Regulations on the Enrollment and Cultivation of International Students at GDUT

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 To further standardize the administration of international students and advance the high-quality education development of international students, these Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Administrative Measures for the Enrollment and Cultivation of International Students by Schools, Higher Education Quality Standards for International Students in China (Trial), Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, Implementation Rules for the Enrollment and Cultivation of international students by Higher Education Institutions in Guangdong Province, and other relevant policies, combined with the practical circumstances of the university.

Article 2 The term' international students' in these Regulations refers to foreign nationals without Chinese citizenship under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China who are enrolled at the university, including degree-seeking and non-degree students. Degree-seeking students include undergraduates, graduate students, and doctoral students. Non-degree students include Chinese language program students, exchange students, and joint-program students.

Article 3 The strategic positioning for development of international students education at GDUT is to cultivate international students who are knowledgeable about and friendly toward China, aligned with the university's 'Three-Steps' development strategy, guided by the principles of 'expanding scale, optimizing structure, standardizing management, and ensuring quality', and in service of the university's '1+2+3' Discipline Enhancement Plan, the construction of a high-level innovative university, and the expansion of educational internationalization.

Chapter II Mechanisms and Responsibilities

Article 4 The university establishes a Leading Group for international students Affairs (hereinafter referred to as 'LG' ) to coordinate international students management, formulate policies, resolve major issues, and provide macro-level guidance.

The Leading Group is chaired by the vice president who supervises international affairs, with the heads of the International Office and the International Exchange College serving as vice chairs. Members include heads of the Teaching Affairs Division, Students Affairs Division, Graduate School, Finance Division, Security Division, General Affairs Division, and other relevant units.

The LG office is located within the International Exchange College, with its director appointed by the College's responsible person for international students affairs.

Article 5 The International Office is the university's authority for international affairs, responsible for guiding and supervising the implementation of foreign affairs policies and operations.

Article 6 The International Exchange College serves as the specialized unit for international students administration, administering enrollment, daily education, and management. Its responsibilities include:

ⅰ. Recruitment and admission of international students;

ⅱ. Development and operation of international students programs;

ⅲ. Verification, reporting, and filing of international students data;

Ⅳ.Assistance with visa, entry-exit, and residence permit procedures;

Ⅴ. Coordination with competent authorities on student status registered on the China Higher Education Student Information Network (Chsi.com.cn) (e.g., registration, adjustments, graduation); Be responsible for the daily teaching management of the all-English-taught undergraduate international students, teaching and curriculum development of preparatory and Chinese language education, in cooperation with relevant colleges to conduct discipline construction, teaching reform.

ⅵ. Scholarship administration, student discipline management, and alumni engagement;

ⅶ. Other daily educational and administrative services.

Articles 7 The Teaching Affairs Office is responsible for organizing and reviewing undergraduate program specifications, academic program, and course teaching quality standards for international students. It supervises the development of English-taught undergraduate programs and separately established classes for international students, coordinates the organization of teaching activities throughout the educational process, and assigns teaching tasks. Additionally, the office guides academic units in reviewing qualifications for graduation, program completion, partial completion, and degree conferral. It also manages data entry into the international students' undergraduate degree system and handles the preparation of graduation certificates, program completion certificates, partial completion certificates, and academic degree diplomas.

Article 8 The Student Affairs Office is responsible for supervising the daily education, management, and support services for international students.

Article 9 The Graduate School is responsible for organizing and reviewing graduate program specifications and education plans for international students. It coordinates the organization of teaching activities during the training process, assigns academic tasks, and reviews supervisor qualifications for international graduate students submitted by academic schools. The school also examines graduation and degree conferral eligibility, supervises degree awarding procedures, and manages degree information filing processes.

Article 10 The Finance Office is responsible for collecting application fees, tuition fees, accommodation fees, and handling the settlement of related charges for international students.

Article 11 The Security Office is responsible for the safety, security, and educational guidance of on-campus international students, and assists in submitting relevant information about international students to higher-level authorities and related departments.

