One semester of Chinese in China: the non-degree student route
Article 9 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) sets three non-degree categories and names no language-student category. Whether a stay for study counts as short-term or long-term depends on the 180-day line in Article 45 of Order No. 42 and Article 36 of the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637). For the routes in general, see Routes.
The non-degree categories in Article 9
Order No. 42 is published in Chinese. The English wording on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese text.
Article 9 divides international students by type of education:
| Type of education | Categories in Article 9 |
|---|---|
| Academic education (学历教育) | junior college students, undergraduates, master's students, doctoral students |
| Non-academic education (非学历教育) | preparatory students, advanced-study students (进修生), research scholars |
Article 9 sets no Chinese level for either type.
Recruitment and admission
Article 11 says a school formulates and publishes its international student brochure under national recruitment rules. It says the school recruits according to the conditions and procedures in that brochure. This page gives no school's dates, fees, class hours or requirements.
Article 12 says the school shall check the eligibility and financial guarantee certificates of foreign applicants, and shall examine or assess them. It says the school decides admission. It says the school may not admit an applicant who does not meet the admission conditions.
The certificate for non-degree study
Article 21 says a school issues academic certificates or other academic certificates to international students under national rules. The same paragraph says the school shall promptly register student status and graduation certificates electronically for international students in academic education.
The second paragraph of Article 21 says a school issues degree certificates to international students who meet the conditions for a degree. Article 21 names no wording for the other academic certificate.
Study period and visa class
| Term | Source | Wording |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term study | Article 45 of Order No. 42 | study at a Chinese school for no more than 180 days (inclusive) |
| Long-term study | Article 45 of Order No. 42 | study at a Chinese school for more than 180 days |
| Short-term | Article 36(4) of the Regulations | staying in China for a period not exceeding 180 days (including 180 days) |
| Long-term or resident | Article 36(5) of the Regulations | residing in China for a period exceeding 180 days |
| X1 visa | Article 6(11) of the Regulations | for persons who apply for long-term study in China |
| X2 visa | Article 6(11) of the Regulations | for persons who apply for short-term study in China |
Article 45 of Order No. 42 measures study time at a Chinese school. Article 36 of the Regulations measures time spent staying or residing in China. Article 6(11) of the Regulations ties the X1 visa to long-term study and the X2 visa to short-term study.
To place a planned course against this line, compare the planned study period with 180 days. For the X1 and X2 routes, see Visa.
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637), National Immigration Administration
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. The official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.