FAQs

1. Why is applying via traditional means not the best option?
2. When should I apply?
3. Can I apply for a program on CUCAS if I have not yet received my graduate certificate and transcript?
4. Can I enroll in a degree program without taking the HSK exam?
5. How do I complete the application process?
6. What should I do with the "Proposed starting date of studying in China" and "Proposed ending date"?
7. Why is CUCAS reliable? What should I do if I have paid the application fee, but the university hasn't accepted me?
8. What is the difference between application fee and processing fee?
9. Can I pay the application fee in China?
10. Can I apply for a Master's program which is different to my undergrad major?
11. How do I prepare the scaned documents?
12. How do I prepare the personal statement ?
13. How do I prepare the Physical Examination Record?
14. How do I prepare a financial guarantee?
15. How do I prepare the notarization of guarantor in China?
16. How do I prepare the notarization of guarantor for minors (for applicants under 18 years of age)?
17. How do I prepare the letter of recommendation?
18. After submitting my application files, how long will it take to get a response from the university?
19. If I need other help during my study in China, can I ask CUCAS for help?
20. How do I pursue further education after graduation or transfer to another university while studying in China?
21. What is the "Agency No." for the Chinese Government Scholarship application?
22. Why do I have to provide "HSK results" or "IELTS/ TOEFL test scores"?
23. How do I register at the university if I have been enrolled?

Q1. Why is applying via traditional means not the best option?

In general, there are two traditional methods to apply to study in China. One is directly mailing the school via email. Another is sending all your application documents to the international office of the university by postal mail. But both of these options have their problems. Many schools have yet to set up a standardized procedure to accept admissions via email and will therefore ignore such applications. Meanwhile, sending all the required documents via postal mail is time-consuming and far from risk free. By contrast, CUCAS is the official organization responsible for managing applications to programs in China. China's institutions deal with applications directly on the CUCAS system. We help students to find the right program. We try to make things run as smoothly as possible by providing innovative online tools which make it easier for students and China's schools to manage applications and offers.

Q2. When should I apply?

Applicants should apply for their chosen program at least two months before the start date listed on the program page. If you've missed the deadline for your chosen course, you can check with us at service@cucas.cn for further information. Most universities and colleges are happy to receive your application later, and will consider you for their progams if they still have vacancies.

Q3. Can I apply for a program on CUCAS if I have not yet received my graduate certificate and transcript?

Most Chinese universities require international students to provide the graduate certificates and academic transcripts of their highest education. If you are graduating soon but have not yet received the graduate certificate and final academic transcript, your application can be submitted with the following documents:

• A certification of expected graduation provided by your current school.
• Current academic transcript.
• Other application materials required, e.g. letter of recommedation, certificate of HSK, etc.

Once you have uploaded the application materials and submitted the application on CUCAS, you will receive an important email on how to access and track the progress of your application. The university will carefully consider your application. Some universities will give you a conditional offer if you are qualified and some universities will make the decision once your final grades and graduate certificates are available. Normally, the requirements must be fulfilled prior to enrolling in the program.

Q4. Can I enroll in a degree program without taking the HSK exam?

Most degree programs taught in Chinese have an HSK requirement. The HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) proves that the applicant has attained a certain level of language proficiency and is therefore able to attend classes taught in Chinese. However, many universities will offer conditional admission to students who have not met the HSK requirement. Students are accepted onto the program if they successfully complete a one-semester or one-year Chinese language program prior to attending the degree program. 

For more information regarding the HSK requirement, please contact service@cucas.cn.

NB: Conditional admission is not applicable to the following universities:

• Fudan University
• Tongji University
• Sun Yat-sen University
• Shanghai International Studies University
• Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

Q5. How do I complete the application process?

CUCAS Online Application System allows international applicants to DIRECTLY apply for degree and non-degree programs at China's universities. We ask you to complete the following main sections.

1. Fill out the online application form
2. Upload required application materials
3. Make payment
4. Submit application

NB: All the sections listied are required to be completed, as in the picture shown below. This is a pre-requisite of the university processing your application.

To turn the section to "Completed", you need to click on 'section completed' and 'save' to confirm you have completed the current section once you have finished all the entries. You can also click on 'section completed' and 'next' to complete the current section and to proceed to the next. 