Article 12 The General Affairs Office is responsible for providing logistical support to on-campus international students. This includes arranging accommodation in student dormitories and ensuring the maintenance of residential facilities.

Article 13 The Network Information and Technology Center is responsible for the production, authorization, and management of campus smart cards for international students. Relevant university departments and units, guided by the principle of collaborative advancement of educational internationalization, provide support services to international students within their respective functional scopes, following the standards and practices established for domestic students.

Article 14 The relevant academic schools are responsible for professional education within the institution and shall serve as the primary entities for international students' cultivation. Their principal duties include: academic registration management, formulation of educational programs, disciplinary and program development, curriculum construction, organization and administration of instruction, and oversight of graduation and degree conferral procedures. These units shall assist in implementing attendance tracking and comprehensive evaluations for international students, while coordinating their participation in appropriate academic and extracurricular activities organized by the unit, such as instructional internships, social practice initiatives, and other pedagogically aligned engagements.

Article 15 Other functional departments and academic units within the institution may, based on these regulations and in accordance with their respective operational responsibilities, formulate specific implementation rules and operational procedures. Such documents shall be subject to submission to the Leading Group for review and archival purposes.

Chapter III Enrollment and Admission

Article 16 The recruitment of international students in terms of academic programs and enrollment scale shall be determined based on its internationalization development strategy and related factors, independent of and not subject to domestic student enrollment quotas.

Article 17 The International Exchange College shall develop the annual admissions prospectus for international students in alignment with the university's internationalization strategy and related considerations. This document shall be submitted to the Leading Group for review and approval prior to its official release and implementation.

Article 18 The selection mechanism for international students admissions shall combine application review with entrance assessment. Foreign nationals applying for academic study or advanced training at this institution must possess the requisite qualifications prescribed by the Chinese government and relevant regulatory authorities, while concurrently meeting the institutional admission criteria. Specific requirements shall be detailed in the annual admissions prospectus.

Article 19 The International Exchange College shall be responsible for the execution of international students admissions procedures, data reporting, and document preparation. Non-degree students shall be subject to direct approval by the International Exchange College. Degree-seeking students shall undergo institutional review through collaborative processes involving the International Exchange College, relevant academic units, the Teaching Affairs Office (for undergraduate programs), and the Graduate School (for postgraduate programs).

Visa and residence permits for international students shall, in principle, align with their study duration. For students approaching graduation or program completion, such permits shall be automatically extended for up to one month to facilitate departure procedures and exit arrangements.

Upon completion of institutional approval processes, the International Exchange College shall submit documentation to superior departments, including the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, for final approval, with routine authorization to affix the university seal in accordance with standard administrative protocols.

Article 20 The University hereby encourages and supports all academic units responsible for professional education to proactively develop diverse international exchange programs with overseas academic and research institutions, encompassing both long-term and short-term initiatives. Particular emphasis shall be placed on prioritizing collaboration with overseas-based corporate entities to design customized educational programs tailored to specific institutional requirements. student admissions and enrollment under inter-institutional collaboration programs and customized training initiatives shall be governed by the provisions outlined in corresponding cooperative agreements, contingent upon compliance with international regulatory standards. These processes shall be executed in strict adherence to the terms stipulated in cooperative agreements while maintaining full alignment with applicable international conventions and institutional protocols.

Article 21 The University shall implement a series of measures, including but not limited to allocating special funds for English curriculum development, enhancing remuneration for English-medium instruction, and increasing graduate supervision fees. These initiatives aim to incentivize and support academic schools across disciplines in creating requisite conditions to establish English-taught programs, thereby providing international students with access to English-instructed courses or modular course offerings.

Chapter IV Student Status and Teaching Management

Article 22 Matters pertaining to international students, including but not limited to matriculation, registration, program transfer, institutional transfer, reinstatement, and withdrawal, shall be governed by the same student status administration regulations applicable to Chinese students.

