Studying in China is becoming an increasingly popular choice among Vietnamese students, thanks to its relatively reasonable tuition fees, diverse academic programmes and opportunities to access one of Asia’s largest economies.

However, alongside tuition fees, choice of major and scholarships, regulations on part-time work, internships and employment after graduation are important matters that students should understand before travelling to China.

One common misconception is:

“If I have a Chinese student visa, I am allowed to work part-time.”

In reality, the situation is more complicated. International students in China are subject to specific regulations governing part-time work and off-campus internships. Working without completing the required procedures may result in violations of employment and residence regulations. (National Immigration Administration)

1. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ALLOWED TO DO IN CHINA?

Study at their educational institution

Studying is the primary purpose of residence for international students in China.

Students may attend their registered programme, participate in academic and research activities, join student clubs and take part in other activities organised by their institution in accordance with its regulations.

Students entering China with an X1 visa must also complete the required procedures to obtain a residence permit for study after arrival. (National Immigration Administration)

Participate in approved work-study activities

China has a 勤工助学 (qín gōng zhù xué) system, which can be understood as a work-study arrangement designed to support students with their study and living expenses.

Under the Ministry of Education’s regulations applicable to international students:

• During the academic term: in principle, no more than 8 hours per week and 40 hours per month.

• During winter and summer holidays: in principle, no more than 16 hours per week and 80 hours per month.

• Work must not interfere with academic studies.

• Institutions must not arrange work that is hazardous, dangerous or harmful to students’ health. (Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China)

Importantly, these limits do not mean that international students are free to take any job outside the university. The activity must fall within the applicable work-study framework and comply with additional residence requirements when it takes place off campus.

2. PART-TIME WORK AND INTERNSHIPS: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

This is one of the most important areas for international students to understand.

Off-campus work or internships require approval

According to the National Immigration Administration of China, foreign nationals holding a student residence permit who wish to undertake off-campus work-study or internships must:

1. Obtain approval from their educational institution.

2. Complete the relevant procedures with the competent public security exit-entry administration authority.

3. Have the location and duration of the work or internship recorded on their residence permit. (National Immigration Administration)

Only after these requirements have been completed may the student undertake the approved activity outside the institution.

What if the residence permit does not contain the required endorsement?

The rule is clear:

An international student holding a student residence permit without the required endorsement is not permitted to undertake off-campus work-study or internships. (National Immigration Administration)

Therefore, the fact that an external company agrees to employ a student does not by itself mean that the student is legally authorised to work.

Can students change their approved workplace or internship location?

They should not do so without following the required procedures.

The location and duration of the work or internship form part of the information recorded on the residence permit. If either changes, students should check the applicable requirements and complete any necessary amendment procedures rather than moving to another workplace independently. (National Immigration Administration)

3. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NOT ALLOWED TO DO?

They cannot simply take a part-time job off campus

A Vietnamese student studying in China cannot simply find a job at:

• A restaurant or food outlet;

• A café;

• A shop;

• A factory;

• A company;

• A warehouse;

• Other commercial establishments.

If the activity requires approval and the student has not completed the relevant procedures, they must not undertake the work.

They cannot work off campus without the required residence-permit endorsement

This is one of the most important rules to remember.

A student residence permit does not automatically grant an international student the right to work off campus.

Students who wish to undertake off-campus work-study or internships must obtain institutional approval and complete the required endorsement procedures. (National Immigration Administration)

They cannot work beyond the permitted scope or duration

China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law provides that foreign students who work in violation of the applicable requirements, including working beyond the permitted scope or period, may be regarded as engaging in illegal employment. (National Immigration Administration)

Therefore, even when work-study has been approved, students must comply with the applicable working hours and scope.

They cannot use student status to work full-time as an ordinary foreign employee

If a student wishes to work in China as a foreign employee, they must satisfy the relevant requirements concerning a work permit and residence permit for employment.

Chinese regulations require employers hiring foreign nationals to comply with the relevant work-permit and residence requirements. (National Immigration Administration)

4. CAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS STAY IN CHINA TO WORK AFTER GRADUATION?

Yes, potentially, but this is not automatic.

After graduation, students who wish to remain in China for employment must meet the requirements applicable to foreign workers and complete the procedures to change to an appropriate status.

