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Applying directly or through an intermediary: what the Chinese rules say about agents

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

This page sets out what two Chinese Ministry of Education documents say about agents in the admission of international students. The rules are addressed to Chinese universities. They are not rules of a student's home-country regulator, and they do not tell a student what to do. Section 2.7 of the 2018 quality standards says that a university may not entrust its international student admission work to any outside body or individual as agent. Article 12 of Order No. 42 says that the school decides admission.

The register does not rank or recommend intermediaries, and it does not name or assess any. For the register's other sections, see this register's section page.

The English below is this site's own translation of the Chinese texts. Each provision is cited by its section or article number, as the document numbers it.

The 2018 quality standards and agents (section 2.7)

The Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) were issued by Ministry of Education notice 教外〔2018〕50号, dated 3 September 2018. The notice describes them as the national basic standards that guide and regulate universities' international student education. Section 2.7 is headed "External services."

The first sentence of section 2.7 says that a university's admission work for international students shall strictly comply with the relevant national provisions. It also says that the university may not entrust any external institution or individual to act as agent.

The second sentence says that when a university uses external services in providing admission information and consultation, it shall follow the principles of prudence, standardization, openness and transparency. It shall also fulfil its supervisory responsibility strictly under national provisions or standards, in order to maintain educational order and protect the lawful rights and interests of international students.

Section 2.7 uses the phrase "act as agent" in its first sentence and "external services" in its second. It does not define either phrase.

Admission information the standards require (sections 2 and 2.1)

Section 2 says that universities shall publish admission-related information truthfully, accurately and completely. It also says they shall uphold the principle of good faith in admission publicity and consultation.

Section 2.1 says that universities shall provide foreign students with true and complete admission information that suits international students, using the internet and other information technology. It says that this information shall include at least the following:

  • basic information about the school, such as the city and the school's conditions;
  • programme information, such as level, training objectives, length of study, degree awarded, and rules on transfer and change of major;
  • admission procedures and requirements, such as application deadlines and methods, entry standards, examination or assessment methods, financial guarantee requirements, handling of violations, and the admission timetable;
  • financial rules and policies, such as fee standards, payment methods and refund policy;
  • campus life, such as accommodation or apartment conditions and how to apply for them, food, medical care, insurance, transport, sports and cultural activities, and student organisations;
  • consultation contact details and complaint and reporting channels.

Section 2.1 lists these items but sets no amount for any of them.

What Order No. 42 says about admission (Articles 11 and 12)

Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students is Order No. 42, issued jointly by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security. The promulgation text says it takes effect from 1 July 2017.

Article 11 says that a university formulates and publishes its own international student admission prospectus under the national admission rules. It says the university recruits international students under the conditions and procedures set out in that prospectus.

Article 12 says that a university shall review the entry qualifications and the financial guarantee proof of foreign citizens who apply, and shall examine or assess them. It also says that the school decides the admission of international students. A university may not admit applicants who do not meet the admission conditions.

Article 12 does not mention agents, intermediaries or external services.

Summary of the provisions

Provision Document What it covers
Section 2 Quality standards (2018) Truthful, accurate and complete admission information; good faith in publicity and consultation
Section 2.1 Quality standards (2018) The categories of admission information that shall be provided, at least
Section 2.7 Quality standards (2018) No entrusting of admission work to an outside body or individual as agent; duties for external services
Article 11 Order No. 42 The university's own published prospectus and the conditions in it
Article 12 Order No. 42 The school decides admission; review of entry qualifications and financial guarantee proof

Questions people ask

Can a Chinese university use an agent to handle international student admission?

Section 2.7 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) says that a university may not entrust its international student admission work to any outside body or individual as agent. Its second sentence says that a university using external services for admission information and consultation shall follow the principles of prudence, standardization, openness and transparency, and shall fulfil its supervisory responsibility under national provisions or standards.

Who decides whether an applicant is admitted?

Article 12 of Order No. 42 says that the school decides the admission of international students. It also says that a university may not admit applicants who do not meet the admission conditions.

What must a university's admission information include?

Section 2.1 of the 2018 quality standards says that admission information provided to foreign students shall include at least basic information about the school, programme information, admission procedures and requirements, financial rules and policies, campus life, and consultation contact details with complaint and reporting channels. The section sets no amount for any of these items.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal, medical or professional-licensing advice, it is not published by the bodies named, and it promises no admission, examination or registration outcome. If the official text or the regulator's own instructions differ from this page, the official text and the regulator's instructions prevail.

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