professional practice work.

Article 20 sets no admission condition.

Who makes the decision

Order No. 42, Article 10 states that a university independently sets its enrolment plan and its programmes according to its conditions and training capacity, unless national rules provide otherwise.

Order No. 42, Article 12 states that the admission of international students is decided by the university. It also states that a university must not admit an applicant who does not meet the admission conditions.

Article 12 gives no minimum score.

Process

Order No. 42, Articles 11 and 12 set out the following sequence. The articles do not number these steps, so the list follows the order of the text.

• The university formulates and publishes its admissions brochure under the national admissions rules (Article 11).
• The university admits applicants under the conditions and procedures in that brochure (Article 11).
• The university reviews the entry eligibility and the financial guarantee certificate of each foreign applicant (Article 12).
• The university conducts an examination or assessment of each applicant (Article 12).
• The university decides admission (Article 12).

Articles 11 and 12 give no dates for any of these steps.

Suggestion, not a rule: read the university's admissions brochure before you prepare your documents, because the brochure sets the conditions and procedures that apply to your application.

Sources

• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Degree Law of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Education of the PRC

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 differs from this page, the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail.