🆕 When can students enter China?
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Can students enter China? So far throughout 2022, small groups of students from multiple countries around the world have been able to enter China. The return is being announced and coordinated via embassies. The returning groups of students are very small and we do not know which countries are next.
Currently, only a few international students are able to go to China – those studying at Tianjin Juilliard, NYU Shanghai (and here), some Schwarzman Scholarship students, South Korean students, 30 Nicaraguan scholarship holders, 80+ Solomon Island students, some Thai students, some Sri Lankan students, some Sri Lankan students, and Russian students. (Last updated May 18, 2022).
When will China’s borders open for international students–can they go in 2022/2023/2024? So far only a few small groups of students have entered. We do not know when more will be able to return.
Students will need to quarantine, take tests, and follow China’s epidemic procedures. To see details on the costs, scroll down.
If you are applying to study in China, we strongly advise you to make other plans, so you have options in case you’re not able to come to China right away.
What is the situation for international students in China now?
- Students who are located outside of China are taking classes online.
- Many students located in China are also taking online classes as Chinese universities close their campuses due to Omicron outbreaks.
- Some students living on Chinese university campuses are locked down on the campus and cannot leave the grounds.
What can you do to learn more?
- Communicate with your university and Chinese embassy from your country. They will be the first to tell you if you can return.
- Check your email and this page frequently.
- Coordinate with your classmates from your country and university to find community and share information.
- Get vaccinated.
- If you will return to China when you are given notice, begin to save money (cost breakdown below)
- If you are given notice to return to China, you can privately contact me savannah@china-admissions.com
📰 Latest updates in the news
- As of May 18, 2022, the most severe lockdowns in Shanghai are expected to slowly lift in June (source, source), but China confirms it will not change Dynamic Zero-Covid policies.
- A study by Fudan University (source) discovered that if Zero-Covid is lifted, 1.55 million deaths could occur in China.
- Xi Jinping confirmed that China will not waver from Zero-Covid (source).
- In Shanghai, strict epidemic prevention procedures will continue to prevent future serious outbreaks (source). Beijing is conduction regular mass testing (source).
- As of May 4, 2022, some cities such as Beijing and Xiamen are experimenting with shorter quarantine times for overseas arrivals–from 14+7 to 10+7 (source, source).
- 🇷🇺 As of May 3, 2022, a group of 150 Russian students are confirmed to have landed in China. (source, source)
- Cities: the students will complete their initial 14+7 quarantine in hotels in Shenzhen and Harbin
- Universities: the students are attending a variety of universities, including BFSU and Guangzhou South China University of Technology.
- 🇮🇳 As of April 29, 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Education announced it will “consider facilitating the return of Indian students to China.” (source, source, source)
- Indian students, fill out your information in this form by May 8, 2022: https://t.co/nFlkVYttmW
- The Chinese side will verify the list and decide which students can travel to China
- Indian students traveling to China will bear all quarantine and travel expenses. For more on how to estimate the costs, scroll down to “Quarantine Times and Costs”
See All Previous News and Full Timeline Information ▶️▶️
Check the status of different countries around the world here. You can see that China is not the only country with restricted entry for students. Also, read about the things every student should consider before studying abroad during Covid.
We are unable to provide any more information about Covid travel guidelines for your specific country, program, or university.
If you have questions about your specific country, university, or program, you can reach out to your program administration or the Chinese embassy in your home country.
If you are contacted by your university saying you can return to China, please email me at savannah@china-admissions.com.
💉 Vaccine Requirements
Will students need a vaccine to enter China? At this point, we aren’t sure yet. However, we can confirm that some Chinese work visas, reunion visas, and M Visa applications do require proof of a Chinese Covid-19 Vaccine.
We will update this section as more news becomes available. At this point, we recommend all students get vaccinated.
🏨 Quarantine Times and Costs
China has a “Dynamic Zero Covid” policy. This means that hotel quarantine times, available flights, and the cost of quarantine/flights are constantly changing as different outbreaks happen in Chinese cities or around the world.
China also reserves the right to cancel or limit flights from countries where there are Covid outbreaks, or to restrict travel into a Chinese city that is experiencing a Covid outbreak.
China’s “Dynamic Zero Covid” policy is designed to keep Covid from spreading in China. The downside is, for foreign students, it is extremely difficult to predict quarantine times, available flights, and total costs ahead of time.
For Russian students, the Twitter account @takeusbacktoCHN calculated the total costs of return to China for Russian students.
Russian students needed to….
- Quarantine in the departure city in Russia for 7 days: total 2500 RMB
- 5 Covid tests in Russia: 1300 RMB
- Flight ticket: 4000-15000+ RMB (depending on city of arrival)
- Quarantine in China (21 days in Shenzhen): 9450 RMB (8 total nucleic acid tests, free in China)
China Admissions has no control over the costs associated with returning to China and did not create these numbers. We are only sharing this information here so you can be informed.
If you want to roughly calculate the total costs, we recommend using the standard quarantine time of 14+7. You can calculate the cost of 21 total days in a Chinese hotel + the cost of a flight into China.
- We cannot make an accurate prediction of total quarantine times or costs for foreign students at this time.
- We know the costs may be quite high for students.
- We do not know what financial support universities/the Chinese government will provide to students, if any.
✍️ Applying for Intake 2022
Chinese universities are open to applicants from international students this application season. Learn more about applying to the 2022 intake here!
Undeniably, there is a certain degree of risk planning to attend university internationally during these times. However, it’s better to apply now and withdraw later than to miss the deadline and opportunity completely.
Also we strongly advise you to make other plans, so you have options in case you’re not able to come to China.
China Admissions can help you prepare an application, communicate with the university, and update you on the latest China news.
If you are interested in beginning a program at a Chinese university in 2022, we recommend that you begin the application process as early as possible.
Learn more about why you should apply early.
Read the 10 things every student should know before studying abroad during Covid
👩💻Online Courses
By this point, Chinese universities have adapted to the fact that some of their students live outside of China. They are providing more services and opportunities for international students online!
For students who cannot enter China, there is no need to pause your learning. We encourage you to take advantage of opportunities in your home country and online.
We have many exciting online courses available for students all around the world:
- 7 Apps to Learn Chinese for Free!
- Best online Chinese courses
- Best FREE Ways to Self-Study Chinese Online
- Free Online Classes: new opportunities every week!
If you are enrolled in a degree program in a Chinese university, it is up to the university to organize and schedule your online classes. They will vary depending on the university.
🧠 Maintaining Health & Building Mental Strength
Please also make sure to read the tips here on how to deal with challenging situations. Strengthening your mind is something that can benefit everyone, and it is important to make sure to take some time and attention to continually strengthen your mental health during this time.
- Turn off the news and social media
- Get some fresh air and regular movement
- Invest in your local community
- Have a hobby for yourself
- Make alternate plans
- Ask for help
- Stay connected!
🌐 Global Admissions Updates
What are the options to study in other countries? You can check the entry status according to each country here.
We explain more here:
