Recently, there has been a wave of good news for international students:
On September 17, 2020, the Ministry of Education issued an announcement canceling the "Certification for Returned Overseas Students."
On September 16, 2020, the Ministry of Education announced that taking online courses domestically would not affect degree certification and permitted Sino-foreign cooperative programs to expand enrollment for students whose overseas studies were disrupted.
CheersYou（清柚教育） takes you through each of these two closely related new policies.
Cancelation of the "Certification for Returned Overseas Students"
First, let's look at what the "Certification for Returned Overseas Students" was used for:
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Applying for civil service positions or graduate studies
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Obtaining professional titles in enterprises and public institutions
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Applying for support when purchasing domestic housing
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Declaring to customs for purchasing duty-free domestic cars
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Applying for domestic scientific research start-up funds, grants, etc.
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Enjoying preferential policies when starting businesses in some large and medium-sized cities
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Priority enrollment for children of overseas returnees in some large and medium-sized cities
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Household registration, file processing, or work/residence permits in some large and medium-sized cities
The original purpose of this certification was to prove to domestic institutions and companies the validity of overseas degrees, confirming the authenticity of the study abroad experience and preventing fraudulent qualifications.
However, the process of obtaining the "Certification for Returned Overseas Students" was very cumbersome, and many students only realized they needed it after returning home, by which time they had missed the optimal application window. This cancelation by the Ministry of Education reflects the nation's respect and consideration for the international student community.
Students need not worry that the cancelation will affect access to various preferential policies; the following documents will replace the "Certification for Returned Overseas Students" to verify identity and qualifications:
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Graduation certificates from overseas institutions / or other proof of study
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Foreign degree certification issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) (http://zwfw.cscse.edu.cn/)
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Passport / visa with entry and exit records
For the specific process of applying for foreign degree certification, please refer to the article below:
The Most Up-to-Date and Complete Guide to Degree Certification for Returning Students in 2020!
https://www.cheersyou.com/zh/news/106630
Online Courses Do Not Affect Degree Certification
Since "the pandemic constitutes force majeure," international students taking remote online courses within China will not affect their degree certification. The official statement from the Ministry of Education reads:
"If international students, affected by pandemic prevention and control, are unable to return to school on time and choose to take some courses online, and as a result, their overseas stay does not meet the length of study required, this shall not be considered as a factor affecting the certification of their academic degrees."
With this announcement, students studying online at home can finally put their minds at ease. There is no need to agonize over deferring or attending campus, and no fear of being unable to obtain degree certification!
Temporary Expansion of Sino-Foreign Cooperative Programs
To address the problem of international students unable to travel abroad due to the pandemic, the Ministry of Education has allowed domestic universities to provide short-term study exchange opportunities. If a student's overseas university recognizes credits from the corresponding domestic university, the student may enroll in short-term studies there.
The Ministry also encourages Sino-foreign cooperative education institutions/programs, as well as cooperative institutions and programs between the mainland (Chinese Mainland) and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, to admit some eligible students whose overseas studies were disrupted. This effectively gives prospective international students a "second chance to choose a school," allowing them to directly enroll in Sino-foreign cooperative programs or institutions.
The list of institutions participating in this expansion policy includes:
These schools will conduct comprehensive evaluations of applicants and organize entrance exams in appropriate forms, with admission standards no lower than those applied by the foreign partner for similar programs in their home country. Upon completing their studies and meeting academic requirements, students will receive only the degree certificate from the foreign institution, which can then be certified by the CSCSE.
The Ministry of Education is guiding education departments at overseas embassies and consulates to actively liaise with host countries' education authorities and institutions to resolve issues hindering students' academic progress. With the Ministry's coordinated support, we believe everyone will successfully overcome the temporary academic challenges posed by the pandemic!
News source: Official website of the Ministry of Education
