Yes, international students can work and study in China by meeting eligibility (full-time enrollment, GPA≥2.5, valid visa) and school filing, with 85% of 500,000 degree students participating in part-time jobs, limited to ≤20 hours weekly during semesters and ≤40 hours weekly in holidays.
Table of Contents
Eligibility
Data from the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education in 2023 shows that among the 500,000 degree-seeking international students in China, 85% participated in part-time jobs through school filing, with a 70% qualification approval rate. Applicants need to meet conditions such as full-time enrollment, GPA≥2.5, and no disciplinary records. The data indicates a clear compliance path, providing practical opportunities for international students while upholding the bottom lines of academic performance and laws.
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Academic Thresholds
International students applying for part-time jobs must maintain full-time enrollment status, with stable academic performance as a prerequisite. 70% of applicants meet academic standards with GPA≥2.5, and statistics from a 211 university in 2023 show that the approval rate for those with a GPA below 2.5 is only 15%, highlighting the decisive role of academic foundation in eligibility. Class attendance rate must reach over 85%, and the on-time submission rate of lab reports exceeds 90% to avoid being deemed academically slack due to frequent absences or late homework submission.
Language students have an additional requirement of HSK Level 4 ≥180 points; 80% of part-time job applicants at a foreign studies university obtained approval by meeting this requirement. Some universities add scientific research achievements (e.g., participating in research projects) as bonus items for graduate students.
Identity and Filing
International students must hold a valid X1 (long-term) or X2 (short-term) visa residence permit. 95% of those who successfully completed filing have a remaining residence permit validity period ＞6 months, and data from the exit-entry administration of a municipality directly under the Central Government in 2023 shows that the rejection rate for filing with expired permits is 100%, so renewal should be applied for 3 months in advance.
The filing process starts with a preliminary review by the university’s International Office, which verifies academic scores and disciplinary records (no demerit or above penalties in the past year). After passing the review, applicants submit an application form, a copy of the employer’s business license, and a class schedule (marking free time periods). The university compiles and reports to the local exit-entry administration for filing, with an average processing time of 5 working days.
A university handles 300 filing cases annually with an approval rate of 85%. Most rejections are due to employers lacking foreign employment permits (e.g., small restaurant individual businesses) or job content unrelated to the major (e.g., pure physical labor such as moving).
After filing, students receive a “Foreign Talent Work Permit Notice” which must be carried at all times for inspection. An international student was nearly affected in their work as they had to rush to reissue the notice when checked for failing to carry it.
Code of Conduct
Working hours are strictly controlled within a reasonable range: ≤20 hours per week during semesters and ≤40 hours per week for full-time work during holidays. An international student was warned by the university for working 25 hours per week during the semester, and their qualification was revoked for a second violation.
Job types are limited to academic support (teaching assistant, translation), cultural exchange (international exhibition services), professional skill application (design, programming), and high-risk industries (construction, mining) or entertainment venues are prohibited. 90% of part-time positions at a university are laboratory assistant or course translation roles.
Income must be retained as records through bank transfers and declared in accordance with Chinese tax laws (tax threshold: 5000 yuan/month). A 2023 spot check by the tax bureau showed that the income declaration rate for international students is 80%, and those who fail to declare face verbal warnings.
Work Options
A 2023 survey by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education shows that 85% of degree-seeking international students in China who take part-time jobs choose three mainstream types of positions. Statistics from a 985 university show that 70% of part-time opportunities are concentrated in academic support and cultural services. The data indicates clear options that avoid academic conflicts, providing a path for international students to apply what they have learned.
- Academic Support Including course teaching assistant (grading homework, tutoring exercises), thesis translation (Chinese-English mutual translation), lab assistant (recording data, maintaining equipment). Universities offer 2000 positions annually, with 75% held by graduate students. For example, the mechanical engineering department recruits international student teaching assistants to teach drawing, explaining difficult points in their native language;
- Cultural Exchange Including international exhibition services (e.g., foreign language guidance at CIIE), campus festival volunteers (making dumplings during Spring Festival, poetry gatherings during Mid-Autumn Festival), language partners (pairing Chinese and international students to practice oral language). Universities nationwide hold 150 events annually with a participation rate of 60%, and a single event can attract up to 800 participants;
- Skill Application Including design (posters, UI), programming (mini-program development), data analysis (market research). Corporate demand increases by 12% annually, and the major matching rate for international students is 80%. For example, internet companies leverage their native language advantages to conduct overseas user analysis;
- Campus Services Including library assistant (organizing foreign language books), administrative support (translating materials for the International Office). Each university sets up 5-8 positions with an average daily service duration of 3 hours and a satisfaction rate of 85%.
