Chapter One General Rules
1. International students applying for a full-time course should meet the following basic requirements: The following regulations are formulated in accordance with the “Draft Measures on Granting International Students Chinese Degrees for Colleges and Universities” by the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council, the “Administrative Regulations on Recruiting International Students for Colleges and Universities” by the Ministry of Education, and the current management practice of full-time international students at LNU.
Chapter Two Enrollment and Registration
2. International students applying for a full-time course should meet the following basic requirements:
①A high school graduation certificate and transcript are required for a bachelor application.
②The required documents stated in the International Students Prospectus need to be reviewed by Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, the Academic Affairs Office, and the intended school of study. Students can be enrolled if their documents pass the review and approval of the school administration.
If invalid documents are provided or important information is concealed, the student will be reprimanded or expelled from the university.
3. International students should enroll at Office of International Exchange and Cooperation in due time with an ‘X’ (study) visa, acceptance letter, JW202 form and passport. Those who are unable to arrive on or before the appointed date must alternatively, within two weeks of the appointed date, present documented evidence to justify approval of a late arrival. Those who fail to register on time will lose his/her admission qualification.
4. International students must undergo a thorough medical examination in the International Travel Healthcare Center of Zhanjiang. For those who do not pass this medical examination, their enrollment will be cancelled. Those whose physical conditions do not meet Chinese legal health requirements will be required to leave the country immediately, and the related expenses should be self-funded.
5. Following Lingnan Normal University International Student Admission Rules, LNU will review the admission qualification and heath condition of international students within three months after they enter school. For those who falsify documents, the student will be expelled after verification by LNU.
6. The Student Affairs Department will issue student-cards to international students who at the beginning of each new term, are then required to register in the office of their chosen school of study. This must be done on time with their student-cards and then they will be qualified to participate in all activities based in the teaching plan.
7. Those unable to register on time should get permission from the school for their late registration, otherwise the student will be marked as absent without authorization. Those delaying registration for more than two weeks without permission or acceptable reasons will be warned or expelled from the university.
Chapter Three Assessment and Attendance
8. International undergraduate students must take all courses and relevant examinations set in the undergraduate program, and the course grades will be recorded on file. The curriculum and compulsory courses are arranged on the education program for international students, in which such courses as English and political theory are not included. However, students are required to complete 4 credits by taking courses such as Chinese language, Contemporary China and Intercultural Communication offered by the academic affairs office (Basic Chinese, Introduction of China, Intercultural Communication). Chinese is the first foreign language of the undergraduates’ curriculum. (only for international students whose major is Chinese Language and Literature)
9. Types of evaluation are examinations and course assessments.
10. Students who are caught cheating or violating testing procedures during an exam will be punished by being graded “zero” and will be subject to warnings or dismissal from the school.
11. Students who are unable to attend classes or activities set and organized in the, or by the course program or college on time should submit a written application for leave beforehand. The second attempt application will not be permitted unless either acute disease or another emergency is demonstrated. Students who do not ask for leave, take leave without permission, or take leave beyond the permitted time are regarded as absent without authorization (1 day is calculated as 6 credit hours). The course attendance shall be counted by the teacher when the bell rings, and the attendance of all courses shall be accumulated. Every three times late or every three times early leave shall be counted as absenteeism (lateness: students entering the classroom after the bell rings shall be regarded as late; Early leave: Students leave the classroom before the teacher announces the end of the class. The punishment for students who are absent from class without reason shall be in accordance with “Regulations on Disciplinary Punishment for Students of Lingnan Normal University”.
12. The procedure for requesting permission for leave is as follows:
①Leave due to illness
Students requiring leave due to illness should have a certified hospital diagnosis. Students must submit a doctor's certified note for sick leave and must submit a written report within 3 days of the beginning of their leave. A request for leave must be approved by the school if the absence period is less than one week. It must also be approved by the school’s president, and then be submitted to Office of International Exchange and Cooperation for addition to the student’s personal record. A leave request for a period of less than two weeks must be approved by the school, the Academic Affairs Office, and the International Office, where it will be placed on file. A leave of more than two weeks must be approved by the relevant department head and International Office officials, and a report will also be placed on file；
②Leave for personal reasons
Students requesting personal leave have to submit an application. International students can refer to paragraph 1) of this article for approval process of leave.
