Can I transfer between Chinese universities?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
Yes, but only with the agreement of both universities. Under Order No. 42, Article 13, a higher education institution may accept an international student who was admitted to or is transferring from another school only after the original admitting school consents. The 2018 quality standards, section 10.5, add the steps: you apply, your current university and the receiving university both agree, your current university passes on your academic and conduct records if you meet the conditions to transfer out, and the receiving university reviews your transfer against its own entry standard, training requirements and capacity.
What the rules say
Order No. 42 and the 2018 quality standards are Chinese texts; the English wording below is this site's translation.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| A university may accept a transfer student only after the original admitting school consents. | Order No. 42, Article 13 |
| A university must publish its fee items, fee standards and refund rules for withdrawal and transfer; fees and refunds are priced in RMB. | Order No. 42, Article 14 |
| Transfer: the student applies, both universities agree, the current university passes on academic and conduct records, and the receiving university reviews the transfer against its own entry standard, training requirements and capacity. | 2018 Quality Standards, section 10.5 |
| Published admission information must include transfer and major-change rules and financial regulations such as the refund policy. | 2018 Quality Standards, section 2.1 |
Article 14 of Order No. 42 also states that a university's charges and refunds follow the relevant state regulations, and that the published rules cover withdrawal and transfer. Section 2.1 of the quality standards repeats that the admission information a university publishes must include its transfer and major-change rules and its financial rules, including the refund policy. The articles read for this page do not print a fee or refund amount for transferring; each university publishes its own.
Who decides
Both universities decide. The original university must consent before the receiving university may take you, under Order No. 42, Article 13. The receiving university then reviews your application under section 10.5 of the quality standards: it must apply a standard not lower than its own international student entry standard, and must also be satisfied that you meet its training requirements and that it has the capacity to train you. If you meet the conditions to transfer out, your current university must give the receiving university a full and truthful account of your academic performance and conduct. Both universities must, under national regulations and their respective duties, closely and smoothly connect the handling of your student status, immigration and exit-entry affairs and hand over copies of your documents.
What the official pages do not say
The articles read for this page do not describe the residence-permit step in detail beyond the duty of both universities to connect immigration and exit-entry affairs and hand over copies of the documents. For the residence-permit formalities in your own case, ask the international student office of the universities involved or the exit-entry office.
Related questions
Do universities have to publish their transfer and refund rules?
Yes. Order No. 42, Article 14 requires a university to publish its fee items, fee standards and refund rules for withdrawal and transfer, with fees and refunds priced in RMB. Section 2.1 of the 2018 quality standards also requires published admission information to include transfer and major-change rules and financial regulations such as the refund policy.
What records does my current university send to the new university?
Under section 10.5 of the quality standards, if you meet the conditions to transfer out, your current university must truthfully and comprehensively provide the receiving university with your academic performance and conduct. Both universities must also connect your student status, immigration and exit-entry affairs and hand over copies of your documents.
What standard does the receiving university use to review a transfer?
Section 10.5 of the quality standards says the receiving university must review a transfer application on the principle that the student is not below its own international student entry standard, meets the university's training requirements, and that the university has the capacity to train the student.
Sources
- Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by or affiliated with the bodies named, and that the official text and the instructions of the university, embassy or exit-entry office handling your case prevail if they differ.