Administrative Regulations on the Status of International Graduate Students of Nanjing Medical University

Pubdate:2022-04-11

Administrative Regulations

on the Status of International Graduate Students

of Nanjing Medical University


Chapter One:

General Rules


Article 1. To strengthen the status management of international graduate students, enhance the quality of cultivating them, and in accordance with the Administrative Regulations for Students in the Institutions of Higher Learning (No.41 Order of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China), the Administrative Measures for Recruiting and Training International Students (No.42 Order of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China), the Quality Standards of Higher Education for International Students in China (For Trial Use) (Jiaowai (2018) No.50 Document of the Ministry of Education), and the Administrative Regulations on the Status of Graduate Students of NMU and in combination with the actual conditions of NMU’s education management of international students, these Regulations are hereby made.


Article 2 These Regulations apply to the international students who take full-time degree courses at NMU.


Chapter Two:

Enrollment and Registration


Article 3 The first-year international graduate enrolled as per the requirements of the State shall check in with NMU’s School of International Education within the required period by presenting NMU’s admission letter and other relevant certificates. Those who cannot check in as scheduled due to certain reasons shall submit a written application for postponing check in and relevant supporting evidence to the School of International Education within two weeks prior to the date of check in. Once approved, they can check in within two weeks from the original check-in date. Those who do not apply for leave or who exceed the time limit are considered to have abandoned their admission qualifications.


Article 4 The School of International Education will conduct a preliminary check on the admission qualifications for first-year international graduate students, including their personal information, admission letter, and previous academic degrees/diplomas at the time of check-in. In the event of any discrepancy in his/her actual circumstances, or any instances of violating the rules of the State's entrance examination, his/her admission qualifications will be revoked. The list of the first-year international graduate students in the current year will be notified in writing by the School of International Education to the graduate school within two weeks after the date of check in.


Article 5 After the first-year international graduate student registration, the School of International Education will conduct a second check on the admission qualifications according to the enrollment rules. The student who passes the check will be given a school badge, a student ID card, and relevant materials, and he/she will register and obtain student status.


International students shall pay tuition and registration fees as per relevant rules and regulations. Any student who fails to make payment without sound reasons after exceeding a one-month time limit will be deemed to have abandoned his/her admission qualifications.


Article 6 Registration is a tool for a graduate to maintain his/her student status. An international graduate student must register as scheduled for each semester in order to continue his or her studies at NMU. At the start of each semester, the international graduate student must complete the registration procedures in accordance with the applicable rules.

  1. Time and venue of registration

The international graduate student shall return to NMU as per requirements, and complete the registration procedures and pay tuition to the School of International Education, usually within one week after the opening of each semester (see school calendar for specific dates).

  1. The registration procedures shall be completed by the international graduate student himself/herself, and shall not be done by others.

  2. In case there is any problem registering as scheduled, the international graduate student shall apply in advance, get consent from his/her supervisor, his/her School and the School of International Education, and complete the procedures for postponing the registration for a period of no more than 30 days. If an international graduate student fails to apply for postponement, or if his/her application for postponement doesn't get approval, and the registration has been late for more than two weeks, then he/she will be deemed as automatically withdrawing from NMU, and the School of International Education will complete the procedures for his/her withdrawal.

  3. The School of International Education will verify the student’s information in a timely manner, and give the feedback to the graduate school.

  4. Notes

1. An international graduate student cannot participate in any award selection unless he/she has registered as scheduled.

2. The international graduate student will not be allowed to register if any of the following conditions are met: he/she has met the withdrawal conditions; he/she has exceeded the maximum duration of study; he/she has not resumed the previous suspension from NMU; or he/she has not paid relevant fees such as tuition as per rules.

3. Any international graduate student who interns or participates in a project in another province or city in China as arranged by their supervisors will not be registered. However, he/she may apply for postponement of the registration, get approval, and do it with the School of International Education upon his/her returning to NMU.

4. All international graduate students shall abide by other requirements of the School of International Education in relation to registration.


Chapter Three:

Leave Rules


Article 7 The leave requested by an international graduate student is divided into two kinds: business leave and personal leave. The student shall apply and complete the Leave Application Form for International Graduate Students of NMU.


If a student needs to leave NMU for academic research, visits, exchanges, conferences, or other reasons, he/she can request a business leave.


