University Education and Academic Degrees

China's higher education system is mainly influenced by the United States and Russia.  This influence is reflected in:

1) Types of institution: research universities, comprehensive universities, colleges for professional training, higher vocational education.

2) Names of the Universities: the name of the university is usually related to the name of the city or its geographic location. In addition, due to a strong Soviet influence at the time of their founding, many universities reflect their areas of expertise in their titles, for instance, University of Aeronautics, University of Geosciences, Ocean University, Jiaotong (Transportation) University, Posts and Telecommunications University.

Development of China's universities

Today, almost all Chinese universities are comprehensive universities. Despite the advantages of their own disciplines, universities offer subjects which go far beyond the name of the covered area of expertise, and it is therefore still possible to study other subjects at universities, such as International Business at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Marketing at China University of Petroleum - Beijing, or Accounting at Beijing Language and Culture University.

Universities' Administration

Universities in China are usually public universities, and only public universities can award degrees. Therefore, foreign students needn’t worry about the qualification they would receive from a Chinese university. Aside from being under the Ministry of Education, other universities are under the provincial authority.

5 years ago, there were many universities (especially medical universities) that were under the management of certain ministries of the Chinese central government, but they have now all been incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, or merged into other comprehensive universities.

China's Universities' Quality Assurance System

Since almost all universities in China are public, the Chinese government attaches great importance to controlling the standards of a university. Quality controls are mainly ensured through the following channels:

1. The opening of any course or awarding of a degree must be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Education;
2. The Chinese Ministry of Education set up the “Undergraduate Quality of Education Assessment Committee” wherein the university will undergo mandatory periodic assessment.
3. The association of each subject course must, on a regular basis, evaluate the quality and development of various disciplines and research areas.
4. Non-government organizations and the media conduct annual rankings of China's universities.

Academic Degrees Awarded in China's Universities

International students who want to pursue higher education in China must meet the requirements set by the Chinese government and the university in question.

University Semesters & Holidays

If you're taking a degree program, students usually have one opportunity to enroll per a year.

Chinese universities usually start the school year in fall. A small number of universities enroll in spring, such as the B.A.Program: Chinese Language at Beijing Language and Culture University, International Finance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the Clinical Medicine (MBBS in English) at Xi'an Jiaotong University.

• Fall Semester: Mid-September – January or Early February of the following year (a few schools for international students defer their start date to the end of September or mid-October, such as MBBS or some engineering courses taught in English)
• Spring semester: February or Early March – Mid July

Please note that most classes in China are taught on weekdays excluding school holidays.

School holidays are the periods during which schools are closed for study. These are in addition to public holidays, which apply throughout the community.

Summer holidays start from early July and last until late August.

Winter holidays fall during Chinese New Year and last for about one month from the middle of January to February.