Rights of international students at Chinese universities under the quality standards
Sources checked · Unofficial summary
The 2018 quality standards for international students say that a university shall publish admission, teaching, management and service information in written form that is easy to consult, and shall publish channels for complaints and appeals. When an international student programme is cancelled or suspended, the standards say the university shall settle refunds, losses and transfer placements, guided by respect for students' wishes, fairness, reasonableness and appropriate compensation. This page sets out each provision with its document, its publisher and its number. To see how this directory presents university names and lists, start at this directory's section page.
The documents used
This page uses three documents from the Ministry of Education of the PRC. The first is the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (来华留学生高等教育质量规范（试行）), issued with Ministry of Education notice 教外〔2018〕50号, dated 3 September 2018. The second is the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法), Order No. 42, issued with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security. The third is the Provisions on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions (普通高等学校学生管理规定), Ministry of Education Order No. 41.
The Chinese texts are quoted as published. The English on this page is this site's own translation of those Chinese texts, and the Chinese text prevails if the two differ. The quality standards are addressed to higher education institutions (高等学校), and each provision below is cited by its own number.
Information and complaints
The quality standards open section 17 with the statement that a university "shall take effective measures to protect the lawful rights and interests" of international students.
Under section 17.1, a university shall publish admission, teaching, management and service information to international students. It shall do this in electronic or written paper form, in a way that is easy to consult, and in line with national rules on information disclosure.
Under section 17.2, a university shall publish, in a way that is easy to consult, the channels and methods for reporting and complaining about violations of rules inside the university. It shall handle reports and complaints from international students in a standard way.
Under section 17.4, a university shall set up and improve systems under national law and take effective measures to protect the personal information and privacy of international students.
Article 23 of Order No. 42 is the provision that names the content of public information for international students. A university shall make public its basic school information, its teaching information, its admission brochure, and its rules for managing and serving international students. The article's purpose is stated as making it convenient for international students to obtain information. Article 23 sets no deadline for publication.
The table below lists the student-rights provisions of the quality standards in order.
| Section | Subject | What the text says a university shall do |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Student rights | Take effective measures to protect the lawful rights and interests of international students |
| 17.1 | Information disclosure | Publish admission, teaching, management and service information in an easy-to-consult written form |
| 17.2 | Supervision | Publish channels and methods for reports and complaints, and handle them in a standard way |
| 17.3 | Appeals | Tell students who are handled or disciplined how to appeal, and handle appeals in a standard way |
| 17.4 | Information security and privacy | Set up systems and take measures to protect personal information and privacy |
| 17.5 | Cancelled or suspended programmes | Settle refunds, losses, transfers and necessary stay and residence formalities |
When a programme is cancelled or suspended
Section 17.5 covers the case where a university cancels or suspends an international student education programme. The university shall take as its principles respect for students' wishes, fairness and reasonableness, and appropriate compensation. It shall protect and guarantee the lawful rights and interests of international students. It shall settle properly the refund of fees, compensation for losses and transfer placement. It shall also handle the necessary stay and residence formalities.
Section 17.5 gives no amount for refunds or compensation.
Facilities and equal use
Section 8 says a university shall provide sufficient and qualified teaching facilities and resources for international students. The text lists classrooms, laboratories, libraries, reading rooms, teaching and laboratory equipment, computer networks and electronic resources.
Section 8 also says a university shall ensure that Chinese and foreign students use the facilities and resources under equal and consistent conditions, management systems and fee standards.
Guidance, tutoring and support
Section 9 says a university shall provide student guidance suited to the development characteristics of international students. It shall organise and guide international students in healthy extracurricular activities, and promote their integration into campus life and mutual understanding with Chinese students.
Under section 9.1, a university shall plan orientation so that international students learn the training programme, the teaching requirements and the assessment methods. Orientation shall also help them learn study methods, adapt to the teaching and learning environment, and understand how to use teaching facilities and resources.
Under section 9.2, a university shall build a tutoring system suited to the learning characteristics of international students. It shall use measures to encourage staff to tutor them, encourage Chinese and foreign students to help each other with learning, and identify and act on academic difficulties in good time.
Section 13.4 says a university shall provide basic medical services and counselling services to international students. It shall also give the necessary assistance and support for international students who use social medical and counselling services.
Rules and language
Section 12.4 says a university shall set up and improve management and service rules for international students. The university's management rules for international students shall be written in the national common language and script. If a university gives a translation into a foreign language for reference, it shall state clearly that the translation is not a basis for management.
Appeals under Order No. 41
Order No. 41 covers regular degree students in general. Article 66 says that schools manage students in adult higher education, students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese students, and international students by reference to these provisions. Articles 59 and 60 are the appeal provisions that apply to international students in this way.
Article 60 says that a student who disagrees with a school's handling or disciplinary decision may submit a written appeal to the school's student appeal committee within 10 days from the day the student receives the written decision.
Article 59 says a school shall set up a student appeal committee to hear appeals against handling or disciplinary decisions. The committee shall include school leaders, heads of functional departments, teacher representatives, student representatives and the head of the body responsible for legal affairs. It may invite external experts in law or education. The school shall draw up specific measures for student appeals, improve the composition and rules of the committee, and provide the necessary conditions so that the committee can perform its duties objectively and fairly.
Questions people ask
Must a university publish information for international students?
Yes, according to the provisions named here. Article 23 of Order No. 42 says a university shall make public its basic school information, teaching information, admission brochure, and rules for international student management and services, so that international students can obtain information. Section 17.1 of the 2018 quality standards says a university shall publish admission, teaching, management and service information in an easy-to-consult written form.
What do the quality standards say happens to fees when a programme is cancelled?
Section 17.5 says a university that cancels or suspends an international student education programme shall settle properly the refund of fees, compensation for losses and transfer placement. It shall guide this by respect for students' wishes, fairness and reasonableness, and appropriate compensation. The same section gives no amount for refunds or compensation.
How does an international student appeal a school decision?
Article 60 of Order No. 41 says a student who disagrees with a school's handling or disciplinary decision may submit a written appeal to the school's student appeal committee within 10 days from receipt of the written decision. Article 66 says schools manage international students by reference to these provisions. Article 59 sets out the composition and duties of the student appeal committee.
Must a university's international student rules be in Chinese?
Section 12.4 of the 2018 quality standards says the university's management rules for international students shall be written in the national common language and script. If a foreign-language translation is provided for reference, the university shall state clearly that the translation is not a basis for management.
Sources
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (来华留学生高等教育质量规范（试行）), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法), Order No. 42, Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Provisions on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions (普通高等学校学生管理规定), Order No. 41, Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary, is not published by the Ministry of Education or any university, and promises no admission outcome; the official Chinese text and the current official list prevail if they differ.