Business leave (in China’s mainland):

The student shall get consent from his/her supervisor and approval from his/her School, and the dates shall be determined as per actual conditions. If a leave is more than four weeks, he/she shall file with the School of International Education and the graduate school.


Business leave (out of China’s mainland):

Whether the leave is long or short, the student shall get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, and get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school.


Any leave due to a disease or other personal affairs will be deemed personal leave.


Sick leave:

The student shall present evidence from hospitals (Grade II and First Class, or above) or the clinic of NMU.


Personal leave (in China's mainland):

For one week leave or shorter, the student shall get approval from his/her supervisor, and file with his/her School. For one to four weeks’ leave, the student shall get consent from his/her supervisor, get approval from his/her School, and file with the School of International Education and the graduate school. For more than four weeks’ leave, the student shall get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school.


Personal leave (out of China's mainland):

Whether the leave is long or short, the student shall get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, and get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school.


Article 8. If a master graduate in clinical medicine and oral medicine programs asks for a personal leave during his/her clinical rotation, whether going out of China’s mainland or not:

For two weeks and below, he/she shall get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, and get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school.

For more than two weeks, he/she will be deemed as voluntarily applying to postpone his/her graduation. He/she shall get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, fill the Application Form for Postponing Graduation of International Graduate Students of NMU, and get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school.


Article 9 Notes for asking for a leave

(I) When the leave expires, the student shall report to the School of International Education and the graduate school as scheduled.


(II) In each of the following cases, the graduate student shall be deemed as being absent from classes:

1. The student leaves school without asking for a leave as per relevant rules or his/her application has not been approved, and he/she has not participated in the required school work;

2. The student has not renewed the leave after the leave expires, or the application for renewing the leave has not been approved, and he/she has not returned after exceeding the time limit.

(III) Where the graduate student’s personal leave exceeds two months cumulatively, he/she shall complete the procedures for suspending his/her study.


Chapter Four:

Examinations and Scores


Article 10 The international graduate students shall participate in the examinations for the courses required in NMU’s education and teaching programs and all kinds of education and teaching activities (hereinafter referred to as “courses”). Examination results must be included in the transcript and kept in the student status files.


The examination on courses for international graduate students consists of two kinds: tests and checks. If he/she passes the examination, he/she can get the course credits. If the student fails the examination, he/she shall retake the courses. If a student is absent from classes for one subject (including a leave or leaves) reaches 1/3 of the total credit hours for such a course or he/she has not participated in 1/3 or more of the experiment courses, he/she shall retake the courses. The student is not allowed to retake the course unless he/she fills the Application Form for Retaking International Postgraduate Courses of NMU.


The course required to be retaken may be completed in the following semester. In case that such course has been cancelled, a similar course or a higher one with the same credits and similar requirements shall be taken as designated by his/her supervisor and the graduate school.


Article 11 If an international graduate student wishes to be exempted from a course, he/she shall meet the relevant rules, fill the Application Form for Exemption from International Graduate Program of NMU, and get approval from the graduate school.


Article 12 NMU will accurately and completely record and issue the academic achievements of international graduate students, as well as mark all results of retaken courses.


Article 13 If an international graduate student seriously violates the examination disciplines or cheats on any examination, the results will be marked as invalid; and NMU will give him/her a penalty depending on the degree of violation or cheating. If the student has received a warning, serious warning, demerit, or academic probation, he/she can retake the course, provided that he/she has performed well after being disciplined.


Chapter Five:

Required Activities


Article 14 The international graduate students shall take courses and complete all the activities as per the training program. His/her Schools shall pay attention to their students’ academic performance, and give early warning to those who fail to complete their study as scheduled.


International graduate students are required to participate in relevant activities as outlined in the education and teaching plans. If they are unable to participate on time, they should request a leave of absence and obtain approval in advance. If they are absent without justification, they will face criticism from NMU, as well as disciplinary action in the case of a serious violation.

Article 15: During their studies at NMU, international graduate students must submit a thesis proposal.


Article 16 The international graduate students (except for those in the clinical medicine and oral medicine programs) shall participate in the mid-semester examination, and then proceed to the degree if they have passed it. If a doctoral student cannot pass the examination after retaking the mid-semester examination, he/she can be transferred to be a postgraduate or withdrawn from NMU. The implementation measures for the mid-semester examination shall be separately stipulated by NMU.