③Leave for other reasons.
In case of emergency, you can call in advance to ask for leave from teachers, head teachers or college leaders, to leave after the expiration of the time back to school, timely make up the corresponding leave procedures. If you are invited to attend off-campus activities or go out on non-class days or holidays, you should report to your college (which should report to the National Communications Office) and go through the leave formalities. Otherwise, you are liable for the consequences. The second level college makes weekly statistics of class attendance and announces the results to each class.
13. Once an approved period of leave has ended, a student should return to the school, and the day after his/her return, cancel the leave record – this is required. Students who leave without permission or take longer leave than the permitted time will be regarded as absent without authorization. A student who needs to extend his/her leave period should apply for permission from all the relevant departments. If a student is absent from class for a total of the equivalent of more than one month in a term, they should suspend their studies.
14. Students are not permitted to leave for holidays within the semester and should return to the school on time when the vacation ends. Students who take leave beyond the permitted time are regarded as absent without authorization. Students who need to take leave during the semester should apply for permission.
15. International students are entitled to have time off for the usual allotted Chinese festivals, holidays, and summer and winter vacations. Furthermore, they may apply for one extra day’s leave, which will be permitted for a maximum of twice a year, from their school and Office of International Exchange and Cooperation only for the occasion of important holidays in their home country.
Chapter Four Transfer Majors and Schools
16. If the following case occurs, an international student may transfer his/her major or transfer to another school or university:
①The student who suffers from an ailment or physical defect which deters studies in his/her major but still would be able to carry on studies in another major or school.
②If the above case occurs the international student should submit a certified medical certificate provided by a hospital medical doctor.
17. The international students in the following cases should not be allowed to transfer his/her major or school:
①Students who have previously transferred their majors;
②Students who are on leave of absence without losing their status as a student;
③Students who qualify to be dismissed from school;
④Students who cannot provide reasonable explanations for transferring.
18. The international student who wishes to transfer his/her major or university should complete the following procedures:
①Under the circumstance that an international student is in his/her first term, if the student wishes to transfer his/her major or university, he/she should request approval from the school within the first two weeks at the beginning of the first term. After the submitted request is approved by the school in which he/she currently studies, by the school in which he/she intends to study, by the Academic Affairs Office, and by the International Office, then he/she may begin the process for transferring major or school;
②In the case that a student has completed one-term of study, passed all the end of term student assessments required by the degree program and meets the entrance requirements by the school in which he/she intends to study, if the student wishes to transfer his/her major or school, he/she should request approval from the school. After the submitted request is approved by the school in which he/she currently studies, by the school in which he/she intends to study, by the Academic Affairs Office, and by Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, he/she will study in the school to which he/she applies in the coming term. The course scores received by the student before he/she transfers his/her major will be recorded in their academic file. The scores of other courses undertaken are identified and converted by the school in which he/she has transferred to study, in line with the degree program and regulations concerned at LNU. After he/she studies in the new major, the student should retake the courses he/she failed to study with the students in the upcoming grade;
③ The international student wishing to go to study in another school should submit an application to the school. After the submitted request is approved by the school in which he/she currently studies, by the school in which he/she intends to study, by the Academic Affairs Office, and by the International Office, the international student may complete the procedures for transferring to study in another city. Before going to study there, the student should go to local Education Department International Exchange for approval. After receiving the approval, students can go to the Academic Affair Office to unenroll. Foreign students are transferred to our school in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Ministry of Education, Provincial Department of Education and schools. In the meantime, students should complete the procedures to move away at the Units of Exit-Entry Administration of Zhanjiang Municiple Public Security Bureau and complete the formalities to move in at the local Detachment of Exit-Entry Administration of Public Security Bureau within 10 days after arrival in the destination city.
Chapter Five Postponing and Resuming Studies
19. Students may apply for leave from their studies due to illness or other special reasons. Students in the following cases should formally take leave from school:
①A student who requires hospital treatment of one month or more in a semester;
②A student who has been diagnosed with a serious contagious illness (such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, etc);
③A student who needs to discontinue their studies for some approved reason.
