Skip to content

Financial guarantee and guarantor for medical students in China: what the rules require

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

Under the Ministry of Education's 2007 provisions on English-taught undergraduate medical education, an applicant to study in China should have a reliable financial guarantee and a guarantor for affairs in China, and must undertake to buy the medical insurance the school requires (Article 21). Under Article 12 of Order No. 42, the school examines the financial guarantee proof of a foreign applicant, and under section 2.6 of the 2018 quality standards, the school sets and reviews the guarantee standard. Article 38 of Order No. 42 adds a guardian requirement for international students under eighteen whose parents do not live in China permanently.

These are Chinese Ministry of Education documents that set duties for schools and state what applicants should or must provide. They are not rules of any home-country regulator, and this page does not describe any home-country licence or registration condition. For the register's scope, see this register's section page.

The four provisions at a glance

Document Provision What it covers
Interim Provisions on Quality Control Standards for Undergraduate Medical Education in English for International Students (Ministry of Education, 教外来〔2007〕39号) Article 21 Financial guarantee, guarantor for affairs in China, medical insurance undertaking
Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) Article 12 School's examination of admission qualifications and financial guarantee proof
Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (notice 教外〔2018〕50号) Section 2.6 How a school sets and reviews the guarantee standard
Order No. 42 Article 38 Guardian for an international student under eighteen whose parents do not live in China permanently

The English wording on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese text. The official Chinese text prevails.

Article 21: the applicant's guarantee

Article 21 of the 2007 provisions has three parts:

  • a reliable financial guarantee (经济担保), which the applicant should have;
  • a guarantor for affairs in China (在华事务担保人), which the applicant should have;
  • an undertaking to buy the medical insurance the school requires for the period of study, which the applicant must give.

Article 21 sets no amount for the financial guarantee. It does not say who may act as the guarantor.

Article 12 of Order No. 42: the school's check

Article 12 says that a school shall examine the admission qualifications and the financial guarantee proof (经济保证证明) of a foreign applicant, and shall examine or assess the applicant. The school decides admission. A school may not enrol an applicant who does not meet the admission conditions.

Note that Article 12 uses the term "financial guarantee proof", while Article 21 of the 2007 provisions uses "financial guarantee".

Section 2.6 of the 2018 standards: setting and reviewing the standard

The Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China are issued as trial standards (试行) by notice 教外〔2018〕50号, dated 3 September 2018. They are addressed to higher education institutions. Section 2.6 sets out four points:

  • The school sets the guarantee standard for applicants. The standard is to fully cover reasonable costs of study, living and international travel, and the section refers to tuition and accommodation fee standards and the local general living cost level as its basis.
  • Where a local education authority has issued guidance standards, the school applies the corresponding guidance standard.
  • The school requires applicants to provide a guarantee proof that meets the standard.
  • The school reviews that proof on a prudent and due-diligence principle.

Section 2.6 gives no figure.

Article 38: guardians for students under eighteen

Article 38 of Order No. 42 says that where a school admits an international student under eighteen whose parents do not live in China permanently, the school must require the parents to formally entrust a guardian. The guardian must be a foreign or Chinese person who lives permanently in China. Relevant proof materials are to be provided.

The second paragraph of Article 38 concerns international students who study in groups for a short term. This page does not cover it.

Questions people ask

Does Article 21 set an amount for the financial guarantee?

No. Article 21 of the 2007 provisions says an applicant should have a reliable financial guarantee and a guarantor for affairs in China, and it sets no amount. Section 2.6 of the 2018 quality standards also gives no figure. It has the school set its own guarantee standard, and the school applies a local education authority's guidance standard where one has been issued.

Who checks the financial guarantee proof?

Article 12 of Order No. 42 says the school examines the admission qualifications and financial guarantee proof of a foreign applicant, and the school decides admission. Section 2.6 of the 2018 quality standards says the school requires proof that meets its standard and reviews that proof on a prudent and due-diligence principle.

What does Article 38 require for a student under eighteen?

Where the parents of an international student under eighteen do not live in China permanently, Article 38 of Order No. 42 says the school must require the parents to formally entrust a guardian. That guardian must be a foreign or Chinese person who lives permanently in China, and relevant proof materials are to be provided.

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.

MBBS Register Desk