Admissions Requirements

The following guide will help you understand the step to step admission requirements for studying abroad in China:

  1. Choosing a Study Program
  2. Choosing a Chinese University for Admission
  3. Academic Requirements
  4. Language Requirements (IELTS, TOEFL)
  5. Method of Application
  6. Submitting Required Documents
  7. Admission Submission Deadlines
  8. Waiting for Admission Approval

1. Choosing A Study Program

The first step to study in abroad is to choose a stream of education that interests you and has the potential for career success in the future. Every stream of education is widely explored in recent times and there is a plethora of courses for you to choose from. In fact, the main complication of choosing a study program is the availability of many options. Chinese Universities are offering plenty of study programs at all academic levels. A student must contemplate upon following factors before choosing a study program:

  • Your interest in subjects.
  • Look into the career opportunities available through your chosen study program.
  • The subjects you choose as your study majors must match your intellectual capabilities or else it will be complicated for you to continue studying in the middle of the course
  • Every study program has entry requirements different from others, make sure you meet those requirements.
  • Read the course outline for all semesters.
  • The medium of instruction of your chosen study program must be the language you have command over.

2. Choosing A Chinese University

Start searching for the right Chinese university for you as soon as you finalize the steam of education and study program you want to pursue your degree in. There are many factors that must be considered while selecting the right university for you. It is recommended to explore a maximum number of universities online and shortlist them in order of preference and apply for admission to at least three of them.

  • Check the tuition fee of your study program and compare the fee with other universities,
  • Confirm that the university you are choosing for your education is located in the city of China where you want to study,
  • Check the global ranking of the university,
  • Check admission eligibility criteria,
  • Application submission deadline,
  • Documents requirements,
  • Availability of on-campus residence and
  • Check if the university offers any scholarships and fee waivers and if any check eligibility criteria.

3. Academic Requirements

The academic requirements for each study program in China will be different. There are age limits set by Chinese institutions for each academic level and there are minimum grades set for admission. The Age Requirements for each academic level set by Chinese institutions are as follows:

  • For admission to the undergraduate study programme, the age of the applicant must be under 25 years. The applicant must have passed a High School Diploma or equivalent (A-Level) from a recognized institution in his country.
  • For admission to a postgraduate study programme (Master), the age limit of the applicant must be under 35 years. The applicants must have passed Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in their country with good grades.
  • For admission to a postgraduate study programme (PhD), the age limit of the applicant must be under 40 years. The applicants must have passed a Master's Degree from a recognized institute in his/her country with good grades.

4. Language Requirements

Chinese language is medium of instruction in all of the Chinese Universities. However, many of Chinese universities are offering study programmes in English language which you must ascertain before selecting a study programme. Even if you choose a study program in English, some command over the Chinese language will be required for living in China and you will learn it eventually while your stay there. For admission in Under Graduate or Post Graduate courses, the English Proficiency Test Certificates accepted by Chinese Universities are IELTS and TOEFL and for admission in study programmes with Chinese as the medium of instruction, you will have to pass HSK test. There are three difficulty levels of HSK test which include primary, medium level and advanced levels. The level required in HSK test depends on your study programme and academic level and you will prepare for it accordingly. For example for Science, Engineering and IT Courses in Chinese Language, HSK Elementary Test will be required and for Liberal Arts, Economics and Management Courses in the Chinese Language HSK Intermediate Test will be required.

5. Method of Application

International student can apply for admission directly at their chosen Chinese university through their website or they can choose any of the following two methods of application:

  • CUCAS Application Method: - CUCAS is an online application platform that serves as a mediator between applicants and Chinese Universities for admissions. By using the CUCAS application method you can apply at your chosen Chinese University.
  • CUAC Application Method: - CUAC aka China University Application Centre is also an online platform working as a mediator between Chinese Universities and international students. CUAC also provides professional guidance regarding course selection in Chinese Universities to applicants.

6. Submitting Required Documents

The documents required may vary from university to university in China and also depends on your study level and study program. For international students the required documents are corresponded with visa documents and national identity of international students. In general, the following documents are required by all of Chinese Universities for admissions to international students:

  • 2 recent passport-size photographs of the applicant.
  • A photocopy of the applicant’s valid national passport.
  • Photocopy of National Identity Card.
  • Health Certificate (proving the applicant is in good health).
  • Clearance letter from local police station proving the applicant has good character and has no criminal offense registered against him.
  • Language proficiency test certificate (for English-taught courses IELTS and TOEFL for Chinese language-taught courses HSK).
  • A letter of guarantee( signed by the guardian or parents of the applicant stating that the applicant will abide by all the rules and regulations of the Chinese government during his stay in China and stating that the guardian takes responsibility for the actions of the applicant).
  • Proof of Financial Resources for your education and stay in China.
  • Transcripts of your academic records, diplomas, and certificates.
  • Recommendation letters from two of the applicant’s professors (for post-graduate courses).
  • You must meet the age requirement of the course.
  • Letter of intent (written by the applicant stating why he has chosen a certain study. programme and explaining his/her professional aspirations).

7. Admission Submission Deadlines

In China, the academic year is split into two semesters namely the spring semester and the autumn semester. Some of the universities in China also implement a three-semester admission schedule. It is better to ascertain the admission deadlines of your chosen Chinese university before planning your admission schedule. But generally, the admission submission deadlines of most of Chinese Universities have the following schedule:

  • For admission in the spring semester, the application must be submitted by the 15th of July.
  • For admission in the autumn semester, the application must be submitted by the 30th of April.

8. Waiting For Admission Approval

After submitting the required documents and admission form you can expect the admission process to take 30 to 40 days. If your application gets approved by Chinese university they will send you an acceptance letter or offer letter for admission. You will be asked to pay tuition fee and from there your student visa process will commence. You will have to visit Chinese Consulate for details regarding student visa, purchase health insurance coverage of worth 62,000 USD along with fulfilling other perquisites of student visa.

China Study Visa Requirements

The following guide will help you understand all of the steps involved in the visa application process.

You will receive an offer letter after having fulfilled the admission requirements and securing a seat in a Chinese University. The next step is to visit the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country nearest to you and attain student visa China information first hand.
You will receive a student visa application and a list of required documents to submit along with the application at the Embassy. There are two student visa types based on the duration of your study program. The X1 visa is for study programs longer than 6 months and the X2 visa is for study programs lesser than 6 months duration.
The applicant will pay a 600 USD fee for visa application and submit the following documents:

  • Valid Passport
  • Offer Letter of Hosting Chinese University
  • Medical Examination Certificate
  • Language Proficiency Test Certificate
  • Completed Visa Application

You must apply for student visa and submit the visa application and required documents one month before your study program commences in China. You can expect your student visa process to be completed within a week or two. Upon arriving in China, within 30 days you will apply for temporary resident permit of China which will remain valid till your study program duration. You will apply for temporary resident permit at local Public Security Bureau (PBS).