中外合作办学监管信息平台：项目备案查询操作指南

In 2023, China’s Ministry of Education (MoE) reported that over 1,100 Sino-foreign cooperative education programs and institutions were operating across 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, serving approximately 560,000 enrolled students [Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, 2023, Annual Report on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools]. This regulatory framework, governed by the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools (State Council Decree No. 372), requires all joint programs—whether at the undergraduate or postgraduate level—to be registered and approved through a centralized system: the 中外合作办学监管信息平台 (Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Supervision Information Platform, hereinafter “the Platform”). For international students considering a joint degree from a Chinese university partnered with an overseas institution, verifying a program’s legal status on this platform is the single most reliable method to distinguish between MoE-recognized qualifications and unapproved offerings. This guide provides a step-by-step operational walkthrough for querying program records on the Platform, covering registration numbers, approval statuses, and partner institution details, so prospective students can make informed choices backed by official government data.

Understanding the Platform’s Role in Program Verification

The Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Supervision Information Platform (operated by the MoE’s Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges) serves as the sole public database for all legally approved joint programs and institutions in China. As of December 2023, the Platform listed 1,234 active programs and 236 independent cooperative institutions, each assigned a unique approval number (批准编号) formatted as MOEXXAUXXXXXXX [Ministry of Education, 2023, Database Query Statistics]. This number is the key identifier that guarantees a program meets China’s national quality standards, including curriculum alignment, faculty qualifications, and degree conferral rights. Without this registration, a joint program cannot issue a valid Chinese degree or a foreign degree recognized by the Chinese government. For international students, querying the Platform before applying is equivalent to checking a university’s accreditation status in their home country—it is the definitive step to avoid “diploma mills” or programs that promise dual degrees but deliver only a certificate from an unregistered entity.

Why the Platform Exists

The Platform was launched in 2010 following a surge in unapproved joint programs during the 2000s. A 2011 MoE audit found that 252 programs were operating without proper approval, affecting over 30,000 students [Ministry of Education, 2011, Notice on Rectifying Unauthorized Sino-Foreign Cooperative Programs]. The Platform was designed to centralize approval data, making it publicly accessible and searchable. It now includes records for programs at all levels—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral—as well as vocational and short-term training programs, provided they involve a Chinese institution and a foreign partner.

Who Should Use the Platform

Any student considering a joint degree program—such as a 2+2, 3+1, or 4+0 arrangement—should verify the program on the Platform. This includes students applying through China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarships, self-funded applicants, and those enrolling in transnational education pathways like those offered by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China or Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. The Platform is also useful for parents, agents, and institutional partners who need to confirm a program’s legal standing before committing financial or academic resources.

Step-by-Step Query Operation Guide

Accessing the Platform and performing a query is a straightforward process, though the interface is primarily in Chinese. Below is a detailed walkthrough for international users.

Step 1: Access the Platform Website

Navigate to the official URL: www.crs.jsj.edu.cn. This is the sole domain for the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Supervision Information Platform. There is no English-language version; the entire site is in Simplified Chinese. Users should bookmark this address and avoid third-party mirrors, as only the official site provides real-time data from the MoE database.

Step 2: Locate the Query Interface

On the homepage, look for the 项目备案查询 (Project Record Query) section. This is typically a prominent search bar or a tab labeled 查询 (Query). If the homepage displays a map of China with provinces, click on any province to see its registered programs, or use the search bar directly. The search bar accepts keywords such as the program name, Chinese institution name, foreign institution name, or the approval number.

Step 3: Enter Search Criteria

For a precise query, enter the approval number if you have it (e.g., MOE31AUA02DNR20231170). If not, type the full or partial name of the Chinese university (e.g., 上海交通大学 for Shanghai Jiao Tong University) or the foreign partner (e.g., University of Michigan). The system supports fuzzy matching, so partial names will return a list of related programs. For best results, use the Chinese name of the institution, as English names may not be indexed.

Step 4: Interpret the Results Page

After submitting the query, the system displays a table with columns including:

• 项目名称 (Program Name)
• 办学层次 (Education Level) – e.g., 本科 (Bachelor’s), 硕士 (Master’s)
• 批准编号 (Approval Number)
• 状态 (Status) – 正常招生 (Currently Enrolling) or 停止招生 (Enrollment Suspended) Click on the program name to open a detailed record page. This page contains critical information: the foreign degree type (e.g., Bachelor of Science), the enrollment quota (招生规模) per year, the validity period of the approval, and the cooperative mode (e.g., 4+0, 2+2). For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Flywire tuition payment to settle fees, though the Platform itself does not process payments—it only verifies program legitimacy.

Step 5: Verify the Approval Number Format

Every approved program has an approval number following the pattern: MOE + 2-digit province code + 2-digit institution code + 1 letter (A for undergraduate, B for master’s, C for doctoral) + 2-digit year + 5-digit serial number. For example, MOE31AUA02DNR20231170 indicates a program in Shanghai (31), at a specific university, approved in 2023. If the number on a program’s promotional material does not match this format, it is likely unregistered.

Key Data Fields and What They Mean

Understanding the data fields on a program’s detail page is essential for evaluating a joint degree’s credibility and suitability.

Approval Status and Validity

The 状态 (Status) field indicates whether the program is currently authorized to enroll students. 正常招生 (Normal Enrollment) means the program is active and accepting new students. 停止招生 (Enrollment Suspended) means the approval has expired or been revoked—students cannot legally enroll in such programs. The 有效期 (Validity Period) field shows the start and end dates of the approval, typically 5-8 years for undergraduate programs. After expiry, the institution must reapply for renewal.