Article 17 NMU has organized and conducted integrity education for its international graduate students, and has set up a mechanism for restraining or punishing any behaviors that breach promises. In the case of any serious behaviors that breach promises, they will be given disciplinary punishment as per the relevant rules of NMU; in the case of any academic integrity violation, they will be restrained by NMU according to relevant rules in terms of the attainment of a degree, academic title, or honor.


Article 18 In principle, international graduate students are not allowed to change their disciplines. For those who are not suitable to pursue professional degrees in clinical medicine and oral medicine, they can be transferred to academic degrees in the same discipline, and in principle, the supervisors should remain the same.


Article 19 In principle, international graduate students are not allowed to change their supervisors. In case that it's necessary for them to change a supervisor due to some special reasons on the ground of any adjustment of subjects or change of supervisors, they shall submit a written application prior to the closure of the second semester, fill the Application Form for Change of Supervisors for International Graduate Students of NMU issued by the graduate school, get consent from the current supervisor and the next supervisor, get approval from his/her School, and file with the graduate school.


Article 20 If an international graduate student is unable to continue pursuing a doctorate, he/she can be transferred to be a postgraduate with approval from his/her supervisor and his/her School, as well as approval from the graduate school.


Chapter Six:

School System and Duration of Study


Article 21 The basic school system for international graduate students: three years for a graduate student, and three years for a doctoral student.


Article 22 The maximum duration of study for international graduate students (including suspension of study and reservation of the student status): five years for a graduate student, and six years for a doctoral student.


Article 23 If an international graduate student fails to complete his/her study within the period in the basic school system, he/she shall apply for postponing it prior to June of each year, fill the Application Form for Postponing Graduation of International Graduate Students of NMU, get approval from his/her supervisor and his/her School, as well as the approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school.


To extend the duration of study, an international graduate student shall apply once and get approval before applying for the next one. An international graduate student shall extend the duration of study by one year at most in each application, and such application shall not exceed the maximum duration of study as required by NMU. They shall pay up all kinds of fees and charges for the academic terms prior to the application for the extension.


If an international graduate student fails in making an application for extension of duration of study after exceeding six months as specified in the basic school system, or he/she fails in completing his/her study after the extended duration of study ends, and fails in applying for any further extension three months after exceeding the specified time limit, he/she shall be deemed as voluntarily withdrawing from NMU, and the School of International Education will complete the procedures for his withdrawal.


Chapter Seven:

Suspension of Study, Reservation of Student Status and Resumption of Study


Article 24 An international graduate student can complete his study by phases. The suspension will be included in the duration of study. A graduate student must complete his/her study within the maximum duration of study (including suspension of study and reservation of the student status) as required in Article 22.


Article 25 If an international graduate student applies for a suspension of study, such application shall be approved by the School of International Education and the graduate school. The suspension is usually six months. The cumulative suspension shall be not exceeding one year.


An international graduate student can apply for the suspension of study in one of the following cases:

(I) He/she cannot continue study or NMU believes that his/her physical and psychological states are unsuitable for study; moreover, he/she needs some recuperation and medical treatment as per the diagnosis of such hospitals as designated by NMU, and with approval from the clinic of NMU.

(II) For maternal purposes.

(III) Required by an employer.

(IV) His/her personal leaves during a semester have totaled more than two months.

(V) for ventures involving innovation and entrepreneurship.

(VI) to serve in the army in his/her home country.

(VII) Other justifications


An international graduate student shall apply if he/she wants to suspend. He/she shall fill the Application Form for Suspension of Study for International Graduate Students of NMU issued by the graduate school, complete the procedures for shortening the residence permit, get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school, and then leave NMU.


Article 26: NMU will retain the international graduate student's status during his/her suspension of studies; however, NMU will not approve his/her registration, and he/she will not be treated as an on-campus student. If he/she seriously violates any laws or rules during his/her suspension of study, his/her qualification to resume study will be revoked.


Article 27 When an international graduate student's suspension of study expires, he/she must apply for resumption within one week and complete the residence permit and other procedures at the School of International Education. Once the application is approved, he/she will be arranged to study in the corresponding grade of the original discipline. The international graduate student's graduation date in the resumption of study shall be correspondingly postponed, without exceeding the maximum duration of study.


