This is a list of application materials compiled by CUCAS, including the names and explanations, some include reminders on how to write or prepare them, so your preparation process can be simplified. Please note, documents with * mark are the most commonly requested document. Those without * mark may or may not be requested. However, if such documents are requested, please follow the instructions and prepare the documents as well.

*1. Application Form:

Sample & Standard
1. Complete all fields as fully and accurately as possible. Do not leave any blanks — write “None” if a section does not apply. Your application might be rejected if your leave some blanks empty.
2. Home Address: should be the physical address of your residence in your home country, should contain a house/apartment number, building number, street, city, state, country and zip code. P.O. Box will not be accepted.
3. Education or Work Experience: Please list all educational and work experience until the time of application. For applicants with gap years, additional documents might be requested by the university later during the process of review.
4. Emergency Contact: can be a parent/relative back home or in China.
5. The form must be filled in English or Chinese.

6. If you are filling CUCAS application form on your computer, please also obey above rules and you can also download a sample to see how to make your application form great.

*2. Passport:

Sample & Standard
1. A clear, full-color scan, and complete photocopy of the identification page of your passport with your name, photo, birth date, place of birth, passport number, date of expiry.
2. The passport needs to be a regular passport and with long expiration date.
3. The photocopy of the identification page should include the four corners of the page.
4. Visa page is required for applicants who are not in their home country.
5. You need to provide the complete page of your passport which contains the individual number at bottom of the passport.
6. For those currently residing in China, photocopies of the Chinese visa pages and/or the residence permit should be provided as well.
7. Some universities may also require blank visa pages, so you are advised to upload a few blank pages as well.
Changing passport after submission or failure to report your current Chinese visa status may cause visa troubles.

*3. Photo:

Sample & Standard
1. Recent bareheaded photo taken within six months.
2. Full face visible, no headwear (except for religious reasons).
3. Usually 2 x 2 inches and white-color background.
4. Certificate photo instead of landscape photos or photos of daily life;
5. Usually in JPG format and less than 100K.
6. You'd better provide a photo of yours that was taken within 3 months.

*4. Highest Degree Academic Transcripts:

Sample & Standard
1. If the document is not in Chinese or English, it must be translated into Chinese or English and notarized by an authorized translation agency or relevant authority. Self-translations are not accepted.
2. Formal academic transcripts of your highest completed education level (e.g., Senior High School, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree), covering ALL academic years, NOT just the final year.

*5. Highest Degree Graduation Certificate:

Sample & Standard
1. A formal graduation certificate of your highest completed education level (e.g., Senior High School, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree).
2. If the document is not in Chinese or English, it must be translated into Chinese or English and notarized by an authorized translation agency or relevant authority. Self-translations are not accepted.
3. If you haven't graduated yet, you can provide a pre-graduation certificate(Check a sample below), some universities students to use allow pre-graduation certificate, and please confirm with counselor@cucas.cn about this first.

6. Pre-graduation Certificate:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains university or high school name.
2. Contains the name of the certificate.
3. Contains the name of the student and degree or diploma the student is going to have.
4. Contains date of issue, the teacher's name, and the school's stamp.

Tips: This certificate is for who haven't graduated yet but is going to graduate before a semester start in Chinese universities.

*7. English Language Proficiency Certificate (TOEFL or IELTS):

Sample & Standard
1. Contains name and photo of the student.
2. Contains ID number of the certificate.
3. Contains score of the test.
4. IELTS (6.0 or above) or TOEFL iBT (90 or above) or higher scores are preferred.
5. If you are unable to provide these test results, you may submit alternative proof, such as a Duolingo English Test score or an official English proficiency certificate issued by your previous school/university, stating that the medium of instruction was English(Check a sample below), some universities allow students to use English Proficiency Certificate, and please confirm with counselor@cucas.cn about this first.

IELTS or TOEFL is language certificates for English taught programs.
IELTS and TOEFL are the best language proficiency proof. If the applicant cannot provide IELTS or TOEFL, some universities may allow using an official certificate from applicant’s current or last educational institution stating that the language of instruction is/was English. An interview might be requested later during the application process to prove your English proficiency.