Article 23 For academic programs where Chinese serves as the primary medium of instruction, international students shall attain Level 5 proficiency as defined in the International Chinese Language Proficiency Standards upon graduation.

For programs utilizing foreign-language as the primary medium of instruction:

ⅰ. Undergraduate students shall demonstrate at minimum Level 4 proficiency under the International Chinese Language Proficiency Standards;

ⅱ. Postgraduate candidates (master's and doctoral) shall demonstrate at least Level 3 proficiency under the said Standards.

Article 24 International students who satisfy the prescribed conditions under the university's academic status regulations and relevant provisions shall be eligible to obtain either a graduation certificate, completion certificate, discontinuation certificate, or authenticated study record.

For degree-seeking international students meeting the academic degree conferral criteria, the corresponding academic degree certificate shall be conferred upon review and approval by the University Degree Evaluation Committee.

Article 25 The curricular frameworks and credit requirements for international students shall be formulated with reference to China's discipline-specific degree conferral standards. Where necessary, appropriate adjustments may be implemented to specific curricular components and pedagogical modules, in accordance with the national education internationalization strategy and the practical needs of international students.

Furthermore, the Teaching Affairs Office or Graduate School shall conduct periodic reviews of degree program frameworks for degree-seeking international students and implement necessary revisions, ensuring alignment with national and societal imperatives while adapting to evolving trends in international students education.

Article 26 Chinese language and Chinese Civilization Overview shall constitute compulsory course components for all degree-seeking international students. Political Theory courses shall be mandatory for international students pursuing programs in Philosophy and Political Science, while students in other disciplines shall be exempted from such requirements.

International students shall be exempt from participation in National Defense Education components, including both military theory instruction and military skills training.

Instructional Responsibilities:

ⅰ. Chinese language courses shall be administered by the International Exchange College;

ⅱ. Chinese Civilization Overview courses shall be delivered through collaborative responsibility between the International Exchange College and relevant academic schools or institutions.

Article 27 The teaching administration of international students shall be implemented in accordance with the requirements for Chinese students. Relevant academic schools shall designate dedicated personnel to administer the daily teaching management of international students, understand their academic needs, and provide timely services in information dissemination and consultation.

Academic schools within the university shall submit international students' academic performance and attendance records to the International Exchange College in a timely manner. The International Exchange College shall, in compliance with directives from superior authorities, promptly submit reports regarding relevant attendance and academic status to higher-level departments.

Article 28 The course assessment, grade evaluation and recording, course exemption, deferred examinations, grade management and utilization, and other academic matters pertaining to international students shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant regulations applicable to Chinese students.

Article 29 Degree-seeking international students may apply for academic program changes subject to university approval after enrollment. Detailed implementation procedures shall be jointly formulated by the International Exchange College, Teaching Affairs Office, and Graduate School.

Article 30 Relevant academic schools shall standardize the administration of international students' thesis evaluation processes, including review procedures, submission for evaluation, and defense mechanisms. In accordance with established protocols, mandatory academic integrity verification, anonymous peer review by disciplinary experts, and random sampling of theses shall be conducted for degree candidates' dissertations.

Article 31 Degree students taught in a foreign-language medium shall compose their dissertations in Chinese or the language of instruction specified in the academic program, with the abstract mandatorily presented in Chinese. Thesis defense proceedings shall be conducted in Chinese or the language of instruction prescribed by the academic program.

Article 32 International graduate students' academic research achievement requirements for thesis defense applications shall be determined by their respective academic schools subject to the university's relevant regulations, with such determinations filed with the Degree Office for archival purposes.

Article 33 Upon occurrence of academic status alterations or disciplinary actions involving international students, relevant academic schools or administrative departments shall promptly notify the International Exchange College. The International Exchange College shall, depending on the circumstances, report such matters to superior authorities in accordance with applicable regulations, with all notifications being documented through official channels.

