Rules that overseas Chinese students must know before returning to China for education

When it comes to overseas Chinese students attending college, their first choice is usually not Chinese universities. So why are more and more overseas Chinese parents choosing to send their children back to China for further education?

On the one hand, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic overseas has had a significant impact on the economy, and parents are concerned about their children’s health and job prospects after graduation. They believe that the situation in China is relatively stable and may offer better opportunities for their children.

On the other hand, Chinese universities are continuously improving their rankings worldwide, optimizing their teaching conditions and improving the quality of education, which is attractive to parents.

Most importantly, regardless of whether their children apply as an international student or a Chinese student returning from overseas, there is a greater chance of gaining admission to top universities such as Tsinghua and Peking University!

Applying as International Students

We’ll use the admission requirements for undergraduate international students at Tsinghua University as an example. Tsinghua University uses an application system and assessment to admit international students. Admissions are based on a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant’s academic achievements, relevant qualifications, interview performance, and other supporting documentation.

In other words, applicants must first meet basic requirements – having a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate for at least 4 years, and a record of living abroad for more than 2 years within the last 4 years.

It also requires students to provide supporting documents such as high school GPA or ranking, scores from national exams or standardized international tests, certificates of achievement, recommendation letters, etc.

After submitting the application online, Tsinghua University will organize experts to review. Applicants who are approved will successfully move on to the interview stage.

Fortunately, for international students, except for design and art majors, most majors can go directly to the interview stage, and exceptionally talented students may even be exempt from the exam. In addition to Tsinghua University, other prestigious schools such as Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Communication University of China also use the “review system” for admitting international students. There is no need to take exams, as long as the interview is successful.

Furthermore, the number of international student admissions does not affect the admissions of domestic students, so the competition for international students is much less intense compared to the fierce competition of domestic students.

Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students

The joint examination for overseas Chinese students is equivalent to the domestic college entrance examination in China. However, the competition pressure, subjects, difficulty, and even admission scores of the joint examination are much lower than the college entrance examination.

• Few applicants: In 2022, the number of applicants for the national college entrance examination reached 11.93 million, while the number of applicants for the joint examination for overseas Chinese students was only 5050.
• The exam is relatively simple: The national college entrance examination focuses on testing students’ ability to take exams, while the joint examination for overseas Chinese students focuses on understanding knowledge points, and the content is simpler.
• The admission score is low: The undergraduate admission score is 300 points, while the art and sports classes are 200 points. With a score of 400, you can enter a 985 or 211 university in China.
• High rate of admission: Currently, there are more than 300 universities in China that accept overseas Chinese students, and they can provide 15,000 to 20,000 admission quotas for overseas Chinese students every year.
• More options: Students who participate in the joint examinations in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan joint examinations can also apply to the University of Hong Kong.
• Scholarship support: Many universities have set up scholarships for overseas Chinese students.

As long as the child is an overseas Chinese or a student from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan, holds a Chinese passport, has a foreign permanent residency, and has lived abroad for more than 2 years, they can participate in the examination!

The joint examination usually opens for registration from March 1st to March 15th each year, with the exam taking place in mid-May. Parents who are interested in having their children take the exam are advised to start preparing one year in advance. The earlier they adapt to the exam format, the better, and it is important to exercise language proficiency beforehand.

Chinese Language Proficiency Test

The Chinese language proficiency test is required for both international students’ admission and for taking the joint examination. For instance, the admission requirements of Tsinghua University clearly state that:

• HSK level 5 or above is required, with at least 60 points in each subject;
• HSK level 4 (with at least 60 points in each subject) is also acceptable, but HSK level 5 or above must be passed within the first year of enrollment, otherwise the admission qualification will be cancelled.

What is the level of HSK 5?

HSK level 5 requires the candidate to have a Chinese vocabulary of over 2500 words, and to be able to discuss, evaluate, and express opinions on more abstract or professional topics in Chinese. Candidates should be able to handle various communication tasks with relative ease. Therefore, the difficulty of the exam is not considered high. Here are some real questions. 👇

However, parents should be prepared in advance. Even if the exam content is relatively simple, if their child has not established a solid foundation in Chinese since childhood, it may not be easy to pass. WuKong Chinese offer an innovative Chinese curriculum designed based on the core requirements of international exams such as HSK, YCT, IB, and A-Level. Secure a better future for your child! Click WuKong Chinese to get a free trail class now!