8. English Taught Certificate:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains university or high school name.
2. Contains the name of the student.
3. Contains the statement of students were taught in English and ability of his or her English skills.

Tips: This certificate is for who were taught in English before but doesn't have the certificate like TOEFL or IELTS.

*9. HSK Certificate (Chinese Language Proficiency Certificate):

Sample & Standard
1. Contains name and photo of the student.
2. Contains number and admission ticket number of the certificate.
3. For Bachelor’s degree programs taught in Chinese, HSK Level 4 or above with a minimum score of 180 is usually required.
4. For Master’s degree programs, HSK Level 5 with a score of 180 or above is generally required. A few universities may require HSK Level 6.
5. Higher scores and levels are preferred.
Tips: Generally, HSK level certificate should be obtained within the last 6 months, and you can check more information of HSK like test schedule and test locations here.

10. Physical Examination Record for Foreigner:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains name and photo of the student.
2. Contains nationality of the student.
3. Contains signature of the doctor, please be noted this form is consist of two pages.
4. Contains the issue date of your physical examination form.
5. Please do the body check-up within 6 months before the time you submit your application, since it is only available during the application process and valid for 6 months only(3 months for few Chinese universities).
6. Please print it out(You can download the form here.), bring the form to the hospital to complete all the checkups, have the doctors fill in all boxes for you. Signature of the doctor and date at the end of the form are required, hospital stamps on applicant’s photo（Ensure your photo is attached and the form is stamped and signed by the hospital after the examination） and the date are required as well.
7. The medical examination must cover all items listed on the form.
8. The document must be in English or Chinese.

11. Non-Criminal Record Certificate:

Sample & Standard
1. Obtain a police clearance certificate from the local police station where you currently reside, confirming no criminal record in the past 6 months at the time of application(Some universities may require a certificate covering only the past 3 months, in which case the certificate is valid for 3 months only).
2. If the document is not in Chinese or English, it must be translated and notarized by an authorized agency or relevant authority. Self-translations are not accepted.
3. If you are currently in China, the certificate must be issued by the local Chinese police.

12. Recommendation Letters:

Sample & Standard
1. Letters of recommendation by professors, teacher and/or employer in English or Chinese. Written by someone who has taught or supervised you. For graduate program applicants, the recommendation should be written by professors or associate professors.
2. Contains the name of the student.
3. Contains reasons for the recommendation.
4. Letters must include the recommender’s name, contact information (email and phone), and handwritten signature (no typed signature, please make the letters as official as possible.).
5. In the letter, signature, the phone number and email address, as well as the title or position of the person recommending you, must be clear.
6. If you plan to apply to multiple universities, do not mention the name of a specific Chinese university in the letter, to avoid rewriting for each application.

Tips: Usually students need to provide two recommendation letters. You can download a template here.

13. Personal Statement:

Sample & Standard
1. A written personal statement that introduces your educational background, personal experiences, motivation for studying abroad, and how your past has shaped your decision to study in China.
2. You should highlight your values, personality, strengths, and personal growth, and explain how these qualities make you a good fit for international study.
3. The statement should express your passion for learning, openness to different cultures, and your long-term personal and professional goals.
4. Must be written in English or Chinese.
5. Minimum length: 800–1000 words.
6. Make sure the content is original and written in your own words.

14. Study Plan:

Sample & Standard
1. Bachelor’s applicants: Suggested content includes: self-introduction; reasons for choosing China, this university, and this major; study plan in China; career goals; and conclusion. Highlight your motivation, interests, academic foundation, and fit with the chosen university and major.
2. Postgraduate applicants: Focus on your academic background (including published papers, if any), research interests, reasons for choosing this program/supervisor, study plan in China, future career plans, and conclusion. Emphasize your professional background, research abilities, clear academic and career goals, and alignment with target mentors or labs.
3. Must be written in Chinese or English.
4. Include your name and handwritten or electronic signature (no typed signatures), and submit a scanned copy of the signed document.
5. Ensure the university and program names are correct and specific to the application; do not use the same study plan for multiple universities.

