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The curriculum of an English-taught MBBS in China: the three parts in Article 13

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

Article 13 of the Ministry of Education's 2007 interim provisions sets three parts for the curriculum of English-taught undergraduate medical education for international students in China. The three parts are Chinese culture, education and natural science courses; biomedical, behavioural, preventive and clinical courses; and a graduation internship of one academic year, not less than 48 weeks. These are Chinese rules that set what the schools must do. They are not rules of the National Medical Commission (India), the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Bangladesh's BMDC Act or the Nepal Medical Council, and this page does not set out the conditions of those bodies.

This page is an unofficial summary of the Chinese text. The register's other sections are on this register's section page.

The document

The document is the Interim Provisions on Quality Control Standards for Undergraduate Medical Education in English for International Students (来华留学生医学本科教育（英语授课）质量控制标准暂行规定). It is annex 1 to 教外来〔2007〕39号, published by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. The text is in Chinese. The English below is this site's translation of the Chinese text.

This page covers Chapter 3, Articles 10 to 14. It does not cover the fee provisions or any university's own timetable.

Articles 10 to 12: the school's curriculum plan

Article 10 says that a school enrolling students must draw up a curriculum plan that fits its own situation. The plan must follow the Ministry's relevant standard for undergraduate medical education and its basic requirements on curriculum settings. Article 10 also says that the plan must state the course settings and their basic requirements. The article gives three reasons for the plan: the needs of medical services, advances in medical science and changes in medical models.

Article 11 says that a school should reasonably integrate the teaching content of its courses. It says that the curriculum should include compulsory courses and elective courses. It also says that the ratio between the two may be determined according to actual conditions. Article 11 sets no ratio.

Article 12 says that a school must have a dedicated office responsible for managing the curriculum plan for medical international students. The office plans and carries out the plan under the guidance of the relevant departments of the school.

Article 13: the three parts

Article 13 begins by saying that the curriculum plan should include three parts.

Part (1): Chinese culture, education and natural science

Article 13(1) lists the following courses: Overview of China, Chinese language, medical Chinese, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, physical education, and so on. It requires that each course be passed by examination or assessment.

Part (2): biomedical, behavioural, preventive and clinical courses

Article 13(2) requires that each course be passed by examination. It names four groups of courses. The table below sets out each group and the subjects the article lists for it. Article 13 says that the biomedical, behavioural and preventive groups "usually include" the subjects listed. Article 13 gives no timetable, hours or credits for any subject it lists.

Group in Article 13(2) Requirement in the article Subjects the article lists
Biomedical courses Each course must be passed by examination. The biomedical courses usually include the subjects listed, and also include integrated courses that reflect these biomedical contents. Human anatomy; histology and embryology; human physiology; biochemistry and molecular biology; cell biology; microbiology and parasitology; pathology; pharmacology; pathophysiology; medical immunology; medical genetics
Behavioural sciences, humanities, social sciences and medical ethics Each course must be passed by examination. The courses usually include the subjects listed. Medical psychology; medical ethics; social medicine; health economics; health law; health administration and management
Preventive medicine Each course must be passed by examination. The content usually includes the items listed. Epidemiology and health statistics; community prevention; occupational health and safety; environment and health; pharmacological toxicology; food hygiene; nutrition and disease; child and maternal health care; primary health care
Clinical medicine Each course must be passed by examination. The courses usually include the subjects listed. Diagnostics; diagnostic imaging; internal medicine; surgery; obstetrics and gynaecology; paediatrics; infectious diseases; neurology; ophthalmology; otorhinolaryngology; stomatology; dermatology and venereology; psychiatry and mental health; anaesthesiology; emergency medicine; rehabilitation medicine; traditional Chinese medicine

The English names in the table are this site's translation of the Chinese names. The article uses "etc." in the Chinese list of subjects, and the table keeps each item the article gives.

Clinical competence and clerkship

The last paragraph of Article 13(2) says that clinical competence includes history taking, physical examination, auxiliary examinations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, formulating and carrying out treatment plans, clinical procedures, clinical reasoning, emergency management and communication skills.

The same paragraph says that clinical clerkship should be completed in the affiliated hospitals and teaching hospitals of the school where the student studies.

Article 13(3): the graduation internship

Article 13(3) says that the school should organise and arrange the graduation internship carefully and reasonably. The graduation internship lasts one academic year, not less than 48 weeks. It is arranged in the school's teaching hospitals, or in teaching hospitals recognised by overseas health departments.

The school should follow its teaching plan strictly when it sets the internship content and requirements. The school must master the situation of the graduation internship. After the graduation internship, international students must take the graduation examination of the school where they study.

Article 14: Chinese language

Article 14 says that Chinese language, as a compulsory course, should run through the whole teaching process. The article gives two reasons: to suit students' convenience in study and daily life in China, and to meet the needs of later contact with patients. Article 14 names no level of Chinese proficiency.

Questions people ask

What subjects does the Chinese standard say an English-taught MBBS curriculum includes?

Article 13 sets three parts. Part (1) covers Chinese culture, education and natural science courses, including Overview of China, Chinese language, medical Chinese, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and physical education. Part (2) covers biomedical, behavioural, humanities and social science, preventive and clinical courses, and the article lists subjects for each group, with the words "usually include" for the biomedical, behavioural and preventive groups. Part (3) is the graduation internship.

How long is the graduation internship under the Chinese provisions?

Article 13(3) says that the graduation internship lasts one academic year, not less than 48 weeks. It says the internship is arranged in the school's teaching hospitals or in teaching hospitals recognised by overseas health departments.

Does the Chinese standard set a ratio between compulsory and elective courses?

Article 11 says that the curriculum should include compulsory and elective parts, and that the ratio between them may be determined according to actual conditions. Article 11 sets no ratio.

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. The official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.

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