Once you have finished all the sections, you can submit your application by clicking the Submit button.

Q6. What should I do with the "Proposed starting date of studying in China" and "Proposed ending date"? What is the meaning of "Subject to approval"?

The "proposed dates" refer to China's semester system. Spring semester programs start at the end of February or beginning of March and finish at the end of June. The fall semester lasts from the beginning of September until the beginning of January. The university will use the study duration you give on the application form to arrange your admission notice and JW202 form (documents need for your visa).

"Subject to approval" means the program's starting date has yet to be decided by the university.

Q7. Why is CUCAS reliable? What should I do if I have paid the application fee, but the university hasn't accepted me?

CUCAS is the official organization responsible for managing applications to programs at Chinese universities. China's institutions deal with applications directly on the CUCAS system. We help students to find the right program. We try to make things run as smoothly as possible by providing innovative online tools which make it easier for students and China's schools to manage applications and offers. Find out more about CUCAS.

If you are refused by the university to which you applied, CUCAS will inform you as soon as possible via email. According to your situation, we will recommend another university that is suitable for you.

Q8. What is the difference between application fee and processing fee?

CUCAS Processing Fee

The CUCAS processing fee (30 US dollars) is used for the operation and maintenance of the CUCAS online application system, as well as advice and admission services offered by the CUCAS Students Service Team.
The CUCAS Processing Fee covers six applications. If it is the first time you apply on CUCAS, you will be asked to pay the CUCAS processing fee. You will not be charged for the next five applications.

Application Fee

Each individual university you apply to will charge their own application fee which CUCAS is authorized to collect on their behalf according to the agreements between CUCAS & the universities.

Paying the application fee (usually between 60 to 120 US dollars) is the prerequisite of an applicant getting the chance of enrollment.
Since universities in China only accept payment in RMB, CUCAS is responsible for the commission for foreign exchange and remittance for universities. CUCAS converts Renminbi into US dollars on the CUCAS website for students' convenience.

Q9. Can I pay the application fee in China?

Applicants in China can use a direct bank transfer to pay the application fee in RMB.
If you are in China or you have a friend in China, you can pay your application fee in RMB through a Chinese bank. Please take the following bank information in Chinese when you or your friend goes to the bank. It usually takes 2-3 working days for the banking system to confirm the payment. Please upload a photocopy of your bank receipt as soon as you complete the transfer.

Q10. Can I apply for a Master's program which is different to my undergrad major?

Under normal circumstances, students who majored in science or the humanities can apply for postgraduate programs in economics and business. Science majors who apply for humanities subjects are also usually admitted. However, it is unusual for humanities majors to be admitted to master's programs in science and engineering.

This will depend on the individual's Bachelor's degree and transcript i.e. what they studied as an undergraduate.

Students who did not study chemistry and math in high school cannot apply for medical programs.

Q11. How do I prepare the scaned documents?

Documents you are required to submit: It's best to use a scanner to scan copies of the required documents. If you don't have access to a scanner, you can take a photo. Scanned or photographed documents must be clear and legible.

Q12. How do I prepare the personal statement or resume?

Resume (CV) or personal statement: Some universities require applicants to provide a resume or personal statement. A personal statement should be approx. 500-1000 words in length and describe your personal qualities, interests, educational background, why you want to study in China, your future academic or career plans, and so on. If you are already working, you should include your work experience. Applicants for post-graduate programs should include their field of research and a study plan.

Q13. How do I prepare the Physical Examination Record?

Physical Examination Record: Only students applying for an X (student) visa need to submit the physical examination record. Generally, you will only need an X visa if you study in China for more than six months.

NB: Students do not need to submit a Physical Examination Record with their application to a Chinese university. Rather, you will need to submit it to the Chinese embassy when you are applying for your student visa. You must bring the original documents with you when you come to China, so that you won't have to re-do the physical examination in China. The physical exam must be taken within six months of applying for your student visa, otherwise the results will no longer be considered valid. If you apply for your visa more than six months after taking the exam, you will have to re-do it.

You can download the form from our website here. Take the form to a public hospital in your country, undergo a physical examination and have a doctor complete the form. On the last page of the form, the hospital must affix its official seal along with the student's photograph.

Q14. How do I prepare a financial guarantee?

