What a university's admissions brochure must tell you
A university must formulate and publish an admissions brochure for international students, and it admits students under the conditions and procedures that brochure sets out (Article 11 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students, Order No. 42). The brochure must also publish fee items, fee standards and refund rules for withdrawal and transfer, and fees and refunds are priced in RMB (Article 14 of Order No. 42). The Quality Standards section 2.1 lists the information a school shall include at least.
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The legal basis
Order No. 42 was issued jointly by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security. Article 11 says that a university formulates and publishes its brochure for international students "according to national recruitment rules". Article 23 says a university shall make public its basic school information, its teaching information, its admissions brochure, and its management and service system for international students, so that students can get information easily.
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）) were issued by Ministry of Education notice Jiaowai [2018] No. 50. They are written as obligations for higher education institutions ("高等学校应当"). Section 2.1 is headed "Admission information and consultation".
Fees and refunds
Article 14 of Order No. 42 has two parts. The first says that fee items and fee standards follow national provisions. The second says a university shall publish its fee items, its fee standards, and its rules on refunds for withdrawal and transfer. The article adds that fees and refunds are priced in RMB.
None of these documents gives a fee amount. For a particular university's fees, dates and requirements, see that university's own admissions brochure (Article 11 of Order No. 42).
What section 2.1 says the information must cover
Section 2.1 of the Quality Standards says that the admissions information a school provides shall at least include the following six groups. The list is given as written in the text, and the examples in each row are the examples the section itself gives.
| Item in section 2.1 | Examples the section gives |
|---|---|
| School basic information | City overview; school's conditions for running education |
| Programme information | Level of study; training objectives; length of study; degree awarded; rules on transfer and change of major |
| Admission procedures and requirements | Application deadlines and methods; entry standards; examination and assessment methods; financial guarantee requirements; handling of violations; admission timetable |
| Financial rules and policies | Fee standards; payment methods; refund policy |
| Campus culture and daily life | Dormitory or apartment conditions and how to apply; food; medical care; insurance; transport; cultural and sports activities; student clubs |
| Consultation contacts and complaint channels | Contact details; complaint and reporting channels |
Section 2.1 names "application deadlines" and "admission timetable" as items, but it gives no date. It names "fee standards" but gives no amount. Those figures are left to each university.
Questions
Does the brochure have to show fees?
Article 14 of Order No. 42 says a university shall publish its fee items, its fee standards, and its refund rules. Section 2.1 of the Quality Standards lists fee standards and refund policy among the items the school provides.
Do these documents give the application deadline?
No. Section 2.1 lists application deadlines as an item the school provides. The date itself is in the university's own admissions brochure.
Sources
- 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
- 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）), notice Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 — Ministry of Education of the PRC
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.