Academic Support
Universities recruit for 2000 academic support positions annually, covering undergraduate to doctoral levels, among which 75% are held by graduate students. For example, a science and engineering university’s mechanical engineering department hired a Pakistani master’s student as a teaching assistant to teach drawing, spending 10 hours a week explaining three-view drawing difficulties in Urdu, which improved students’ homework accuracy by 22%.
Positions include course teaching assistant (grading homework, organizing group discussions), thesis translation (Chinese-English mutual translation of academic abstracts), lab assistant (recording data, maintaining instruments). A chemistry laboratory recruited an international student assistant to organize spectral data, and their bilingual records increased the team’s review efficiency by 30%.
Data shows that participants have an average GPA 0.3 points higher because exposure to cutting-edge issues deepens their understanding. For example, a teaching assistant self-learned Stata software while teaching econometrics, and the empirical part of their thesis received praise from the supervisor.
A university limits teaching assistants to a maximum of 2 courses per semester to prevent excessive time occupation and ensure academics take priority, demonstrating that position settings complement rather than interfere with academic studies.
Cultural Exchange
150 international cultural festivals are held annually, covering 80% of universities nationwide, with a participation rate of 60% among international students. For example, an Asian cultural festival at a university set up 15 national booths: Thai students offered tom yum goong tasting, Japanese students taught origami, and a single event attracted 800 participants.
Positions include foreign language guidance at exhibitions (e.g., serving foreign guests at CIIE), festival volunteers (writing Fu characters during Spring Festival, making lanterns during Mid-Autumn Festival), language partners (walking and chatting once a week). A Korean student learned Northeast dialect through the partner program, improving their final oral exam score from 65 to 82 points.
Data shows that participants’ cross-cultural communication scores increased by 25% and their sense of belonging was enhanced. For example, African students in charge of the African drum experience area led 30 Chinese students to learn drumming.
Universities avoid academic peaks when setting up positions, such as suspending large-scale events during exam weeks to balance experience and learning. A cultural festival volunteer stated that serving 3 hours on weekends did not affect review, but instead relieved stress through interaction.
Skill Application
Demand for corporate skill-based positions increases by 12% annually, covering design, programming, data analysis and other fields, with a major matching rate of 80% for international students. For example, an e-commerce company hired a Russian international student to conduct user portrait analysis in the Russian-speaking region, using their native language to understand comment emotions, which improved report accuracy by 28%.
Design positions include poster production (campus cultural festivals), UI optimization (international student APPs). An art college student designed covers for the school journal, and 3 issues of their works were adopted;
Programming positions involve mini-program development (e.g., campus second-hand trading). A computer master’s student wrote code in Python and completed online testing in two weeks.
Time Rules
A 2023 survey by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education shows that 90% of degree-seeking international students in China comply with time regulations for part-time jobs: ≤20 hours per week during semesters and ≤40 hours per week during holidays. Statistics from a 985 university show that the overtime violation rate is only 5%.
Semester Restrictions
During semesters, time is prioritized for academics, and work is only a supplement. Working hours are strictly limited to ≤20 hours per week. A 2023 follow-up of 200 part-time students at a university found that 85% work 15-20 hours per week during semesters, such as working 2 hours every night as a course teaching assistant from Monday to Friday and 4 hours translating theses on weekends, ensuring an average daily study time of ≥6 hours.
Time allocation must avoid academic peaks, such as suspending new tasks during exam weeks and not scheduling work on days with intensive lab courses. A chemistry international student was reminded by the supervisor after working 18 hours during the midterm review week and adjusted to 15 hours.
Schools verify free time periods through class schedules and mark conflicts between work and classes during filing. A student’s elective course overlapped with part-time work hours, and the International Office coordinated with the employer to reschedule to evening shifts, demonstrating the role of dynamic adjustment in academic protection.
