New Year will bring in more good news and rekindle the flames of hope for international students planning to return or begin their new journey to China for their higher studies. What’s more exciting is that it is extremely likely that the on-campus studies will resume next semester as well!
2022 saw China relaxing the policies regarding inbound international travel and the return of foreign students to China and this was well received by the foreign students, many of whom have already returned to China, regardless of the difficulties they had to face concerning the availability and prices of the flights and the drawn-out periods of self-paid quarantine. However, on December 26th, 2022, the most awaited notice hit the screens – the National Health Commission of the PRC rolled out new guidelines with effect from January 8, 2023, stating that international arrivals (for work, business, study, or family reunions; tourist visa policies are not standardized yet) will no longer be subjected to quarantine on arrival. Nonetheless, a negative test 48 hours before the departure coupled with protective gear onboard flights and throughout the journey is still mandatory. Furthermore, no flights will be categorized as high risk anymore and the inbound flight seat minimum of 75% will also be eliminated. For inbound flight crew and staff, nucleic acid test results are no longer necessary. On-arrival test requirements will be scrapped too. International flights to and from China are expected to go back to the norms in the coming months as well.
Whether or not the universities will continue to require their international students to undergo a certain period of quarantine is still unclear and we will get the affirmations in the coming days. Nevertheless, even if it is obligatory, it can be said with full confidence that the university-ordained quarantine period will certainly be short. But, do keep in mind, as for when and how students can enter China and return to campus normally, as it used to be before December 2020, will also depend on the individual university policies.
Currently, most universities do not allow their non-degree students to enter China. The beginning of next year may see policy changes on this matter as well. From December 31st, 2022, many universities no longer administer or mandate COVID-19 student testing en masse. In the recently announced guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and control, MOE noted that the new rules will lower the management of COVID-19 from class A to class B as of January 8, 2023, in an effort to strike a balance between epidemic control, education, and public safety. Additionally, educational institutions can resume on-campus activities if there are no cases found on campus.
So wait no longer and start planning out your fresh or return journey to China. Begin your applications for admission to Chinese universities right now so as not to miss the deadlines and to get early bird advantages on the different types of scholarships available for your higher studies.
Happy New Year y’all!