As an important component of China's education system, studying abroad in China is a fundamental aspect of cultural and educational exchanges with foreign countries. Since the reform and opening up, China has gradually formed a relatively complete education and management model for international students studying in China with Chinese characteristics, which has made positive contributions to enhancing the international influence of Chinese education, promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and foreign people, and helping developing countries cultivate the talents needed for their social and economic development. In particular, in recent years, the cause of studying in China has provided strong support for the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road", and played an important role in China's opening up to the outside world, strengthening its national soft power, and improving its international competitiveness and influence.
Since 1950, China has accepted the first batch of 33 international students from Eastern European countries. As of 2018, it has received over 5.14 million international students from China. Over the past forty years of reform and opening up, with the improvement of China's comprehensive national strength and the continuous enhancement of its educational attractiveness, China's educational exchanges and cooperation with countries around the world have become increasingly close, and significant achievements have been made in the field of studying abroad in China. In 2018, a total of 492185 foreign students from 196 countries and regions studied at 1004 higher education institutions in 31 provinces (regions, municipalities) across the country, an increase of 3013 people from 2017, with a growth rate of 0.62% (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). China has become the largest study abroad destination in Asia and a major destination in the world. According to statistics by continent, the number of international students from Asia still ranks first, with 295043, accounting for 59.95% of the total number of international students studying in China throughout the year. Next are African students, with a total of 81562 people, accounting for 16.57%; The total number of European students is 73618, accounting for 14.96%; The total number of students in the Americas is 35733, accounting for 7.26%; The total number of students in Oceania is 6229, accounting for 1.27%. According to national statistics, the top 10 countries with the highest number of international students studying in China are South Korea with 50600 students, Thailand with 28608 students, Pakistan with 28023 students, India with 23198 students, the United States with 20996 students, Russia with 19239 students, Indonesia with 15050 students, Laos with 14645 students, Japan with 14230 students, and Kazakhstan with 11784 students, according to educational levels. In 2018, a total of 258122 foreign students received academic education, accounting for 52.44% of the total number of students studying in China, an increase of 16579 from 2017 and a year-on-year increase of 6.86%; There are a total of 85062 master's and doctoral students, an increase of 12.28% compared to 2017, including 25618 doctoral students and 59444 master's students. In 2010, in order to implement the National Medium - and Long Term Education Reform and Development Plan (2010-2020), strengthen educational exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries, and promote the sustainable and healthy development of the study abroad program in China, the Ministry of Education issued the "Study in China Plan". Since the implementation of the "Study in China Plan", the work of studying in China has adhered to the policy of "expanding scale, optimizing structure, standardizing management, and ensuring quality", and the scale and quality of education for studying in China have been rapidly improved. With the entry of socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era, the study abroad industry in China has entered a stage of improving quality and efficiency. The Chinese government has clearly stated that the development of studying abroad in China should adhere to quality first, strictly regulate management, and take the path of connotative development.
The main measures taken by the Chinese Ministry of Education in recent years are as follows:
One is to improve the policy system and manage in accordance with laws and regulations. In 2017, the Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, issued the "Management Measures for the Enrollment and Training of International Students in Schools", requiring universities in various regions to strictly control the admission threshold, conduct qualification review, examination or assessment of applicants for studying in China, ensure that the enrolled students meet the school's admission standards, and strengthen management in accordance with laws and regulations.
The second is to introduce national standards and clarify basic norms. In 2018, the "Quality Standards for Higher Education for International Students in China (Trial)" was introduced to provide guidance and basis for government management, school operation, and social evaluation. It specifically strengthens the requirements for enrollment and admission work, training quality, Chinese proficiency, and convergence management of international students in China.
The third is to transform government functions and establish a quality assurance mechanism. Encourage third-party industry organizations to carry out quality certification for studying abroad in China, and establish and improve quality assurance mechanisms such as incentives, certification, and evaluation. At the same time, strengthen management supervision, carry out supervision and inspection work, strictly implement accountability procedures, block management loopholes, crack down on illegal and irregular phenomena, and ensure the healthy and orderly development of studying abroad in China.
Fourthly, strict scholarship management is implemented to ensure the quality of training. The implementation of strict selection, unified management, preparatory education, graduation examination, annual evaluation and other systems effectively ensures the quality of training for Chinese government scholarship students. Next, the Ministry of Education will continue to prioritize quality in the development of studying in China, further improve the modern governance system and management mechanism for studying in China, innovate work methods, improve management measures, create the "Study in China" brand, and effectively enhance the quality and management level of studying in China education.
Note: Quoted from "Overall Overview of the Work of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China in Studying in China" and "Quality First, Realizing the Connotation Development of Studying in China - Ministry of Education's Answer to Journalists' Questions on Studying in China"
Ways, procedures, and time to apply for studying abroad in China
Approach
1. Government exchange: handled according to bilateral exchange agreements between governments.
2. Inter school exchange: handled according to the inter school exchange agreement.
3. Chinese universities' independent enrollment scholarship program: Apply to the Chinese universities that undertake this program.
4. Group recommendation: Recommended by foreign schools, educational institutions, and friendly groups through relevant Chinese institutions or directly to relevant Chinese universities.
5. Individual self funded application: Students can apply through relevant institutions in China or directly to relevant universities in China.
Procedures
1. Prepare application materials and fill out the application form for studying in China;
2. Provide a copy or scanned copy of your personal passport;
3. Provide personal academic degree certificates and transcripts;
4. Provide a score for the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) and a minimum of Level 4 or above (if applying for English taught courses, TOEFL or IELTS scores must be provided);
5. For those applying to pursue a master's or doctoral degree, two recommendation letters from individuals with associate professor or equivalent professional titles are required;
6. Provide a statement of personal study or research plan (required by some universities or courses);
7. Prepare the "Record of Physical Examination for Foreigners";
8. Self funded students studying in China are required to provide proof of financial guarantee in addition to the above materials. Applicants under the age of 18 must provide proof of guardianship in China.
All materials for appeal must be in Chinese or English, or accompanied by translations of such texts. The relevant forms can be obtained from Chinese universities or Chinese embassies and consulates abroad.
Application time
International students participating in intergovernmental bilateral exchange programs are eligible to apply from early January to early April each year. Applicants should submit their applications through the relevant departments responsible for selecting international students in their home country. International students and self funded international students participating in intercollegiate exchange programs can apply for spring admission from September 15th to December 15th of the previous year; The application period for autumn students is generally from February 15th to May 15th of the current year. There are differences in regulations among different schools, and admission brochures and application forms can be directly obtained from the relevant schools.