Campus life rules for international students: Articles 25 to 29 of Order No. 42

Order No. 42 is a set of rules issued jointly by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China. Articles 25 to 29 tell a university what it shall, may or may not do for its international students in education, sport, festivals, student associations and religious belief. These are Chinese rules addressed to higher education institutions; they are not rules of India's National Medical Commission (India), the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Bangladesh's BMDC Act or the Nepal Medical Council.

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Living facilities and registration: Article 24

Article 24 says a university "shall provide international students with necessary living services and facilities such as meals and lodging, and shall establish and publish rules for the use and management of these facilities." It also says that an international student who lives outside the university's dormitory "shall promptly complete registration formalities with the public security authority at the place of residence."

The 2018 quality standards cover the same subject in more detail (see the section on the standards below).

Education, counsellors and school rules: Article 25

Article 25 has two paragraphs.

The first paragraph says a university "shall" give international students education on Chinese laws and regulations, school rules and regulations, conditions in China and on the campus, China's outstanding traditional culture, and customs. The stated purpose is to help students become familiar with and adapt to their study and living environment as soon as possible.

The second paragraph says a university "shall set up counsellor posts for international students" to understand their study and living needs and to provide information, consultation, and cultural and sports activity services in time. It also says the staffing ratio of counsellors for international students shall be "not less than" the ratio for Chinese students, and that these counsellors enjoy the same treatment as counsellors for Chinese students.

Sport, culture and voluntary activities: Article 26

Article 26 says a university "encourages" international students to take part in sport and cultural activities that are good for physical and mental health, and shall provide convenient conditions for them to do so. It says international students "may" take part voluntarily in public-welfare activities and in celebrations of major Chinese festivals.

The second paragraph says a university "generally does not organise" military training or political activities for international students.

Celebrating their own national festivals: Article 27

Article 27 says that with the university's consent, international students "may" hold activities celebrating important traditional festivals of their own country, at places and within a scope designated on campus. The same article says these activities "may not" include content that opposes or attacks other countries or nationalities, and may not include words or deeds that violate public morality.

Student associations: Article 28

Article 28 says that with the university's approval, international students "may" set up friendship associations on campus. Such an association may operate within the scope set by Chinese laws and regulations, and it is subject to the university's guidance and management.

Customs and religious belief: Article 29

Article 29 has two sentences. The first says a university "shall respect" the ethnic customs and religious beliefs of international students, "but does not provide venues for religious activities." The second says that within the university, missionary work, religious gatherings and any other religious activities "may not be carried out."

The 2018 standards on living facilities

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 in the notice text. The standards are written as duties for universities ("高等学校应当…"). Two sections deal with living facilities.

Section 13.2 says a university "shall ensure" that Chinese and international students use the dining, cultural, sports and other living facilities "under equal conditions of use, management rules and charging standards."

Section 13.3 says the dormitories or apartments where international students live "shall" meet the legal requirements for foreigners' residence premises and shall be locations that the local public security authority has approved for accommodation registration of foreigners. A university "shall" set up and improve dormitory or apartment management rules. Where a university uses an external provider for accommodation, it "shall" supervise that provider with a duty of care, implement management responsibility, and give international students information that is "accurate, complete and sufficient." The section says these duties are to be carried out in a way that meets the requirements of the local education administration and the public security authority.

Questions people ask

Does Order No. 42 require universities to have counsellors for international students?

Yes. Article 25 says a university "shall set up counsellor posts for international students," to understand their study and living needs and to provide information, consultation, and cultural and sports activity services. The staffing ratio shall be not less than the ratio for Chinese students, and these counsellors have the same treatment as counsellors for Chinese students.

May international students hold religious gatherings on campus?

Article 29 says the university does not provide venues for religious activities, and that missionary work, religious gatherings and any other religious activities may not be carried out on campus.

May international students set up student associations?

Under Article 28, international students may set up friendship associations on campus, with the university's approval. The association operates within the scope set by Chinese laws and regulations and is subject to the university's guidance and management.

Must an international student who lives outside the dormitory register?

Article 24 says that an international student who lives outside the university dormitory shall promptly complete registration formalities with the public security authority at the place of residence.

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), issued by notice 教外〔2018〕50号, Ministry of Education of the PRC

Checked 11 October 2026.

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