20. Absence from studies for international undergraduate students is generally limited to one term. With the school approval, leave may be granted for longer periods, but the total absence may not exceed two years.
21. Students who plan to leave the university must observe and be aware of the following guidelines:
①International students wanting to take leave from their studies at the university should apply in writing. Students who leave due to illness should also submit a certified hospital diagnosis of their illness. These should be submitted to the school, the Academic Affairs Office, and Office of International Exchange and Cooperation for their records, but only after approval has been obtained from their advising professor and the relevant school；
②The relevant school should submit its recommendations to the Academic Affairs Office about the best
way to handle situations relating to students who have taken leave without following the appropriate leaving procedures；
③Once approved, students will receive notification granting their leave from the university without losing their student status. Students must complete all leave procedures within one week after receiving this notification. During a student’s period of leave from the university, they may not take part in any classes or examinations；
④International students on leave for illness should return to their home country for recuperation；
⑤International students return to their home countries at their own expense；
⑥International students cannot get school public expense medical treatments and scholarship funds during their period of absence.
22. International students who wish to resume their interrupted studies should apply to the university in writing one month before their leave ends. Students who left due to illness must submit certified physical examination documents confirming their good health when they apply to resume their studies. Once it is verified that a student will be able to resume their normal studies and approval has been granted by the school, the Academic Affairs Office and Office of International Exchange and Cooperation will agree to let the student resume their studies.
23. If it is found out that a student on leave has broken the law during their absence from the university, the student will be subject to having their eligibility to resume their studies revoked and they may be subject to other punishments and disciplinary measures.
Chapter Six Advancement and Degradation
24. The international student who has completed all courses of study and passed all assessments for an academic school year required by the degree program, may advance to an upper grade.
25. The international student will be given a warning notice if the demerits for courses reach 10 in one term or two consecutive terms. The school or department in which the student currently studies will give him/her a warning statement.
26. The international student will be degraded if the demerits for the make-up examinations reach 18 or more in one term or two consecutive terms. The maximum for degradation should not exceed two times. The freshman is permitted to study with his/her former class if his/her course demerits of make-up examinations for the courses they fail in the first term reach the conditions for degradation. He/she will be given another chance to take a make-up examination at the end of the first school year. It will be decided whether he/she will advance to the upper grade or be degraded by the scores he/she receives in the whole school year after he/she takes the make-up examinations.
27. If an international student is degraded, the tuition and accommodation fees he/she pays will be adjusted according to the grade to which the student is assigned.
28. The international student is granted the right to decide to study in the lower grade or apply for ending his/her schooling if he/she stands up to the conditions of degradation in the second term of the fourth school year when he/she fails the make-up examinations at the beginning of the term.
29. If the international student has passed all course assessments before he/she is degraded, he/she can request that he/she be permitted to be exempt from the courses. He/she should complete all procedures for course exemptions within six weeks at the beginning of the new term. The procedures will not be processed at any other time.
Chapter Seven Expulsion
30. If one of the following cases occurs, the undergraduate international student will be expelled from the university:
①He/she fails make-up examinations and the total demerits are 30 or more;
②He/she is eligible for being sent to study in a lower grade for the third time;
③Being unable to complete his/her course of study within the maximum duration of the degree program (including leave of absence);
④No application has been made to resume studies after the maturity of leave of absence or his/her application is unqualified after being reviewed;
⑤The international student who is diagnosed with disease or injury and cannot carry on regular study;
⑥Being absent from school without asking for leave, the international student fails to attend the required curriculum activities for three consecutive weeks;
⑦The international student does not register within the time required and without any justified excuse;
⑧The international student who personally asks for withdrawal;
⑨LNU holds the right to determine if a student should be expelled for special unforeseen reasons.
31. Expulsion from LNU must be discussed and approved in a meeting dealing with university affairs presided by the president. LNU will provide the student with expulsion documentation and concurrently report it to the Guangdong Province Department of Education. If the student receives a scholarship granted by institutions of the Chinese government, the documentation will also be reported to them.