15. Research Proposal:

Sample & Standard
1. Bachelor’s applicants: Suggested content includes: self-introduction; reasons for choosing China, this university, and this major; study plan in China; career goals; and conclusion. Highlight your motivation, interests, academic foundation, and fit with the chosen university and major.
2. Postgraduate applicants: Focus on your academic background (including published papers, if any), research interests, reasons for choosing this program/supervisor, study plan in China, future career plans, and conclusion. Emphasize your professional background, research abilities, clear academic and career goals, and alignment with target mentors or labs.
3. Must be written in Chinese or English.
4. Minimum length: 1,000 to 1, 500 words.
5. Include your name and handwritten or electronic signature (no typed signatures), and submit a scanned copy of the signed document.
6. Ensure the university and program names are correct and specific to the application; do not use the same study plan for multiple universities.

16. Financial Support Statement:

Sample & Standard
1. A bank statement or other certificates to prove the financial ability to support studying in China, issued and stamped by the bank, showing your financial guarantor’s account balance and ability to support your studies in China(The document must be in English or Chinese.).
2. Contains bank name and bank's contact information.
3. Contains the name of the cardholder.
4. Contains balance of the account.
5. Contains stamp of the bank.
6. Generally, the financial support statement should indicate enough fund for at least one year’s tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. -Submit a scanned copy or a clear photo (a printed version with bank stamp is preferred). Some universities might require more due to local Foreign Affairs regulations.
7. Please also provide a copy of the financial guarantor’s passport or national ID card.

* 17. Transfer Certificate/转学证明 (Immigration Certificate or No Objection Certificate):

Sample & Standard
1. Contains the name of the student.
2. Contains the statement of the previous university agree his or her transfer.
3. Contains stamp of the university.

For applicants who are enrolled in Chinese university right now only and for the purpose of transfer to another university in China, must be issued by the current Chinese university.

* 18. Attendance Rate Certificate/出勤率证明:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains the name of the student.
2. Contains semester and attendance rate accordingly.
3. Contains stamp of the university.

It is for applicants who are enrolled in Chinese university right now or was enrolled in a Chinese university only and for the purpose of apply for university in China, must be issued by the Chinese university the applicant is attending/attended.

19. Enrollment Certificate/在读证明:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains the name, birth date and passport number of the student.
2. Contains the program of the student is studying.
3. Contains the duration of the student's study at the university.
4. Contains stamp of the university.

It is for applicants who are enrolled in Chinese university right now only and for the purpose of apply university in China, must be issued by the current Chinese university.

20. Guarantor ID or Passport:

Sample & Standard
The legal ID or passport of the guarantor.
Guarantor refers to the relative or friend of the applicant who should be contacted in case of emergency.

21. Letter of Guarantee:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains the name, and passport number of the student.
2. For most Chinese universities, the legal guardian of the student needs to release the custody of the applicant to a local resident living in the same city as the university. The guardian of the applicant while he/she is in China must be a Chinese national, and will be responsible for the applicant before he/she turns 18. 3. The letter should include the legal name, nationality, gender, occupation, residing address of the guardian in China.
4. Signatures of both guardians and dates are a must, notarization might be needed.
5. Contains the statement of the guarantor that he or she will support the student financially and also is responsible for any emergency.
 

22. Certified Documents:

Sample & Standard
Documents are certified and in English or Chinese.
Certified documents refer to those with official stamps, for example, certified translated documents must have the official company stamp of the translation company or agency.

23. Notarized Documents:

Sample & Standard
1. Contains the name of the student.
2. Contains year of admission and completion.
3. Contains signature of the teacher.
4. Contains stamp of the notarization or certification organization(Usually you need to get your documents notarized in the Chinese embassy in your country, most universities require Embassy notarization).

Suggestion: make copies of the original documents and take the copies to be notarized instead of the original.