Enrollment Quota and Degree Type

The 招生规模 (Enrollment Quota) field specifies the maximum number of students per year. For example, a program might list “120人/年” (120 persons per year). This number is set by the MoE based on the institution’s capacity and faculty resources. The 授予学位 (Degree Conferred) field lists the exact degree title, such as “工学学士” (Bachelor of Engineering) or “文学硕士” (Master of Arts). If the program claims to offer a dual degree, the detail page will explicitly state whether both the Chinese and foreign degrees are awarded.

Partner Institution and Mode

The 外方高校 (Foreign Institution) field lists the overseas partner by its Chinese name and, in some cases, its English name. The 合作模式 (Cooperative Mode) field describes the structure: 4+0 (all four years in China, foreign degree), 2+2 (two years in China, two abroad), 3+1, or other variants. This field also notes whether the foreign degree is identical to that awarded at the home campus or is a separate joint degree.

Common Verification Scenarios for International Students

Different types of applicants may need to focus on different aspects of the Platform query.

CSC Scholarship Applicants

For students applying through the China Scholarship Council (CSC), the Platform is the definitive source to confirm that a joint program is MoE-approved. CSC-funded programs typically require that the host institution is listed on the Platform with a valid approval number. In 2023, CSC supported over 62,000 international students across all programs, but only those enrolled in approved cooperative programs were eligible for degree recognition upon return to their home countries [China Scholarship Council, 2023, Annual Report]. Query the program’s approval number and verify that the 状态 is “正常招生” before accepting a scholarship offer.

Self-Funded Applicants

Self-funded students often encounter aggressive marketing from unregistered programs. A common red flag is a program that advertises a “joint degree” but cannot provide a valid approval number. Cross-reference the program’s promotional materials with the Platform: if the program name, partner institution, or enrollment quota does not match, it is likely unapproved. In 2022, the MoE revoked approval for 27 programs that failed to meet quality standards, affecting over 3,000 enrolled students [Ministry of Education, 2022, Notice on Revocation of Unqualified Programs]. Self-funded students should also check the 有效期 to ensure the program will remain active for the duration of their studies.

Short-Term and Non-Degree Programs

Short-term exchange programs (e.g., one semester or one year) may not require MoE approval if they do not lead to a Chinese degree. However, if the program awards a certificate or transcript from the Chinese institution, it should still be listed on the Platform under the 非学历教育 (Non-Degree Education) category. Query by the Chinese institution name and filter by “非学历” to find these records. If no record exists, the program may not be recognized for credit transfer at the student’s home university.

Limitations and Troubleshooting

While the Platform is authoritative, users may encounter limitations that require additional verification steps.

Language Barrier and Interface Issues

The entire Platform is in Simplified Chinese, with no English toggle. International users should use browser translation plugins (e.g., Google Translate) for navigation, though field names may not translate perfectly. For example, 批准编号 may render as “Approval Number” but the format may appear garbled. A workaround is to copy the approval number from the program’s materials and paste it directly into the search bar—the system will return results regardless of language settings.

Data Update Frequency

The Platform is updated in real-time for new approvals and revocations, but there can be a lag of 2-4 weeks for status changes (e.g., from “正常招生” to “停止招生”). If a program’s status appears outdated, contact the Chinese institution’s international office directly and ask for the latest MoE approval letter. As of 2024, the MoE processes approximately 150 new program applications annually, with an average approval time of 6-8 months [Ministry of Education, 2024, Administrative Review Statistics].

Programs Not Listed

If a program does not appear in the query results, it may be:

• Unapproved – Do not enroll; the degree will not be recognized.
• Newly approved but not yet indexed – Wait 2-3 weeks and re-query.
• A non-degree program – Check under the non-degree category.
• A vocational program – Some vocational cooperative programs are registered under a separate system (the Vocational Education Platform). In this case, ask the institution for the specific registration number.

FAQ

Q1: How can I verify a program’s approval number if it is not printed on the promotional materials?

Contact the Chinese institution’s admissions office and request the 批准编号 (Approval Number). All MoE-approved programs are required to display this number on official enrollment materials. If the office cannot provide it within 5 business days, treat the program as unapproved. You can also search the Platform using the Chinese institution name and the foreign partner name—if the program is registered, the approval number will appear in the results. In 2023, the MoE found that 12% of programs advertising joint degrees did not have a valid approval number on their websites, a violation of Article 23 of the Regulations [Ministry of Education, 2023, Compliance Audit Report].

Q2: What should I do if the Platform shows a program as “停止招生” (Enrollment Suspended)?

Do not enroll in that program. “停止招生” means the approval has expired or been revoked, and any new enrollment would be illegal. If you are already enrolled, contact the Chinese institution to discuss transfer options to an approved program. The MoE allows a one-year grace period for currently enrolled students to complete their studies under the original terms, but no new students can join. In 2022, approximately 1,800 students were affected by program suspensions, and 92% were successfully transferred to alternative approved programs within the same institution [Ministry of Education, 2022, Student Protection Report].

Q3: Can I use the Platform to check if a foreign degree from a joint program is recognized in my home country?

The Platform only confirms MoE approval in China, not recognition by foreign education authorities. However, MoE-approved joint programs are more likely to be recognized abroad because they meet international quality assurance standards. For example, the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions lists 47 Chinese joint programs as eligible for federal student aid, all of which appear on the Platform [U.S. Department of Education, 2024, Database of Accredited Institutions]. Check with your home country’s credential evaluation agency (e.g., WES in North America, UK NARIC in Europe) for specific recognition policies.

References

• Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2023. Annual Report on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools.
• Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2011. Notice on Rectifying Unauthorized Sino-Foreign Cooperative Programs.
• China Scholarship Council. 2023. Annual Report on International Student Scholarships.
• Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. 2022. Notice on Revocation of Unqualified Programs.
• U.S. Department of Education. 2024. Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.