In case that an international graduate student applies for resumption of study after suspension due to illness and military service, he/she must present the diagnosis certificate by hospitals (Grade III and First Class), or the certificate of military service in his/her home country, which are reviewed by the clinic of NMU and the School of International Education. He/she shall get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, and get approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school. Those who fail the review shall not have their study resumed.


Article 28 If an international graduate student during his/her suspension of study fails in completing his/her resumption of study after exceeding the time limit, he/she will be deemed as receiving a voluntary withdrawal, and the School of International Education will complete the procedures for his/her withdrawal.


Chapter Eight:

Withdrawal from School and Cancellation of Student Status


Article 29 An international graduate student can apply for withdrawing from school. If he/she takes an initiative to apply due to personal reasons, he/she shall get consent from his/her supervisor and his/her School, fill the Application Form for Withdrawal for International Graduate Students of NMU issued by the School of International Education, get approval from the School of International Education and NMU.


The application for withdrawal by an international graduate student who violates any laws and rules and is placed under the investigation by relevant authorities will be rejected by NMU.


Article 30 In each of the following cases during his/her study, an international graduate student will be allowed to withdraw from school upon the joint review by the School of International Education and the graduate school, as well as approval from NMU:


  1. He/she fails the examination of a graduate course, and fails again after retaking the course twice. There are two or more such courses.

  2. He/she cannot meet the requirements for graduation or completion of courses after he/she has exceeded the maximum duration of study (including suspension of study and reservation of the student status) as required by NMU.

  3. His/her physical and psychological status is not normal, and has been regarded as unable to continue study as per the diagnosis by such hospitals as designated by NMU, and upon verification by the clinic of NMU.

  4. He/she has been absent from classes for a continuous two weeks or longer.

  5. He/she has not applied for suspension of registration or such application for suspension has not been approved and he/she has not registered at NMU two weeks after exceeding the time limit.

  6. His/her stay outside China's mainland has exceeded the time limit, or exceeded the time limit for returning to NMU after his/her stay abroad, or his/her application for extension of such stay abroad has not been approved and has not returned to NMU.

  1. He/she has not made the application for extending the duration of study six months after exceeding the time limit as required in the basic school system, or he/she cannot complete his/her study after the approved extended duration of study, and he/she has not applied for any renewal of extension three months after exceeding the time limit.

  2. He/she has not completed the procedures for resuming his/her study, or fails the resumption application review within the time limit as required by NMU.

  3. Other occasions for withdrawal from school as stipulated by NMU.


Article 31 In each of the following cases, an international graduate student will have his/her student status cancelled with the joint approval from the School of International Education and the graduate school, as well as approval from NMU.

  1. He/she has violated the Constitution and disturbed the social order.

  2. He/she has violated the Chinese laws and committed the criminal offense.

  3. He/she has received the public security punishment, the conditions of which are serious and the nature of which is vile.

  4. He/she takes an examination on behalf of others, asks others to take an examination for him/her, organizes a cheat in an examination, uses a telecommunication tool or other apparatus to cheat, seeks benefits by selling test questions or answers to others, is involved in any other serious cheat, or has any behaviors of disturbing the order of an examination.

  5. He/she has been found with any academic misconduct in his/her academic dissertation or published research results as to plagiarizing, falsification or fabrication; or he/she has found with behaviors of serious nature such as writing a thesis for others or selling thesis to others.

  6. He/she has violated the Administrative Regulations for Students in the Institutions of Higher Learning (No.41 Order of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China), the Administrative Measures for Recruiting and Training International Students (No.42 Order of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China) and the provisions of NMU, and seriously affected the order of NMU’s education and teaching, life and the public places.

  7. He/she has infringed the legal rights and interests of other individuals and organizations, which results in serious consequences.

  8. He/she has violated the rules of NMU and thus has received disciplinary punishment, but has not corrected his/her behaviors after being educated.


Article 32 If an international graduate student is approved to withdraw from NMU, or cancel the student status, the School of International Education will issue the written report, and process the paperwork to terminate his/her residence permit in China. His/her status as a graduate student will be cancelled within 30 days from the date of his/her withdrawal from school.


