Same examinations as Chinese students: how international students are assessed on a degree in China

Are international students assessed differently from Chinese students? No. In the same course a higher education institution must use the same examination or assessment method for Chinese and international students (Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), section 10.3), and an international student's training goals and graduation requirements in the discipline are the same as those of Chinese students at the same university and programme (Quality Standards, Part One).

The English wording in this article is this site's translation of the Chinese text.

Same method in the same course

Section 10.3 of the Quality Standards states that higher education institutions shall clearly specify the examination and assessment methods for international students' courses, and shall use the same examination and assessment method for Chinese and international students in the same course.

Same training goals and graduation requirements

On the discipline itself, Part One of the Quality Standards provides that an international student's training goals and graduation requirements in the discipline are consistent with those of Chinese students at the same university and programme, and meet the teaching standards or relevant norms of the corresponding education level and discipline.

The Quality Standards also state what international students should know about China: they shall be familiar with China's history, geography, society and economy and other basic knowledge of China's national conditions and culture, understand China's political system and foreign policy, understand Chinese society's mainstream values and public moral concepts, and form sound legal awareness and moral consciousness (Quality Standards, Part One).

Following the teaching plan and graduation assessment

Order No. 42 requires a university to incorporate the international student teaching plan into the school's overall teaching plan, choose teachers suited to international student teaching, and build a sound education and teaching quality assurance system (Order No. 42, Article 15).

International students shall study courses according to the university's course arrangements and teaching plan, and shall take the corresponding graduation examination or assessment as required; the school shall truthfully record their academic performance and daily conduct (Order No. 42, Article 16).

Two subjects are set as compulsory. Chinese language and China overview shall be compulsory courses for higher education that awards academic credentials. Political theory shall be a compulsory course for international students studying philosophy and political science majors (Order No. 42, Article 16).

How results are recorded, and cheating

Order No. 41, the Provisions on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions, is written for students in regular degree education in general. Under Order No. 41, Article 66 and Order No. 42, Article 31, universities apply its rules to international students by reference. The university's own published rules for international students give the actual periods and procedures.

On assessment, Order No. 41 provides that students shall take the assessment of the courses set out in the school's education and teaching plan; the assessment results shall be recorded in the academic record and placed in the student status file. Assessment is divided into two types: examination and inspection. The assessment and grade evaluation methods, and whether a failed course is retaken or made up, are stipulated by the school (Order No. 41, Article 13, applied by reference to international students).

On academic integrity, Order No. 41 provides that the school shall record and issue student academic performance truthfully and completely, and shall mark results obtained through make-up exams or retakes. A student who seriously violates assessment discipline or cheats has that course's assessment result recorded as invalid, and receives corresponding disciplinary action according to the circumstances of the violation or cheating. A student given a warning, serious warning, demerit or probation, and who performs well after education, may be given a make-up exam or retake opportunity for that course (Order No. 41, Article 18, applied by reference to international students).

What the university sets itself

The documents leave several matters to each university. The Quality Standards require schools to specify examination and assessment methods; Order No. 41 leaves the assessment and grade evaluation methods, and retake or make-up arrangements, to the school; and Order No. 42 leaves the selection of teachers and the building of the quality assurance system to the institution. For the actual examination schedule, assessment forms, retake periods and procedures in your programme, consult the university's own published admissions brochure and student rules.

Questions people ask

Are international students graded on a different scale?

The same examination or assessment method applies in the same course (Quality Standards, section 10.3). How grades are evaluated, and whether a failed course is retaken or made up, is set by the school (Order No. 41, Article 13, applied by reference to international students).

Do international students have to study Chinese and China studies?

Yes. Chinese language and China overview are compulsory courses for higher education that awards academic credentials, and political theory is compulsory for international students studying philosophy and political science majors (Order No. 42, Article 16).

What happens if an international student cheats on an exam?

The course assessment result is recorded as invalid, and the student receives disciplinary action according to the circumstances; a student given a warning, serious warning, demerit or probation who performs well after education may be given a make-up exam or retake chance for that course (Order No. 41, Article 18, applied by reference to international students).

Sources

• Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Provisions on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions (Order No. 41) — Ministry of Education of the PRC

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, is not legal advice, and the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.