24. Pre-acceptance Letter(Pre-admission letter):

Sample & Standard
1. Contains the name of the university.
2. Contains the stamp of the university.
3. Contains the name of the student.
4. Contains the statement of the university about acceptance and conditions.
5. Postgraduate applicants must contact professors at the university (contact details available on their official website), communicate with them, and obtain an acceptance letter from a professor. Some universities may accept a temporary statement promising to provide the acceptance letter later.

A pre-acceptance letter is used for apply Chinese government scholarship, you will need to provide the Pre-acceptance letter to the dispatching authorities(In most cases, the Chinese embassy) of the Chinese government in your country, after that, you will receive an Award Letter for CGS Candidate. Chinese universities may also issue the pre-admission letter to let students know they were accepted when they are requested to pay the deposit before coming to China.

25. Digital Signature:

Sample & Standard
1. Please sign your name on a white sheet of paper and send us a scanned copy.
2. This will be used solely for digitally signing relevant application documents on your behalf.

26. A Self-introduction Video:

Sample & Standard
1. Please speak in English or Chinese.
2. The video should be at least 2 minutes long, in MP4 format, and less than 7 MB.
3. Include a brief self-introduction, your study plan after enrollment, reasons for applying to this program and university in China, and your plans after graduation.
4. You may also highlight your language ability, interests, confidence, and motivation.

27. A CV:

Sample & Standard
1. Submit a resume or CV to help the university better understand your background.
2. Some universities may require you to use their designated CV templates, which must be downloaded and completed accordingly.

28. Scholarship Application Form:

Sample & Standard
1. You get the form from CUCAS counselors, complete it on your computer, and submit it in Word (.docx) or PDF format.
2. Fill in all fields fully and accurately. Do not leave any blanks — write “None” if a section does not apply.
3. Insert your photo and sign the form using a digital signature (typed signatures are not accepted).
4. The form must be completed in English or Chinese.

29. Photocopies of Personal Artwork:

Sample & Standard
1. Submit photocopies or digital images of your personal artwork to demonstrate your artistic skills and creativity.
2. The works should be original, clearly scanned or photographed, and organized in a single PDF or folder if possible.
3. Include a brief title or description in Chinese or English for each piece.

30. Record of Personal Music Work:

Sample & Standard
1. Submit audio or video recordings of your personal music work to showcase your musical ability, performance skills, or composition.
2. The works must be original or clearly indicate your role (e.g., performer, composer, arranger).
3. Accepted formats include MP3, MP4, WAV, or YouTube/Baidu Drive links (with access enabled).
4. Include a track list or brief description of each piece (title, duration, your role).
5. All descriptions must be in English or Chinese.

31. Articles or Papers Published:

Sample & Standard
1. Submit copies of any academic articles, research papers, or conference papers you have published.
2. Include full publication details, such as title, journal or conference name, publication date, and co-authors (if any).
3. If the paper is not in English or Chinese, you must provide a translated summary in English or Chinese.
4. If available online, you may also include a link or DOI.

32. Notarized Guardian's Letter of Commitment:

Sample & Standard
1. Students under 18 must find a Chinese guardian who resides in the same city as the university, and complete the notarization process as guided in our tutorial video.
2. Upload a scanned copy of the notarized Guardian’s Letter of Commitment. This document must be certified in your home country and notarized in China.
3. Please note that a Notarization of Declaration (声明公证) issued in China is eventually required.
4. A scanned copy is acceptable at the initial stage. If the university later requires the original document or additional materials, we will inform you.
5. For some universities, guardian services are available. Learn more here.

33. Extra Documents for Students in China:

Sample & Standard
Students studying and residing in China must additionally provide:
1. A Non-objection Transfer Certificate(无异议转学证明) issued by your previous Chinese university. This document should include your personal information, academic performance (including attendance), estimated graduation date, and your current university’s approval of your transfer application. It must also contain the university’s contact information (email and phone), issue date, and official stamp.
2. Scanned copies of all passport pages with entry and exit stamps for China.
3. Scanned copies of all visa pages (X1, X2, T, or others) and residence permit pages (if applicable).
4. Some universities may also request a recommendation letter from your previous university or other supporting documents.