Chapter Nine:

Graduation, Completion of Courses, and Attendance


Article 33 If an international graduate student has completed all courses and compulsory contents as required in the training program without exceeding the maximum duration of study, received qualified scores, passed the thesis defense, and met the requirements for graduation from NMU, his/her graduation will be approved and NMU will issue a certificate of graduation to him/her. If the graduate student allowed to graduate meets the conditions of degree awarding, NMU will issue him/her a diploma.


Article 34 If an international graduate student has completed all courses and compulsory contents as required in the training program (including the graduation thesis) without exceeding the maximum duration of study, but failed to meet the requirements for graduation from NMU, or failed to pass the thesis defense, he/she can apply for completion of courses, and a certificate will be issued by NMU.


Article 35 If an international graduate student withdrawing from school has studied at NMU for one year or longer, and has passed all relevant examinations, a certificate of attendance will be issued by NMU. For those who withdraw from school and have not studied for a full year, NMU will issue a certificate of study.


Article 36 An international graduate student shall close his/her study in forms of graduation, completion of courses, withdrawal from school, etc. at the end of his maximum duration of study. He/she shall not be given any academic certificate unless he/she has properly completed all procedures for leaving NMU within such time limit as specified by NMU.


Chapter Ten:

Incentives and Punishment


Article 37 An international graduate student can participate in the selection of scholarships.


Article 38 If an international graduate student violates any Chinese laws and rules, these Regulations as well as the disciplines of NMU, NMU will impose criticism or the following disciplinary punishment on them as per the Punishment Regulations on NMU's International Students of Violation of Laws and Rules, subject to the seriousness of the cases:

(I)Warning;

(II)Serious warning;

(III)Demerit;

(IV)Student status revocation.


Article 39 NMU can revoke the student status of an international graduate student in each of the following cases:

1.He/she has violated the Chinese laws.

2.He/she has damaged public property, stolen other people's property, and caused serous losses and damages to others.

3.He/she has engaged in excessive drinking, gambling, fighting, brawling, the nature of which is serious enough.

4.He/she has poor behavior or moral standards.

5.He/she has violated the rules and regulations of NMU, and the nature of which is serious enough.


Article 40 Revoking the student status of an international graduate student shall be based on the Regulations on Disciplinary Punishment of International Students of NMU and the Working Rules for Handling Complaints on Punishment of the Students of NMU, and ensuring correct procedures, sufficient evidence, clear bases, accurate determination of nature, and proper punishment.


Article 41 If an international graduate student has his/her student status revoked, the School of International Education will terminate his/her residence permit in China, and he/she shall complete the procedures for leaving NMU within one month upon receipt of the notice of leaving NMU.


Chapter Eleven:

Management of Academic Certificates


Article 4f2 The School of International Education will follow the management rules of student status electronic registration of higher learning institutions in China, enter the information determined at the time of enrollment, such as degree type, training level, study format, and personal information (e.g. name, gender, days of birth, Passport/ID number), and complete their electronic student status registration.


The information required for the degrees, diplomas and other academic certificates of an international graduate student shall be in consistent with electronic student status registration.


In the event of any change to the personal information of an international graduate student, such as his/her name, he/she shall make the application for revision of such academic status information, and provide corresponding credentials with legal effects. The School of International Education will investigate and revise any such change.



Article 43 The School of International Education will follow the management rules of student status electronic registration of higher learning institutions in China, complete their electronic student status registration.


Article 44 NMU will revoke the issued degrees and diplomas in each of the following cases:

(I)He/she was enrolled into NMU by violating the State or NMU's terms of enrollment of international graduate students.

(II)He/she received degrees or diplomas by academic misconduct or other improper means (e.g. cheating, plagiarizing, copying)


If the revoked degrees and diplomas have been entered into the national electronic registration, NMU shall cancel them and report to the superior education authority, which will declare them as invalid.


Article 45 If the degrees and diplomas have been lost or damaged, the graduate school will issue corresponding certificates after the student makes an application, which will be verified by NMU.


Chapter Twelve:

Supplementary Articles


Article 46 These Regulations shall be interpreted by the School of International Education and the graduate school. Any matters not covered in these Regulations shall be handled as per the Administrative Regulations on the Status of Graduate Students of NMU.


These regulations will go into effect on September 1, 2021.