MBBS in China Q&AMenuIs a 'bilingual' MBBS programme in China allowed?
Unofficial · Sources checked
No. Paragraph 2 of the Ministry of Education's 2023–2024 notice (教外厅函〔2023〕10号) forbids using a "bilingual teaching" model to enrol international students in a disguised way. The notice does not define "bilingual teaching", and this page does not define it either. This rule is from the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and applies to the 2023–2024 academic year.
The English wording on this page is this site's translation of the Chinese text of the notices. For the 44 universities named on the 2023–2024 list, see MBBS in China: recognised universities.
What paragraph 2 of the notice says
The notice (教外厅函〔2023〕10号, issued by the General Office of the Ministry of Education, dated 15 May 2023 and published 30 May 2023, for the 2023–2024 academic year) has three numbered paragraphs.
Paragraph 2 states that universities on the 2023–2024 list must continue to enrol strictly in line with the 2007 notice (教外来〔2007〕39号). It then states that universities not on the list may not enrol English-taught undergraduate clinical medicine international students, may not issue an English-degree certificate for "MBBS" or one containing the words "MBBS", and may only enrol Chinese-taught undergraduate clinical medicine international students, whose training standard may not be lower than that of China's own undergraduate clinical medicine students.
The paragraph ends with one sentence: "It is strictly forbidden to use a 'bilingual teaching' model to enrol international students in a disguised way" (严禁以"双语教学"模式变相招收来华留学生). The sentence forbids using a bilingual-teaching model as a disguised method of enrolling international students. Paragraph 2 does not define "bilingual teaching".
What listed and unlisted universities may do
| Universities | English-taught MBBS international students | Chinese-taught MBBS international students |
|---|---|---|
| On the 2023–2024 list (44 universities) | May enrol, strictly per the 2007 notice (教外来〔2007〕39号), per paragraph 2 of the 2023–2024 notice | Paragraph 2 of the 2023–2024 notice does not address this |
| Not on the 2023–2024 list | May not enrol, per paragraph 2 of the 2023–2024 notice | May enrol; training standard may not be lower than that of China's own students, per paragraph 2 of the 2023–2024 notice |
The 2007 notice (教外来〔2007〕39号), paragraph 4, states that schools not on its list may enrol Chinese-taught medical international students, but the training standard must be the same as that of China's students.
Supervision and penalty
Paragraph 3 of the 2023–2024 notice says units should strictly control enrolment, management and teaching per the 2007 notice and related documents, and that universities seriously violating the 2007 notice will be restricted or suspended from enrolment according to law and rules. Paragraph 2 of the notice, which contains the bilingual sentence, sets no penalty of its own.
The 2023–2024 list and how to confirm it
The 2023–2024 list is the list for that academic year under 教外厅函〔2023〕10号, with 44 universities and 3,048 places. The Ministry's policy index listed no later edition when this site read it on 11 October 2026. Confirm the current year's status with the university and the Ministry.
Related questions
Does the notice define "bilingual teaching"?
No. Paragraph 2 of the 2023–2024 notice (教外厅函〔2023〕10号) does not define "bilingual teaching", and this page does not define it either.
Can a university not on the 2023–2024 list enrol English-taught MBBS students?
No. Paragraph 2 of the 2023–2024 notice states that universities not on the list may not enrol English-taught undergraduate clinical medicine international students.
Does paragraph 2 set a penalty for using a bilingual model?
No. Paragraph 2 of the notice sets no penalty. Paragraph 3 of the notice states that a serious violation of the 2007 notice may lead to restricted or suspended enrolment.
Sources
- Notice of the General Office of the Ministry of Education on the 2023–2024 list of higher education institutions enrolling international students in English-taught undergraduate clinical medicine and their enrolment plan (教外厅函〔2023〕10号) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (General Office)
- Notice of the Ministry of Education issuing the Interim Provisions on Quality Control Standards for Undergraduate Medical Education in English for International Students (教外来〔2007〕39号) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
- Ministry of Education open-government index of policy documents on study abroad and study in China — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or professional-licensing advice, is not published by the bodies named, promises no admission, examination or registration outcome, and the official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.