Article 34 Relevant academic schools organizing off-campus internships or social practice activities for international students beyond municipal boundaries shall provide timely notification to the International Exchange College. The International Exchange College shall, based on the nature of the circumstances, report such activities to immigration authorities in accordance with relevant regulations. The selection of internship or practice locations must comply with national foreign affairs regulations. Where operational conditions permit and substantive necessity exists, international students may be authorized to conduct internships in their home countries, provided that corresponding academic management protocols are established and implemented.

Article 35 Relevant academic schools encountering pedagogical or enrollment administration issues during international student cultivation shall proactively coordinate with the Teaching Affairs Office or Graduate School for resolution. The International Exchange College shall provide consultative services regarding policy interpretation and regulatory compliance for international students, while rendering assistance in facilitating student communication processes.

Chapter Ⅴ Daily Management Services

Article 36 International students shall comply with Chinese laws and regulations, respect Chinese customs and cultural norms, abide by institutional disciplinary regulations, and fulfill prescribed academic requirements. Violations of the following legal provisions, including but not limited to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China, Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, and Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners within China, shall be subject to lawful disposition by public security authorities and other competent government departments. Infractions of institutional disciplinary regulations shall be addressed pursuant to the institution's disciplinary measures for student conduct violations and related administrative protocols.

Article 37 International students shall, upon enrollment, complete confirmation procedures for the Foreigner's Physical Examination Record or undergo medical examinations at designated Chinese health quarantine authorities in accordance with applicable regulations. Individuals diagnosed with severe mental disorders, active pulmonary tuberculosis, or other infectious diseases potentially posing significant public health risks as defined under the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China shall be subject to lawful disposition by public security authorities.

Article 38 The institution shall implement a universal insurance system for all international students. International students shall procure insurance coverage as prescribed. Those failing to obtain insurance in accordance with regulations shall be granted a remedial enrollment period to obtain coverage. Failure to comply within the stipulated time-frame shall result in admission disqualification; enrolled students failing to maintain valid insurance shall face deregistration or academic standing revocation. International students without compliant insurance coverage shall bear sole responsibility for any accidental injuries or medical incidents occurring during uninsured periods.

Article 39 International students shall pay registration fees, tuition fees, accommodation fees, and other applicable charges as prescribed upon enrollment. Fee schedules for registration, tuition, and accommodation shall be published in the annual international students admissions brochure or made available through the university's official information disclosure platform. Fees for inter-university exchange programs shall be implemented in accordance with bilateral agreements, while customized program fees shall be executed by the International Exchange College following regulatory approval and filing. All payments and refunds shall be processed exclusively by the Finance Office, with the settlement currency denominated in Chinese Yuan (RMB).

Article 40 The registration fee shall be paid in full upon initial enrollment. Degree-seeking students shall pay tuition fees on an annual basis. Students withdrawing, transferring, or facing academic standing revocation mid-academic year shall not be entitled to tuition refunds or transfers. Those taking academic leave mid-year shall retain paid tuition for use upon resuming studies. Students enrolling mid-academic year shall pay full tuition for the current semester. Accommodation fees and ancillary charges for degree students shall be assessed based on actual usage.

Degree-seeking students resuming studies after academic leave, transferring academic programs, or entering from other institutions shall pay tuition aligned with their reassigned academic level and program's fee schedule, commencing from the initial semester of enrollment. Balance adjustments shall be made with refunds or supplemental payments as applicable.

Non-degree students shall pay tuition proportionate to their study duration, with ancillary fees assessed per actual usage. Withdrawals, transfers, or disciplinary dismissals mid-program shall result in forfeiture of paid tuition. Accommodation refunds shall be calculated on a prorated monthly basis; fees for partial months shall not be refunded, though security deposits shall be returned per regulations. Students holding valid visas or residence permits must complete visa modification or residence permit cancellation procedures prior to initiating refund requests. Non-degree students violating Chinese laws, including public security or immigration regulations, shall be subject to immediate deregistration.

