Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) of the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Education (MOE)
Q&A on Pandemic Period Policies on Foreign Online Degree Certifications[1]
January 29, 2023
Unofficial English Translation Provided by XL Law & Consulting P.A.
Following the release of the ”Announcement on Adjusting the Special Certification Rules for Cross-Border Distance Diploma Certificates During the Pandemic“; (hereinafter referred to as the “January Announcement”), some international students[2] expressed important concerns. In response to these issues of concern, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (“CSCSE” or “our Center”) hereby provides the responses below. If you still have any questions, please contact our Center via renzheng@cscse.edu.cn.
《关于调整疫情期间对跨境远程文凭证书特殊认证规则的公告》（以下简称“《公告》”）发布后，部分留学人员十分关心，为此，我中心对大家关心的问题进行了梳理，在此进行统一解答。如仍有疑问，欢迎通过renzheng@cscse.edu.cn向我中心咨询。
1. According to media reports, the CSCSE will no longer provides certification services for cross-border distance learning diplomas. Is this true?
有关媒体报道，留服中心不再为跨境远程文凭提供认证服务，是这样吗？
According to relevant national policies, foreign (overseas) degree certificates and higher education diplomas obtained through cross-border distance learning have always not been within the scope of our Center’s certification. After the outbreak of COVID-19, our Center prioritized the health and safety of international students; as such, for those international students who were affected by the pandemic and were forced to choose to take some or all of their courses online, after meeting the degree requirements of the foreign (overseas) universities, our Center allowed their degrees to be certified under normal practices. The recent Announcement simply cancels the special policies that were put in place during the pandemic and restores the original certification rules.
根据国家有关政策，通过跨境远程学习方式获得的国（境）外学历学位证书和高等教育文凭一直不在我中心认证范围。新冠肺炎疫情爆发后，我中心坚持把留学人员的健康和安全放在首位，对于受疫情影响，被迫选择通过在线方式修读部分或者全部课程的留学人员，在满足国（境）外高校规定的学位授予条件后，其所获得的学位可以获得正常认证。本次《公告》只是取消了疫情期间的特殊做法，恢复了原有的认证规则。
2. What if my school provides online and in-person learning methods in Spring 2023 (Fall 2023 in the southern hemisphere), and I have already chosen online learning and cannot change it this semester?
如果学校在2023年春季学期（南半球秋季学期）提供线上线下两种学习方式，我已经选择了线上学习，且本学期无法变更怎么办？
If the study method in Spring 2023 (Fall 2023 in the southern hemisphere) cannot be changed due to your school’s regulations or policies, you should keep all relevant materials issued by your school and submit them when applying for degree certification so that your degree can be successfully certified. If you have not completed all courses for your degree this semester, please be sure to return to school to take in-person courses next semester.
如因学校规定无法变更2023年春季学期（南半球秋季学期）的学习方式，应留存好学校出具的相关证明材料，并在申请认证时一并提交，以便顺利通过认证。如您的学业在本学期尚未完成，请务必在下一个学期按时返校学习。
3. What if my school does not offer in-person courses in Spring 2023 (Fall 2023 in the southern hemisphere)?
如果学校在2023年春季学期（南半球秋季学期）没有安排线下课，怎么办？
Usually, fully online courses that are not delivered in-person are distance courses, and the diploma certificates obtained through studying such courses have always not been within the scope of certification of our Center. If your school does not offer in-person courses in Spring 2023 (Fall 2023 in the southern hemisphere), please contact your school in time to confirm whether the remaining courses can be delivered in-person. If so, please be sure to return to school to take in-person courses next semester; if not, or you will complete the courses this semester, please keep relevant materials issued by your school and submit them when applying for degree certification. Applications for certification will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
通常，只有线上学习，没有线下学习方式的课程为远程课程，通过学习此类课程获得的文凭证书一直不在我中心的认证范围内。如您的学校在2023年春季学期（南半球秋季学期）没有安排线下课程，请您及时联系学校，确认余下的学业能否转为线下学习方式完成。如能及时调整，请务必在下一个学期按时返校学习；如无法调整，或您的学业即将在本学期结束，请您留存好学校出具的相关证明材料，并在申请认证时一并提交，我中心将据此进行个案评估。
4. This semester is about to start or has already started. What should I do if the time to apply for visas, book flights and arrange for accommodation is too tight?
本学期即将开学或已经开学，现在办理签证、预订机票和住宿的时间太紧张怎么办？
Please do not worry, you can continue to take online classes while you are going through the relevant procedures. In case of failure to obtain a visa in time, cancellation of flights, or difficulty booking accommodation, it is recommended to keep the visa appointment record, the flight cancellation certificate, the responses from places of accommodation and other relevant materials, and submit them when applying for your degree certification, so as to facilitate a successful certification.
请您不要担心，您在办理相关手续期间，可以继续上网课。如遇签证未能及时下签、航班取消、及宿舍无法预订等情况，建议留存好签证预约记录、航班取消证明及住宿机构的回复等相关证明材料，并在申请认证时一并提交，以便顺利通过认证。
5. Spring 2023 (Fall 2023 in the southern hemisphere) is the last semester of my program. Do I still need to go back to school in-person?
2023年春季学期（南半球秋季学期）已经是学业的最后一个学期，我还需要返校吗？
If all your courses and research will be completed this semester, it is recommended that you confirm with your school the requirements of your program and complete your study in accordance with your school’s requirements. If the courses cannot be delivered in-person, it is recommended you keep relevant written materials and submit them when applying for your degree certification, so as to facilitate a successful certification.
如您的全部学习和研究即将在本学期结束，建议您与学校确认余下学习安排，按照校方要求完成学业。如无法转为线下学习的，建议保留相关书面证明材料，并在申请认证时一并提交，以便顺利通过认证。
6. My school’s quota for in-person programs for this semester is full. Can the diploma certificate I obtained from overseas online study still be certified?
学校本学期线下学习名额已满，我在境外线上学习获得的文凭证书能认证吗？
If the number of spaces for in-person study for the degree program you are taking this semester is full and you cannot transfer to the in-person program, please provide relevant materials when applying for certification in order to facilitate a successful certification. If you have not completed all courses for your program this semester, please be sure to transfer to the in-person program next semester.
如果您所就读的学位课程本学期线下学习名额已满，无法转为线下学习方式，请在申请认证时提供相关证明材料，以便顺利通过认证。如您的学业在本学期尚未完成，请务必在下一个学期按时转为线下学习。
7. I am studying in a Ukrainian/Russian school. Due to the war, it will be dangerous to return to school. Can I continue to study online?
我在乌克兰/俄罗斯学校学习，受战争影响，如返校学习会有危险，能不能继续采取线上学习？
The degree certification of Ukrainian students who are unable to return to school in Spring 2023 will not be affected. The degree certification of Russian students living near the Russian-Ukrainian border who are unable to return to school in Spring 2023 will not be affected.
乌克兰留学人员无法在2023年春季学期返校学习，将不作为影响认证的因素。部分俄乌边境受战争影响的俄罗斯留学人员如确实无法在2023年春季学期返校学习，将不作为影响认证的因素。
[1] Original source in Chinese: https://www.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/sy/tzgg/2023012917442942281/index.html [2] As used in this translation, “international students” refer to students (likely of Chinese nationality) who study abroad outside of China.