Study in China requirements: what the national rules set and what each university sets

Two layers set the requirements for studying in China. National texts set the framework: Order No. 42 says universities recruit international students on their own under national rules, and the Quality Standards say what each university's entry standards must cover. The detailed conditions and procedures are set by each university in its admissions brochure.

The Chinese texts of Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards are quoted here in this site's English translation. The Chinese wording governs.

Who sets the rules

Order No. 42 gives universities the first decisions. The three points below come from separate articles.

Topic	National text	Who sets the detail
Recruiting international students	Order No. 42, Article 7	The university, under national rules
Enrolment plan and majors	Order No. 42, Article 10	The university
Admissions brochure	Order No. 42, Article 11	The university publishes it
Admission decision	Order No. 42, Article 12	The university
Entry standards	Quality Standards, section 1	The university must set them
Minimum education	Quality Standards, section 1.1	Reference levels given nationally
Chinese and foreign-language ability	Quality Standards, section 1.2	National level for Chinese-taught programmes; the university states the foreign-language requirement
Entrance examination or assessment	Quality Standards, section 2.2	The university

What Order No. 42 says

Article 7 says that a university recruiting international students must have appropriate teaching conditions and training capacity. It says the university recruits international students autonomously, in accordance with relevant national provisions.

Article 10 says that a university decides its own enrolment plans and majors for international students, according to its conditions and training capacity. The exception is where national provisions provide otherwise.

Article 11 says that a university formulates and publishes its own admissions brochure for international students, in accordance with national admissions rules. It then recruits according to the conditions and procedures set out in that brochure.

Article 12 says that a university must examine each foreign applicant's eligibility for admission and proof of financial guarantee. It must also test or assess the applicant. Admission is decided by the university. A university must not admit anyone who does not meet the admission conditions.

Article 12 states no amount for the proof of financial guarantee.

What the Quality Standards require

Section 1 says a university must set its entry standards for international students under national provisions and the Standards, taking account of its training goals and capacity. It names five areas the entry standards cover: academic background, academic ability, language ability, status and eligibility, and economic capacity. The Chinese list ends with 等, meaning "and so on."

Section 1.1 sets minimum education by level:

Junior-college (associate-level) and bachelor's programmes require graduation from senior secondary school or equivalent. The section adds, by reference, successful completion of ISCED 2011 level 3 or 4 programmes that give access to higher education.
Master's programmes require a bachelor's degree or equivalent. The section adds, by reference, successful completion of ISCED 2011 level 6 or 7 programmes.
Doctoral programmes require a master's degree or equivalent. The section adds, by reference, successful completion of specified ISCED 2011 level 7 programmes.
Where an intergovernmental mutual recognition agreement sets admission conditions for the other country's students, that signed agreement applies.

Section 1.1 names no age limit.

Section 1.2 covers language. For programmes taught in Chinese, the Chinese ability must be at least Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards. For programmes taught in a foreign language, the university must state in its entry standards the foreign-language ability it requires. This article does not convert those Chinese levels into any other test.

Entrance examination and assessment

Section 2.2 requires a university to hold an entrance examination or assessment for applicants. Its purpose is to make sure admitted students reach the entry standards it has set.

The same section says a university is encouraged to develop and run an entrance examination that fits its own conditions. It may do this alone or jointly with other universities.

The university must set its academic requirements and assessment methods on the basis of the education systems of its main source countries. It assesses an applicant's academic level using academic grades and achievements from earlier education, results of Chinese national examinations, and results of credible foreign examinations.

Where the rest is set

Order No. 42 leaves the detailed conditions to the brochure. Article 11 says a university recruits under the conditions and procedures the brochure sets. Read the brochure of each university you are considering alongside Quality Standards, sections 1.1 and 1.2.

As a suggestion, not a requirement, keep a copy of the brochure you rely on, with its publication date, so you can check later whether it has changed.

Questions people ask

Who decides whether an applicant is admitted?

Order No. 42, Article 12 says admission is decided by the university.

Does the national text set an age limit?

Quality Standards, section 1.1 sets minimum education levels and names no age limit.

Is the Chinese level the same for every programme?

No. Quality Standards, section 1.2 sets Level 4 of the International Chinese Proficiency Standards for programmes taught in Chinese. For programmes taught in a foreign language, it requires the university to state its own foreign-language requirement.

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