Article 41 International students residing in university accommodation shall, within 24 hours of check-in, complete the following procedures:

ⅰ. Obtain an Accommodation Certification from the International Exchange College;

ⅱ. Register their accommodation with the local police station under the jurisdiction of their residence and apply for the Temporary Residence Registration Form for Foreign Nationals.

Article 42 The International Exchange College shall, in collaboration with relevant departments/units, organize and implement orientation programs and ongoing legal and safety education for international students.

The educational curriculum shall include, but not be limited to, the following components:

ⅰ. Chinese laws and regulations;

ⅱ. University policies and disciplinary codes;

ⅲ.China's national conditions and the university's institutional context;

ⅳ. Traditional Chinese culture, customs, and social norms.

Article 43 The university shall establish International Students Counselor positions, which shall be administered by the International Exchange College. The staffing ratio of International Students Counselors shall not be lower than that for Chinese student counselors;

Article 44 The International Exchange College shall be responsible for organizing and compiling International Students Records, in accordance with relevant records management requirements.

Article 45 The International Exchange College shall implement and manage alumni affairs for international students, under the guidance of the Office of External Liaison and Alumni Affairs of GDUT and with the assistance from relevant academic schools.

Article 46 The university shall encourage and support international students in participating in various on-campus student organizations and actively integrating into campus life. International students may establish student organizations, which shall be:

ⅰ. Administered under the coordination of the International Exchange College;

ⅱ. Subject to the university's unified administration;

ⅲ. Compliant with Chinese laws, regulations, and the university's relevant policies and codes of conduct.

Article 47 The university shall encourage and support international students actively in applying for scholarships established by governmental departments at all levels, including but not limited to the Guangdong Provincial Government Scholarship for International Students in Guangdong, and shall establish the Guangdong University of Technology International Student Scholarship Review Leading Group (hereinafter referred to as the 'International Student Scholarship Review Panel'), with the following composition and responsibilities:

The International Exchange College shall undertake specific responsibilities, including organizing applications, receiving and reviewing application materials, coordinating evaluations, and disbursing funds.

Relevant departments/units shall provide collaborative support in accordance with their respective functions.

Article 48 The university shall respect the ethnic customs and religious beliefs of international students. However, the university shall neither designate nor provide venues for religious activities within campus premises. All members of the university community are strictly prohibited from conducting the following on campus:

ⅰ. Proselytizing or disseminating religious doctrines;

ⅱ. Organizing religious gatherings, worship services, or other collective religious practices;

ⅲ. Engaging in any form of religious activity that disrupts normal educational operations or violates Chinese laws and regulations.

Article 49 International students shall be permitted to participate in work-study programs during their academic tenure at the university but be strictly prohibited from: Engaging in employment; Conducting business operations; Participating in other commercial or profit-driven activities within Chinese territory. For internship-related engagements, international students shall submit a request to the International Exchange College, which shall assist in processing internship visa documentation in compliance with applicable legal and administrative requirements.

Article 50 The university shall continuously improve the emergency response plans for incidents involving international students. In the event of any emergency involving international students, the university shall implement the corresponding emergency response plan and address the incident in strict compliance with established protocols.

Chapter Ⅵ Supplementary provisions

Article 51 Matters not expressly stipulated herein shall be governed by the relevant regulations of superior authorities and the university's applicable rules and regulations.

Article 52 These Measures shall enter into force upon the date of promulgation. The Leading Group shall retain exclusive authority to interpret the provisions herein.

The following documents are hereby repealed simultaneously:

ⅰ. Regulations on the Administration of International Students at Guangdong University of Technology;

ⅱ. Interim Measures for the Enrollment of International Students at Guangdong University of Technology;

ⅲ. Provisional Measures for the Management of International Students at Guangdong University of Technology;

ⅳ. Interim Measures for the Administration of Visa Affairs for International Students at Guangdong University of Technology.

In case of discrepancy between these Measures and any other existing university regulations pertaining to international students administration, these Measures shall prevail.

Note:In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.GDUT reserves the right of final interpretation.