Naming rules for Chinese universities: 'China', regions, subjects and personal names
Sources checked · Unofficial summary
Each Chinese higher education institution has one name, and that name is governed by written rules. The 2020 Interim Measures for the Naming of Higher Education Institutions say that, in principle, a name may not carry "China", "Chinese", "national", "international" or large regional words, and that, in principle, a name may not be a personal name. The 2006 Interim Provisions on the Establishment of Regular Undergraduate Institutions set four naming lines for undergraduate institutions, and this page sets out both texts.
This is a reference guide. For the directory's other pages, see this directory's section page. The English on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese texts, and the Chinese texts prevail. The English names of institutions and disciplines in the directory are its own renderings; the official lists are in Chinese. This page applies these rules to no university.
The two texts
The 2020 measures are Interim Measures for the Naming of Higher Education Institutions (高等学校命名暂行办法), issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Education as 教发厅〔2020〕6号 on 20 August 2020. They have 16 articles. Article 16 says they take effect on the day they are issued. The preamble cites the Higher Education Law, the Private Education Promotion Law and its implementing regulations, and the Interim Regulations on the Establishment of Ordinary Higher Education Institutions (普通高等学校设置暂行条例).
The 2006 provisions are Interim Provisions on the Establishment of Regular Undergraduate Institutions (普通本科学校设置暂行规定), issued by the Ministry of Education as 教发〔2006〕18号 on 28 September 2006. Their Part 2 is headed 学校名称 (school names). Part 2 covers undergraduate institutions.
Scope and levels
Article 1 of the 2020 measures applies to full-time universities, independently established colleges, higher vocational schools (including undergraduate-level and junior-college-level vocational schools) and junior colleges (高等专科学校).
Article 3 of the 2020 measures says an institution sets its name by reference to its talent-training goals, level, scale, type, discipline category, teaching and research standard, affiliation and location. It says an institution has one name (一校一名制). Part 2, item 4 of the 2006 provisions also says an institution has one name.
Article 4 of the 2020 measures gives the name pattern for each level:
| Level | Name pattern (2020 measures, Article 4) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate-level university or college | "XX大学" or "XX学院" |
| Junior-college-level vocational or junior college | "XX职业技术学院/职业学院" or "XX高等专科学校" |
| Undergraduate-level vocational school | "XX职业技术大学/职业大学" |
Article 4 also says a school may add a suitable qualifier based on its location, industry or discipline.
Part 2, item 1 of the 2006 provisions gives the undergraduate pattern as "XX大学" or "XX学院".
Article 2 of the 2020 measures says a name should match the institution's substance, be accurate and standard, reflect its educational philosophy and highlight its character. It also says a name should avoid aiming for size and completeness (避免贪大求全).
Place words
Article 5, item (1) of the 2020 measures says that, in principle, a name may not carry 中华 (Chinese), 中国 (China), 国家 (national), 国际 (international), or regional words such as 华北 (North China), 华东 (East China), 东北 (Northeast) and 西南 (Southwest), or their variants.
Article 5, item (2) says that, in principle, a name may not carry a place name other than the city where the school is located. It says a school run by a provincial people's government may use a provincial name. It says another school that genuinely needs a provincial name may use one only if the provincial government reviews it and the name states the school's location.
Article 5, item (3) says a name may not use a trademark, trade name or name owned by another organisation or person without authorisation. It says a name may not use the Chinese translated name or the abbreviation of a foreign university.
Part 2, item 3 of the 2006 provisions says a name may not carry 中国 (China), 中华 (Chinese) or 国家 (national). It says a name may not use the names of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities, or a regional name other than the city where the school is located.
The two texts differ on provincial names. The 2006 provisions do not allow them. The 2020 measures allow them in the cases described in Article 5, item (2).
Subject and industry words
Article 6 of the 2020 measures sets four rules for subject or industry words:
- Item (1): when agricultural, forestry or teacher-training institutions merge or are adjusted, in principle they keep the agricultural, forestry or teacher-training name, so that this education is not weakened.
- Item (2): a name should avoid several subject or industry categories side by side. In principle, not more than 2 categories.
- Item (3): a name should avoid frequent changes that follow industry trends.
- Item (4): where the same subject or industry word is used, the name should be distinguishable within the province.
Personal names and donors
Article 8, item (1) of the 2020 measures says that, in principle, a name may not be a personal name. It adds that the national education administrative department may approve, under national conditions, the use of a donor's name or designation in a school name, for a donor who has made a special contribution to the school's development.
Part 2, item 3 of the 2006 provisions says a name may not be a personal name.
Other rules for names
Article 8, item (2) of the 2020 measures says a name may not use a name that another higher education institution has used before, unless authorised.
Article 8, item (3) says a name should avoid resembling other institutions' names in a way that causes confusion.
Article 8, item (4) says that, in principle, a name is limited to 12 characters.
Article 7 of the 2020 measures sets rules for English names. Item (1) says the English name must match the Chinese name. Item (2) says a name ending in 大学 translates to "university". Item (3) says a name ending in 学院 translates to "college", or, depending on the discipline type, to "institute", "academy" or "conservatory". Item (4) says a special term in a Chinese name may be transliterated. Article 7 does not give an English name for any particular institution.
Converted independent colleges and for-profit institutions
Article 9 of the 2020 measures says that an independent institution converted from an independent college may not include the name or abbreviation of the original sponsoring institution in its name.
Article 10 of the 2020 measures says a for-profit private higher education institution must state in its name either "有限责任公司" (limited liability company) or "股份有限公司" (joint-stock company). When the school is set up, it may apply to the approving authority for a short name. The short name may only omit the company form.
Article 11 says that a Sino-foreign cooperative institution offering academic education is named under the Regulations on Sino-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools (中外合作办学条例) and its implementing measures.
Renaming interval and approval
Article 12 of the 2020 measures says a school must manage its name carefully and keep it stable. In principle, the interval between renamings at the same level is at least 10 years.
Article 13 says naming is part of the work of establishing a higher education institution and is examined and approved under the establishment procedures.
Article 14 says that, for naming cases that serve major national and regional strategies, the national education administrative department examines and approves the name.
Article 15 says the Ministry of Education interprets the measures.
Questions people ask
Can a Chinese university name include a province's name?
Under Part 2, item 3 of the 2006 provisions, a name may not use the name of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality, or a regional name other than the city where the school is located. Under Article 5, item (2) of the 2020 measures, a school run by a provincial people's government may use a provincial name. Another school that genuinely needs one may use it only if the provincial government reviews it and the name states the school's location.
Can a university be named after a person?
Article 8, item (1) of the 2020 measures says that, in principle, a name may not be a personal name. It allows the national education administrative department to approve, under national conditions, the use of a donor's name for a donor who has made a special contribution to the school. Part 2, item 3 of the 2006 provisions says a name may not be a personal name.
How often can an institution change its name at the same level?
Article 12 of the 2020 measures says that, in principle, the interval between renamings at the same level is at least 10 years.
Who approves a university name?
Article 13 of the 2020 measures says naming is examined and approved as part of the establishment procedures. Article 14 says that, for cases serving major national and regional strategies, the national education administrative department examines and approves the name.
Sources
- Interim Measures for the Naming of Higher Education Institutions (高等学校命名暂行办法), 教发厅〔2020〕6号, 20 August 2020, Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Interim Provisions on the Establishment of Regular Undergraduate Institutions (普通本科学校设置暂行规定), 教发〔2006〕18号, 28 September 2006, Ministry of Education of the PRC
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by the Ministry of Education or any university, and it promises no admission outcome. The official Chinese text and the current official list prevail if they differ, so please confirm against them.