How the application works
The process is not complicated, but it runs on a fixed sequence. Knowing the order stops you waiting on the wrong thing.
NanjingThe sequence
Each step depends on the one before it. The two that block everything else are your translated documents and the JW202 — both come from other people, so start them early.
- 1
Choose programs and check you qualify
Confirm the degree level, the teaching language, and the entry requirements for the specific program — not just the university. Apply to more than one; a single application is a single point of failure.
- 2
Collect and translate your documents
Start with the police clearance and any notarised translations. These depend on third parties and are almost always the slowest part of the whole process.
- 3
Complete the application form and resume
Both forms repeat your passport details. Fill them from the passport itself rather than from memory, and keep the spelling identical across every document.
- 4
Submit the complete package
Send everything together, with each file clearly named. Expect the university to come back with corrections — respond quickly, because your place is not held while you fix things.
- 5
Receive the admission notice and JW202
If you are accepted, the university issues an admission notice and a JW202 form. You need both, as originals, to apply for the visa.
- 6
Pay what the university asks before arrival
Some universities require an application fee, a deposit, or first-semester tuition before they release documents. Confirm what is due, and keep every receipt.
Create a free account first, then unlock the full study guide.
Requirements vary between universities, provinces, and Chinese embassies, and they change from year to year. Treat this as a starting point and confirm the details against your own admission letter and the embassy you will apply through.