A financial guarantee is used as proof that the tuition fees will be paid. If the student is self-financed, the person paying the tuition fees must complete and sign this form. If the student has a scholarship, please ask the relevant organization to show proof that the student has won a scholarship and upload the document. You can download a templete of the financial support statement from CUCAS.

Q15. How do I prepare the notarization of guarantor in China?

A notarization of guarantor in China/Guardian's Letter of Guarantee: If the student is 18 or over, this should be completed and signed by the student's parents, and uploaded along with the other application documents. NB Most universities do not actually require that the guarantor be in China. However, others do. You can download a templete of the notarization letter from CUCAS.

Q16. How do I prepare the notarization of guarantor for minors (for applicants under 18 years of age)?

A notarization of guarantor for minors (for applicants under 18 years of age): Any student under 18 is required to submit one. The steps for obtaining a notarization of guarantor for minors is as follows.

Step one: the student's parents should write a letter of proxy authorizing an adult in China to act as a guarantor. Once the letter has been notarized the student takes the certificate of notarization to the Chinese embassy to be authenticated. You may download a templete of the letter from CUCAS.

Step two: the guarantor takes the aforementioned authentication certificate and writes a letter confirming that they are entrusted as a guarantor and takes these to the local notary office in China for notarization. The guarantor and student will receive a statement of guarantor for minors. The student should then upload a copy of the statement with his/her application documents.

NB: You must bring the original copies of your application documents when you register at the school.

Q17. How do I prepare the letter of recommendation?

Letter or Recommendation: Some universities require applicants to provide one or two letters of recommendation as a character reference. The referee can be the student's current or former teacher (including a Chinese teacher), or employer. A letter of recommendation should have the referee's signature. It is suggested that a letter or recommendation include: an assessment of the applicant's study and research abilities, individual character, performance, team spirit, leadership qualities, potential for development and so on.

Q18. After submitting my application files, how long will it take to get a response from the university?

It normally takes 7 to 10 working days for a university's admissions office to process the application and to prepare the offer package with visa supporting documents. They will send you the relevant files for registration via email or postal mail. If you have not received a reply for more than 2 weeks, you can contact our student service team at service@cucas.cn to solve the problem.

What should I do if I want to apply for more than one program?

After you submit an application for the first time, all the information and documents you provided will be saved in the database. If you apply for another program on CUCAS, you will not be asked to answer the same questions or upload the same documents.

Q19. If I need additional help during my study in China, can I ask CUCAS for help?

Sure. We have set up the China Education Information Center and International students' transmission center in order to provide the best service to international students.

Q20. How do I pursue further education after graduation or transfer to another university while studying in China?

Once you have completed your current program and obtained the graduation certificate, you can apply for programs at other universities. For example, if you've obtained a bachelor's degree from a Chinese university and want to apply for a master's degree program, you just need to find out the application requirements and what materials you should submit. If you meet the requirements, you can apply for the school directly via our website.

If you want to transfer to another university, you need to meet the application requirements of the university. In order to solve this problem as well as possible, we established the International students' transmission center. We try our best to provide the most useful service for our applicants. So if you have any problems, please consult us by emailing service@cucas.cn.

Q21. What is the "Agency No." for Chinese Government Scholarship application?

The "AGENCY NO." is one of the most crucial parts of your online application for Chinese Government Scholarships.

• Applicants shall consult the dispatching authorities as below to ask for the agency number required for online scholarship application:
• Embassies (Consulate-General) of P. R. China in sending countries
• Embassies of sending countries in China
• Regional education departments
• Chinese higher education institutions (Please check the Directory of Chinese Higher Institutions Admitting International Students under Chinese Government Scholarship Program.)
• Other educational institutions

Q22. Why do I have to provide "HSK results" or "IELTS/ TOEFL test scores"?

HSK test scores: HSK results prove a student's Chinese proficiency. Applicants for programs taught in English do not need HSK test scores.

IELTS or TOEFL test scores: Applicants for programs taught in English must provide IELTS or TOEFL test scores. Students whose mother tongue is English need not provide test scores. Students who hold a high school diploma or degree taught in English do not need to provide test scores but must provide proof from their school or other proof of their English proficiency, as long as it is verified by the school.

Q23. How do I register at the university if I have been enrolled?