No agents for admission decisions: section 2.7 of the Quality Standards

No. Section 2.7 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) says that admission and enrolment work for international students must strictly follow national provisions and must not be entrusted to any outside institution or individual as agent. Order No. 42 Article 12 says that the school decides the admission of international students.

The Quality Standards (Trial) were issued by Ministry of Education notice 教外〔2018〕50号. Order No. 42 is the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students, issued by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security. Both Chinese texts are cited here in this site's English translation.

Who decides admission

Order No. 42 Article 12 has two sentences on admission.

The first sentence says that a higher education institution shall review the entry qualifications and financial guarantee proof of each foreign citizen who applies, and shall give that applicant an examination or an assessment.

The second sentence says that admission of international students is decided by the school. It also says that the school must not admit an applicant who does not meet the admission conditions.

Article 12 names no agent and no outside body in either sentence.

What section 2.7 says

Section 2.7 has two parts.

The first part sets the rule on admission work. Admission and enrolment work for international students must strictly follow national provisions. It must not be entrusted to any outside institution or individual as agent.

The second part covers outside services. Where a university uses outside services for admission information and consultation, it must supervise them. It must follow the principles of prudence, standardisation, openness and transparency. It must also strictly follow national provisions or norms in carrying out that supervision, and protect education order and the lawful rights and interests of international students.

Section 2.7 does not describe the supervision measures in detail. It refers the university to national provisions or norms.

What section 2 requires of the university

Section 2 of the Quality Standards sets general principles for admission. A university must publish admission-related information truthfully, accurately and completely. It must keep to the principle of good faith in admission publicity and consultation. Admission and enrolment must follow the principles of standardisation, openness and fairness.

What Order No. 42 Article 44 provides

Article 44 says that when a school commits one of the acts listed in its items during the recruitment and education of international students, the competent education administrative department must order it to rectify. The department must also pursue legal liability under the relevant provisions of the Education Law of the People's Republic of China. It may restrict the school's recruitment of international students.

The listed acts in Article 44 are these:

1. Recruiting in breach of national provisions and the school's own admissions rules.
2. Profit-seeking in the admission process.
3. Not publishing fee items and standards, or charging other than according to the published items and standards.
4. Issuing degree certificates, diplomas or other academic certificates in breach of the rules.
5. Poor teaching quality, or inadequate management and service, causing a bad social impact.
6. Other illegal or rule-breaking acts.

Questions people ask

Can a Chinese university give admission decisions to an agent?

No. Section 2.7 of the Quality Standards says that admission and enrolment work must not be entrusted to any outside institution or individual as agent. Order No. 42 Article 12 says that the school decides admission.

Can a university use outside services for admission information?

Section 2.7 says that where a university uses outside services for admission information and consultation, it must supervise them. The supervision must follow national provisions or norms and the principles of prudence, standardisation, openness and transparency.

What happens to a university that recruits against its own admissions rules?

Order No. 42 Article 44, item 1, says the competent education administrative department must order the school to rectify. It also says the department must pursue legal liability under the Education Law. It may restrict the school's recruitment of international students.

A practical suggestion, not a rule

When you read a university's admissions brochure, look for the office or body it names for admission decisions. You can also ask the university directly which office makes the decision on your application.

Sources

• Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), 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 summary, the official text prevails. The current notice of the university or authority handling your case also prevails.