Data shows that compliant students have an average GPA of 3.0, 0.5 points higher than those who work overtime, confirming the supporting role of time management in academic performance.
Holiday Regulations
Holiday time is relatively flexible but still has an upper limit: ≤40 hours per week. A 2023 survey by an education institution found that 60% of international students choose full-time internships during holidays. For example, working as a project assistant in a translation company for 3 months in summer vacation with an average of 6 hours per day (42 hours per week) requires applying for special approval and reducing to 40 hours.
Holiday work is mostly linked to professional internships, such as medical students sorting medical records in hospital archives (limited to clerical positions) and engineering students assisting with data collection in laboratories. A computer master’s student developed mini-programs during holidays, working 35 hours per week, completed the project 2 weeks in advance, and obtained a contract renewal from the company.
Universities encourage the combination of holiday practice and career planning, and the International Office releases a list of cooperative enterprises (updated with 50 companies annually). A student interned in a foreign trade company through the list, using bilingual advantages to process orders, and obtained credits with the internship report after returning to school.
Data shows that the internship conversion rate to formal employment for compliant holiday workers is 25%, 10% higher than those who work overtime, demonstrating the positive guidance of rules on career development.
Consequences of Violations
Overtime or non-compliant work will face graded penalties: 70% of first-time violators have their qualifications suspended for 1 semester. An international student was warned by the university and had their filing frozen for 3 months for working 25 hours per week (5 hours overtime) during the semester, and the approval was restored after rectification;
The disqualification rate for second violations is 100%. For example, a student worked 50 hours per week during holidays, and their part-time job rights were permanently revoked after the second verification confirmed the violation.
Penalties are based on attendance records (employer clock-in + school spot checks). A university uses positioning software for random spot checks, and being late for more than 30 minutes 3 times is deemed a violation.
Consequences also include affecting scholarship evaluation (85% of universities include compliance in assessment), and a student lost the Academic Excellence Award due to violations.
Income Details
A 2023 survey by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education shows that the median part-time income of degree-seeking international students in China is 1500 yuan/month, with an average hourly wage of 25 yuan: 30 yuan/hour for academic support, 20 yuan/hour for cultural exchange, and 35 yuan/hour for skill application. The income declaration rate is 80%, mainly used for living expenses (accounting for 60%), study materials (25%), and savings (15%). The data shows that income is positively correlated with job skills, providing a practical reference for the value of international students’ part-time work.
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Hourly Wage Differences by Position
Hourly wages for different job types vary significantly due to skill requirements and value output. Academic support positions have higher hourly wages due to the need for professional foundation, averaging 30 yuan per hour. For example, a teaching assistant position in the mechanical engineering department of a science and engineering university, which tutors drawing difficulties in the native language, has an hourly wage 20% higher than ordinary positions;
Cultural exchange positions focus on communication rather than technology, with an hourly wage of 20 yuan. For example, a foreign language guide at an international exhibition works 4 hours a day and earns about 1600 yuan per month.
Skill application positions (design, programming) lead in hourly wages as they directly create benefits, averaging 35 yuan per hour. An e-commerce company hired a Russian user analyst with an hourly wage of 35 yuan plus additional project bonuses.
Data shows that 70% of positions have hourly wages in the range of 20-35 yuan. Laboratory assistant positions in universities have the largest proportion with an hourly wage of 25 yuan due to high stability. A chemistry international student working as a lab recorder earns 1500 yuan per month by working 60 hours, which just covers the rent.
Hourly wages are also related to the university’s region: hourly wages around universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are 15% higher than those in second-tier cities. For example, a translation position at a university in Shanghai has an hourly wage of 30 yuan, while a similar position in Chengdu is 25 yuan, reflecting the driving effect of regional economy on income.
Income Composition and Usage
Part-time income for international students is mainly small and frequent, with a median of 1500 yuan per month covering most basic expenses. Among this, 60% is used for living expenses such as catering and transportation. A student spends 900 yuan per month renting a shared apartment near the school and 400 yuan on meals;
25% is used to purchase study materials (e.g., professional books, software subscriptions). A graduate student spent 375 yuan buying Stata statistical software to improve thesis efficiency; the remaining 15% is saved or sent home.
