China Resources

The department endeavours to provide the latest policy advice and country specific information to inform education and research engagement with priority partners overseas. This information is used to inform cooperation with partner ministries and departments of education, training and research, and with respective institutions in these sectors in China.

On this page:

Policy updates

Latest updates

2025China’s National Education Plan 2025
2025Verification of Overseas Academic Qualifications in China
2025Chinese-Foreign Joint Institutions and Joint Program Approvals
2025China’s Approach to AI Education in Primary and Secondary Schools

National Policy

2025China’s National Education Plan 2025
2020China's education modernisation plan towards 2035
2016China’s Education Development 13th Five-Year Plan

Online Education

YearResource
2023China ends COVID-19 temporary measure on evaluation of online study
2021CSCSE supplementary explanation announcement policy update
2020Formal advice on degree verification for Chinese international students - online learning due to COVID-19
2016Online education in China

Joint Institutes and Joint Programs

YearResource
2025May 2025 China-Australia Joint Institutions and Joint Program Approvals
2024Approvals processes for Chinese-Foreign Joint institutions and Joint programs
2021China updates list of terminated joint projects and extends support to students impacted by the pandemic through Chinese-Foreign joint ventures
2018Formal termination of 234 defunct transnational education partnerships
2017Review of Regulations and Implementation Measures for Chinese-Foreign Joint Programs and Schools 

Higher Education

YearResource
2025Verification of Overseas Academic Qualifications in China
2024Updates on China's Gaokao - National College Entrance Exam 
2024Changes to China's continuing education
2024Returned graduates eligible for special civil service recruitment pathway
2023Hainan issues details on independently run foreign higher education institutions
2023 Changes to the JSJ website - China's official portal for international education affairs supervision and management
2022Second round announced of Double First-Class initiative
2020China announces university disciplines reform plan to strengthen foundation subjects
2017Double First Class - Class university and discipline policy update
Double First Class - Implementation measures released for China's new world-class university policy
2016Double First Class - China's World Class 2.0 - an update

Vocational Education

YearResource
2022China’s focus on vocational education towards 2035
2020China's negative lists suggest foreign-owned academic vocational training institutions in FTZs may be possible
China announces vocational education action plan for 2020-2023
2019China announces major reform to vocational education sector

Early Childhood and Schools

YearResource
2025China’s Approach to AI Education in Primary and Secondary Schools
2022Changes to private school regulations in China
2021Double Reduction Plan reduces homework and off-campus tutoring for Chinese school students
2016Amendments to China's law on promotion of non-public schools

General information

YearResource
2024Patriotic Education Law of China
2023China's Hukou system and impact on study abroad
2022China's Personal Information Protection Law
China's Key Education Tasks for 2022
2021China issues first Overall Plan on Education Evaluation
2020China's education arrangements during COVID-19 pandemic period
China to persist in the "opening-up" of education
China propose draft regulation on employment and management of foreign teachers in the country
China encourages HEIs to offer Second Bachelor's Degrees from 2020
2017China expands efforts to improve applied research capacity
Considering teaching English in China? Guidelines and regulations
China easing work permit requirements for foreign graduates
2016China - New Directive for International Education
Reforms to China's National Higher Education Entrance Examination - the Gaokao
Chinese universities establishing programs and campuses in foreign countries
Changes to visas and internship opportunities in China

MOUs and agreements

YearResource
2024MOU with China on cooperation in Education and Research - signed 17 June 2024
2017MOU with China - Vocational Education and Training - signed 24 March 2017
2015China-Australia Free Trade Agreement - 2015
2014MOU with China - Higher Education Qualifications Recognition - Signed 17 November 2014
MOU with China - Student, Researcher and Academic Mobility - signed 17 November 2014
2012MOU with China - signed 12 December 2012

Reports

YearResource
20211+X Report
2018Chinese-Australian Transnational Higher Education in China
2017Sino-Australian Vocational Education and Training cooperation

Any old resources or previous policy updates may be found by searching on Trove, a web archive managed by the National Library of Australia