🆕 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.
Which international students can go to China? 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, Russian students, Pakistani students, and Duke Kunshan University students (Last updated July 5, 2022).
How can students go to China now? Students will need to first obtain permission from the university/Chinese government and get a student visa, then 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.
Check out options in Malaysia, UK, and other countries here.
Which countries are open to international students now? Please Click Here.
Will China’s Border Open in Fall 2022?
So far, only a few small groups of students have been able to enter China. There is a trend of small groups of students (mostly from Asian countries or Sino-foreign universities) who have received permission to enter China for the fall semester 2022. We do not know when more will be able to return.
Will the Chinese border open for students in 2023? The entry of many small groups of students from various countries and universities is an encouraging sign. So far, it appears as if Asian countries and other areas with close geographical proximity to China are opening up first. However, we can still not predict with any accuracy at what date the Chinese border will be fully open to pre-Covid levels. Continue to check this page regularly for more news.
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, locked down on their campuses, and taking daily/weekly Covid tests.
- Some international students are choosing to leave China/locked down cities altogether (source, source, source).
What can you do to learn more?
- Communicate with your university and Chinese embassy to your country. They will be the first to tell you if you can return.
- Check your email frequently.
- Check this page frequently — We update daily.
- 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
📰 News Updates on Students’ Return to China
- As of July 4, 2022, more students are reporting to us that their Chinese universities have contacted them to collect details about whether they want to return to China.
- We recommend all students check their email, university portal, and university message board/WeChat groups frequently and reply to any university communication right away.
- This seems to indicate more universities may be planning to bring back students, and are collecting the relevant information to begin the process.
- As of June 30, 2022, a few Tianjin University students notified China Admissions that their university contacted them to ask if they want to return to China.
- We encourage all students, especially those of Tianjin University, to check their emails regularly.
- As of June 28, 2022, China has changed the standard quarantine times for international arrivals from 14+7 to 7+3 (7 days in centralized quarantine and 3 days of home monitoring). (source, source, original Chinese)
- This change will apply to all international arrivals (including students) and close contacts.
- 🇱🇰 As of June 24, 2022, a flight of 164 Sri Lankan medical students from the Tianjin Medical University arrived in Tianjin (source).
- 🇹🇭 As of June 22, 2022, a flight of 140 Thai students traveled to China with a chartered flight. (source)
- This is the second batch of Thai students returning–the first batch was a flight of 76 in February.
- Students will need to follow China’s Covid Restrictions (details on quarantine times and costs below)
- 🇵🇰 As of June 20, 2022, the first batch of 90 Pakistani students has landed in Xi’an and will undergo 14-day quarantine (for more information on quarantine times and costs, please scroll down) (source, source).
See More News for all Countries and Full Timeline Information ▶️▶️
Check the status of different countries around the world here. 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.
🌐 Global Admissions + Transfer Options
If you are looking for options to study outside of China, or want to transfer out of China, we have launched Global Admissions to help you!
On Global Admissions, you can…
- Apply to universities around the world in one convenient application
- See which countries are open to international students
- Check out global scholarships
- Transfer to another university anywhere in the world
To help students, right now we are offering a free application service.
💉 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.
You will definitely need multiple negative Covid tests to be able to enter China. Getting a vaccine makes it easier to avoid Covid and recover from it quickly.
We will update this section as more news becomes available. At this point, we recommend all students get vaccinated.
🏨 Quarantine Times and Costs
How long do students need to quarantine in China?
Students will need to follow China’s quarantine rules, which have just been changed to a minimum of 10 total days of quarantine: 7 days in a government quarantine facility and 3 days of home observation, either in a hotel or private accommodation (original Chinese). 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.
How much does it cost for students to return to China?
Duke Kunshan University (DKU) students will complete a 14+7 quarantine: two weeks of centralized quarantine in Shanghai and Kunshan/Suzhou, followed by a week of home health management in DKU accommodation. DKU students on financial aid can apply for up to $3000 USD in quarantine finance support (source).
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 7+3. You can calculate the cost of 10 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.
🧳 What to pack for Quarantine in China
If you have been given notice to return to China, you will need to pack and prepare to travel to China (maybe for the first time!) and also prepare for at least three weeks in hotel quarantine, potentially longer if the city you travel to experiences a Covid outbreak.
Based on the requirements of the airline, you may not be able to bring a lot of luggage with you–maybe only 2 or 3 suitcases unless you want to pay an extra luggage fee.
1 important thing to bring….Documents!
- Make copies of all your documents, including visa, health checks, vaccination certification, university admission letter…
- Keep multiple copies on your person and in a suitcase
Other things to pack and bring for quarantine in China…
✍️ 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.
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!
- How To Find An Internship in China – the 2022 Guide - July 5, 2022
- 14 Chinese Universities that Offer International Degrees - July 3, 2022
- Beijing Film Academy: Applications Open for Intake 2023! - June 30, 2022