Help on campus: the international student office, counsellors, housing and medical services

Chinese universities must designate a work unit to coordinate international student recruitment, teaching, daily management, services and alumni contact under Article 22 of Order No. 42. They must also appoint international student counsellors at a ratio no lower than that for Chinese students (Order No. 42, Article 25) and establish a specialised unit for immigration and exit‑entry affairs (Quality Standards, section 16.1). See also X1 or X2 on this site.

Management unit

Article 22 of Order No. 42 requires higher education institutions to designate a work unit that bears the international student management function. That unit is responsible for coordinating recruitment, teaching, daily management and services, and post‑graduation alumni contact.

Counsellors

The second paragraph of Article 25 of Order No. 42 requires higher education institutions to set up international student counsellor posts. Counsellors must understand students' study and life needs and provide timely information, consultation, and cultural and sports activity services. The counsellor‑to‑student ratio shall not be lower than the ratio for Chinese student counsellors, and international student counsellors shall enjoy equal treatment with Chinese student counsellors.

The Quality Standards elaborate on guidance in section 9. Section 9.1 requires universities to help international students during orientation to understand training programmes, teaching requirements, assessment methods, study methods, the teaching and learning environment, and the use of teaching facilities and resources. Section 9.2 requires an effective teaching tutoring system adapted to international students' learning characteristics, incentives for faculty to provide tutoring, encouragement of peer mutual assistance between Chinese and foreign students, and timely identification and intervention in academic difficulties.

Living facilities and housing

Article 24 of Order No. 42 requires higher education institutions to provide necessary living service facilities such as food and accommodation, and to establish, improve and publish management systems for the use of those facilities. International students living outside school dormitories must promptly register with the local public security organ.

Section 13.2 of the Quality Standards requires universities to ensure that Chinese and foreign students use dining, cultural, sports and other living facilities under equal and consistent usage conditions, management systems and fee standards.

Section 13.3 requires that dormitories or apartments for international students meet legal requirements for foreigner residence places and be locations approved by the local public security organ for foreigner accommodation registration. Universities must establish sound dormitory or apartment management systems meeting local education administration and public security requirements. If an external service provider is used for accommodation, the university shall supervise the provider per the principle of due diligence, implement management responsibility, and provide accurate, sufficient information to international students.

Medical and psychological counselling

Section 13.4 of the Quality Standards requires universities to provide basic medical services and psychological counselling services for international students, and to provide necessary assistance and support for students using social medical and psychological counselling services.

Immigration and exit‑entry affairs

Section 16 of the Quality Standards requires universities to establish a sound management system and work mechanism for international students' immigration and exit‑entry affairs, fulfil legal management responsibilities, and assist overseas visa agencies and immigration and exit‑entry authorities in providing guidance, consultation and services to support students' legal stay and residence in China.

Section 16.1 requires universities to designate a specialised unit to manage international students' immigration and exit‑entry affairs, represent the school in cooperating with overseas visa agencies and immigration and exit‑entry authorities, assist students with visa, entry/exit and stay/residence procedures related to their studies in China, and provide guidance, consultation and services on immigration and exit‑entry matters.

Section 16.2 requires universities to formulate international student immigration and exit‑entry management systems and work procedures in accordance with the Exit and Entry Administration Law and the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners.

Section 16.3 requires universities to educate international students on foreigner exit‑entry management laws and regulations, and provide guidance and consultation on school management systems, service matters and procedures.

The English wording above is this site's translation of the Chinese texts of Order No. 42 and the Quality Standards.

Sources

• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) — Ministry of Education of the PRC

Checked 11 October 2026. This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.