32. The international student expelled from the university must heed the following regulations:
①When an international student is expelled from the university, the school in which he/she studies should provide a written statement to the Academic Affairs Office. The Academic Affairs Office will submit it for approval in a meeting dealing with university affairs presided by the president, to be approved in the meeting. The International Office will place it on file;
②The international student who withdraws from the university during his/her study will be given notification stating that he/she has withdrawn from his/her study;
③The international student who is expelled from the university is required to leave within one week after the day he/she receives his/her expulsion notice and should depart from China within the time stipulated by Chinese law.
④If the international student has any objections to expulsion, he/she can make an appeal to Office of International Exchange and Cooperation and the university’s committee that deals with appeals by students who are expelled, this appeal must be initiated within five days after he/she receives the penalty notice;
⑤The international student is not allowed to apply to resume study if his/her status as a student is revoked or he/she is dismissed from the university; all problems after being dismissed from school shall be solved by the student himself/herself;
⑥Office of International Exchange and Cooperation should report the international student’s expulsion from the university to the Units of Exit-Entry Administration of Zhanjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau without delay. The Units of Exit-Entry Administration of Zhanjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau will confiscate his/her foreigner residence permit and shorten the time he/she stays in China.
Chapter Eight Graduation, Completion and Non-Completion of Course of Study, and Minor
33. The international student who completes courses of study required by the undergraduate degree program, with passing grades and within the duration of degree program, is permitted to graduate and will be granted a graduation certificate.
34. The international student who has completed what is required by his/her degree program, and within the duration of the degree program, will be granted a Certificate of Completion of Course of Study under one of the following circumstances:
①The international student who fails 1 or more make-up exams;
②The international student who fails to present a qualified graduation thesis, or graduation project design, or fails graduation practice;
③The international student who is penalized by being put on academic probation and does not show remorse.
35. If the first two cases in Article 32 occur, he/she is permitted to take a make-up examination one time for theoretical courses and redo course project design, production practice, and graduation project design (graduation thesis) with the students in the upcoming grade within one year after he/she completes all courses of study. If he/she passes what is mentioned above, he/she will be granted a graduation certificate. The date of graduation starts from the day on which the graduation certificate is issued.
36. The international student who fails to complete the course of study required by the bachelor’s degree program, but he/she finishes the course of study at the university for one year or more is granted a certificate of non-completion of course of study. The international student who studies less than one year or are expelled can only earn a study certificate for their completion of courses of study.
37. The international student who has the desire to study more can choose a minor as part of the degree program, which is handled according to LNU regulations on major or minor degree programs for undergraduate students.
Chapter Nine Bachelor’s Degree
38. If an international student completes the study required by the bachelor’s degree program, the Regulations on Institutions of Higher Learning Granting Degree to International Students Studying in China ( No. 14 Degree [1991]), and the LNU regulations on granting degrees, he/she is awarded a bachelor’s degree with the approval of LNU Committee of Degree Program after a review is made by the School Program Degree Committee, and a review is made by the Office of LNU Committee of Degree Programs.
39. If any of the following cases occur, the international student should not be awarded a bachelor’s degree:
①The international student fails to earn the graduation certificate;
②The international student who is penalized for violating Chinese law and decree, and regulations of LNU, and shows no remorse after being educated for over half of a year;
③The international student who is penalized for violating the assessment regulations or plagiarizing;
④The international student who earns over 35 demerits (36 or more demerits) for his/her make-up examinations, which includes restudying courses.
40. If the international student cannot earn a bachelor’s degree according of the third item in Article 38, he/she can be awarded a bachelor’s degree with the approval of LNU Committee of Degree Programs in accordance with Article 38 in the case that he/she makes study progress recognized by LNU after he/she is penalized.
41. If the Graduation Certificate, or Certificate of Completion of Course of Study, or Certificate of Non-completion of Course of Study, or Certificate of Bachelor’s Degree is lost, the international student will be provided with testimonials of study only upon written request made by the international student and verified by LNU, which have the same value and power as the original certificates, at a cost paid for by the student.
Chapter Ten Supplementary Provisions
42. These regulations take effect from their date of issue, where the right of interpreting the details belongs exclusively to Office of International Exchange and Cooperation and The Academic Affairs Office of LNU.
This translated version is for reference only, not as a management basis.