The 80% income declaration rate is achieved through bank transfers. A tax bureau spot check shows that most non-declarants use cash settlement (accounting for 70% of non-declarants) and face verbal warnings.
Usage distribution changes with academic stages: undergraduates focus on living expenses (70%), while graduate students spend 30% of their income on lab consumables due to research needs.
A company provides transportation subsidies (200 yuan/month) for interns, increasing actual income by 13%. An international student stated that the subsidy allowed them to take fewer subways and buy more professional books, demonstrating the practicality of income details in supporting academic studies.
Correlation Between Income and Skills
Skill level directly determines the income ceiling. Due to a 80% major matching rate, skill application positions have a significantly higher hourly wage of 35 yuan than other positions. For example, a computer master’s student developing mini-programs completed a project in two weeks and obtained a contract renewal from the company, with an hourly wage 40% higher than new entrants.
Among academic support positions, graduate students earn 5 yuan more per hour than undergraduates because they can guide undergraduates. A doctoral student teaching econometrics as a teaching assistant has an hourly wage of 35 yuan and also received a recommendation letter from the supervisor.
Data shows that 60% of high-income earners (monthly income over 2000 yuan) have bilingual + professional skills (e.g., design + English). An art and design student doing UI optimization for a company set a school record with an hourly wage of 40 yuan for part-time work.
Income stability also improves with skills: the renewal rate for skill positions is 60% (e.g., quarterly renewal by translation companies), higher than 40% for cultural exchange positions.
Daily Tips
A 2023 survey by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education shows that 85% of compliant degree-seeking international students in China follow daily tips. A follow-up of 200 part-time students at a 985 university found that those who ignore the tips have a 30% higher overtime violation rate.
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Time Management
Part-time students using digital calendars have a weekly overtime rate of only 5%. Statistics from a university in 2023 show that these students mark courses (red), work (blue), and review (green) in different colors, maintaining a stable average daily study time of over 6 hours, with an overtime rate 25% lower than those with random arrangements.
The practice is to spend 10 minutes before bedtime reflecting on the day’s time allocation, recording inefficient periods (e.g., afternoon drowsiness) and adjusting tasks for the next day. An international student rescheduled their 3 pm part-time job to the evening to avoid conflicts with lab courses.
Recommended tools include the shared calendar provided by the university’s International Office (marked with exam weeks). A student identified a peak work week during the semester through the calendar and proactively applied for 2 days of leave to prepare for exams.
Data shows that those who persist in reflection have an average GPA of 3.1, 0.4 points higher than those who do not, confirming the supporting role of granular time management in academic performance. For example, splitting work tasks with the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focus followed by 5 minutes of rest) improves efficiency by 20%.
Proactive Communication
Part-time students who have a brief weekly communication with employers have a problem-solving rate of 90%. A survey of 500 international students by an education institution found that communication content includes task volume confirmation (e.g., translation word count) and time conflict early warning (e.g., exam weeks). After employers adjust schedules accordingly, student satisfaction increased by 35%;
The average response time for reporting abnormalities (e.g., temporary overtime) to the university’s International Office is 2 working days. An international student reported extended service hours at an exhibition, and the International Office coordinated with the employer to reduce working hours the next day on the same day.
Communication skills involve a combination of email + instant messaging: formal matters (e.g., leave) are handled via email for record-keeping, and daily syncs use short WeChat messages.
An international student established weekly meetings with a translation company, proactively feedbacked terminology difficulties, and obtained a customized glossary, improving efficiency by 30%.
Data shows that those with insufficient communication are prone to warnings for overtime due to misunderstandings. For example, a student thought there was no time limit for work during holidays, and the 40-hour upper limit was clarified after communication, demonstrating the key role of proactive confirmation in the implementation of rules.
Emergency Preparedness
International students who reserve 1 alternative position have an 80% success rate in responding to sudden changes. The International Office of a university recommends that students pay attention to on-campus academic support positions (e.g., teaching assistant for another course) or short-term projects of cooperative enterprises after their part-time jobs are stable. An international student transitioned to translation work through an alternative position within 3 days after the original employer’s project ended;
75% of international students know emergency contact information (university’s International Office, employer supervisor, embassy consular protection). An international student encountered a dispute over working hours and received immediate mediation by calling the International Office’s 24-hour hotline.