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Part-time work off campus for international students in China: the work-study measures explained

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A master's or doctoral student in mainland China cannot take ordinary paid employment or start a business while studying: Order No. 42, Article 30 allows international students to take part in work-study activities during their studies at a higher education institution, but not to be employed, engage in commerce or carry out other profit-making activities. Off-campus work-study is possible, but only inside the work-study rules: the student must meet six conditions set out in the 2021 Measures, file the agreement with the university, and have the work-study information endorsed on the study residence permit by the exit-entry authority.

The English on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese texts; the Chinese text as published is the official one.

What "work-study" means, and what it excludes

Order No. 42, Article 30 adds that detailed management rules for work-study are to be formulated separately, and on this page those details come from the Measures for the Administration of Work-Study by International Students at Higher Education Institutions (2021).

The 2021 Measures define work-study in Article 3 as practical activity in which an international student, under the organisation and management of the school, uses time outside class to earn lawful remuneration through work in order to improve study and living conditions. Article 3 excludes from work-study teaching internships and social practice that the school organises under the teaching plan.

So the paid activity that is permitted is work-study as defined above. Employment, commerce and other profit-making activity remain outside what Order No. 42, Article 30 allows.

How many hours are allowed

Article 5 of the 2021 Measures sets the limits for work-study both on and off campus:

  • In principle, no more than 8 hours a week and no more than 40 hours a month.
  • During the winter and summer vacations, in principle no more than 16 hours a week and no more than 80 hours a month.

The six conditions for off-campus work-study

Under Article 9 of the 2021 Measures, a student doing off-campus work-study must meet the following basic conditions.

Condition What Article 9 requires
Age and fitness Aged 18 or older, and physically fit for the post
Residence status Holding a valid study-category residence permit in China, with remaining validity of six months or more
Conduct Complying with Chinese laws and school rules, of good conduct and performance, with no record of crime and no record of violations or disciplinary breaches
Length of study Has studied continuously at the current school for one year or more, as an undergraduate, graduate student, advanced student or research scholar
Academic standing Academic progress and attendance meet the school's requirements
Other Any other conditions set by the school

A graduate student falls within the "研究生" category in the fourth condition, so the same one-year-or-more continuous study requirement at the current school applies.

The paperwork: file the agreement, then endorse the permit

The steps follow the order in which the rules set them out.

  1. Sign an agreement with the employer.
  2. Submit a copy of that agreement to the school for filing, together with a unilateral letter of commitment covering matters such as risk-bearing (Article 10).
  3. Take the agreement, the school's certificate letter and related materials, and apply within ten days to the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ at the school's location for the residence permit to be endorsed with work-study information such as the work unit and duration (Article 11).
  4. Start the off-campus work only after that endorsement is made. Article 11 states that a person holding a residence permit without the work-study endorsement may not carry out off-campus work-study.

The Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners say the same thing from the permit side: under Article 22, a foreigner holding a residence permit for study who intends to engage in off-campus work-study or internship shall, upon the approval of the school, apply to the exit-entry administration authority to have information such as the location and duration of the work-study programme or internship placement specified in the residence permit, and shall not engage in such activity unless that information is specified.

The ten-day rule repeats when things change. Under Article 11, a student who changes off-campus work unit or duration must, with the new agreement and the school's certificate letter, apply to the exit-entry administration department within ten days to have the endorsement changed. If the off-campus work-study ends because the employer terminates the agreement or for a similar reason, the student must submit a written report to the school within ten days and complete the endorsement change with the exit-entry administration department.

Where and for how long

Article 12 limits off-campus work-study geographically and in time:

  • The area is limited to the prefecture-level city administrative region where the school is located.
  • Each period applied for may not exceed the validity of the study residence permit, and in any case not longer than one year.

Pay, safety and insurance

On pay, the third paragraph of Article 8 provides that off-campus work-study remuneration may not be lower than the minimum wage standard set by the people's government at the school's location or by the relevant department; the rate is agreed between the employer and the student, and the amount is written into the employment agreement. This page gives no figure in yuan.

On safety, Article 6 provides that the school may not arrange or authorise students to take part in toxic, harmful or dangerous production work, and must ensure that international students doing work-study have bought insurance covering the work-study activity.

When the school cancels work-study eligibility

Article 13 requires the school to cancel a student's work-study eligibility and promptly report to the exit-entry administration department in any of these cases:

  • The student completes studies, leaves without completing them, suspends study or withdraws;
  • The student violates national laws and regulations or the school's management rules;
  • The student's moral conduct is poor or violates public order and good custom, causing adverse impact;
  • Other circumstances in which the school determines the student should not continue, such as work-study affecting studies.

Working beyond the permitted scope or hours

Article 14 provides that where an international student's work-study goes beyond the post scope or the prescribed time limits, the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ handles the matter according to law. Article 14 itself names no penalty amount.

A planning suggestion, not a rule

The following is a planning suggestion only, not a requirement in any of the documents quoted here: work backwards from the ten-day filing and endorsement deadlines in Article 11 and the one-year ceiling in Article 12, and check with your school's international student office which internal conditions it sets under item (six) of Article 9 before you sign anything with an employer. For residence permit matters generally, see the site's /visa-and-arrival/ page.

Questions people ask

Can a graduate student take a normal paid job instead of work-study?

No, under Order No. 42, Article 30 an international student may take part in work-study but may not be employed, engage in commerce or carry out other profit-making activities. Off-campus work-study is the route that Article 9 to Article 14 of the 2021 Measures regulate.

Do I need my university's approval before starting off-campus work?

Yes, at two points. Your school files the agreement and receives your letter of commitment under Article 10, and it issues the certificate letter you take to the exit-entry authority under Article 11; Article 22 of the Regulations also requires the school's approval before you apply for the endorsement.

Can I work in a city other than the one my university is in?

No. Article 12 limits work-study to the prefecture-level city administrative region where the school is located.

How long can one period of off-campus work-study last?

Each period applied for may not exceed the validity of your study residence permit and may not exceed one year, under Article 12.

What happens if I work more hours than Article 5 allows?

Article 14 provides that exceeding the post scope or the prescribed time limits is handled by the exit-entry administration department according to law; Article 14 itself names no penalty amount.

Does the off-campus employer have to pay a minimum rate?

Yes. Under the third paragraph of Article 8, off-campus work-study pay may not be lower than the minimum wage standard set by the people's government at the school's location or by the relevant department, and the amount is agreed with the employer and written into the agreement.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary; it is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, CHSI or any university, it is not legal advice, and the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.

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