In other words:

Graduation ≠ automatic right to work in China.

Students generally need suitable employment and must complete the relevant procedures concerning work permits, residence permits and other applicable requirements. (National Immigration Administration)

Opportunities for graduates in China

Certain Chinese national and local policies provide opportunities for international graduates to remain in China for employment or entrepreneurship if they meet specified criteria.

The National Immigration Administration also has provisions concerning foreign nationals who graduate from recognised Chinese universities and remain in China for innovation and entrepreneurship for a specified period after graduation. (National Immigration Administration)

This means that the pathway:

Study → Graduate → Find employment → Change to an employment-related status

can be possible, but it depends on specific legal requirements and is not an automatic entitlement for every international student.

5. DIFFERENT STAGES OF STUDY IN CHINA

Chinese language programmes

The primary purpose is to study and improve Chinese language proficiency.

Students should not assume that studying Chinese in China automatically gives them the right to work part-time. If they wish to undertake off-campus work or internships, they should first check with their institution whether their programme and residence status meet the applicable requirements.

College and undergraduate programmes

Students may participate in academic, research and approved work-study activities in accordance with the relevant regulations.

For off-campus work or internships, they must follow the required approval procedures and ensure that the relevant information is properly recorded on their residence permit.

Master’s and PhD programmes

A higher level of study does not automatically provide the right to work freely.

Postgraduate students must continue to comply with the regulations governing their student residence status, part-time work and internships. After graduation, if they obtain suitable employment and meet the relevant requirements, they may apply to change to an employment-related status.

6. SUMMARY: WHAT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN CHINA CAN AND CANNOT DO

The limits of 8 hours per week and 40 hours per month during the academic term, and 16 hours per week and 80 hours per month during holidays, are set out in the regulations governing work-study activities for international students. (Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China)

7. IMPORTANT POINTS FOR VIETNAMESE STUDENTS

1. A student visa is not a work permit

An X1/X2 visa and a student residence permit are primarily intended for study. Having a student visa does not automatically give an international student the right to work.

2. Do not rely on informal information about part-time work

Statements such as:

“International students in China can work as many hours as they want.”

“If you have an X1 visa, you can work in restaurants.”

“If the university does not check, you can simply work.”

are potentially misleading and may expose students to legal risks.

Work-study and off-campus internships are subject to specific conditions, particularly institutional approval and the required endorsement on the residence permit. (National Immigration Administration)

3. Complete the procedures before starting work

If you wish to undertake off-campus work or an internship, the safer approach is:

Consult your institution → obtain institutional approval → complete the relevant procedures with the exit-entry administration authority → check that the information has been properly recorded on your residence permit → only then start the activity.

4. If your goal is to work in China after graduation, prepare from the beginning

Students should consider:

• Their chosen field of study;

• Chinese-language proficiency;

• Professional qualifications;

• Academic performance;

• The city where they hope to work;

• Labour-market demand;

• Employers that may be able to hire foreign nationals;

• Requirements for changing to an employment-related status after graduation.

This provides a more realistic pathway for students whose long-term goal is to study in China and develop their career in China.

8. CONCLUSION

Studying in China offers many opportunities for education and professional development. However, part-time work should not be regarded as an automatic right for international students.

The key points to remember are:

Studying in China: YES.

Participating in approved work-study activities: POSSIBLY.

Undertaking an off-campus internship when all requirements are met: POSSIBLY.

Freely taking any part-time job off campus: NO.

Staying in China to work after graduation: POSSIBLY, provided the relevant requirements are met and the student changes to an appropriate status.

For Vietnamese students, understanding the regulations before travelling to China can help prevent immigration and employment violations while also allowing them to develop a clear study and career pathway:

Study → build professional skills → undertake approved internships → graduate → pursue suitable employment opportunities.

Regulations concerning foreign nationals’ employment, residence and internships may be updated and their implementation may vary between localities. Students should therefore confirm the applicable requirements directly with their educational institution and the competent local exit-entry administration authority before undertaking any off-campus work or internship.

CONTACT INFORMATION

SONG DA TOHOKU JOINT STOCK COMPANY

Address: L02-L01, Area A, Duong Noi Urban Area, Duong Noi Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hotline: 0989044852

Email: tohokusongda2014@gmail.com

Website: https://tohoku.vn