Frequently Asked Questions
Northwest University International Graduate Students
Frequently Asked Questions on Enrollment and Student Development
Q: How should I handle it if an international student contacts me, expressing their interest in pursuing a master's/doctoral program?
Answer: During the application process for a postgraduate degree (both Chinese and English-taught programs), our college requires international students to first contact their potential supervisor. The supervisor will review the student's materials from a professional background perspective. If they agree to accept the student, they will issue an acceptance letter (the template for the supervisor's acceptance letter is attached). For other admission application issues, please have the student contact our college's International Student Admissions Office directly.
Telephone: 029-88302373 88302918
Email: tonwu@nwu.edu.cn, crystalhe0917@163.com
Q: When will each training department know the final admission results?
Answer: First Stage - Pre-admission: In mid-April each year, the list and materials of international students who have passed the initial selection will be sent to each training department for review and ranking. Based on the enrollment and scholarship plans for the current year, a pre-admission list will be formed.
Phase Two: Determination of the Final Admission List
At the beginning of each September when the new academic year starts, the final admission list will be determined based on the admission status of various scholarship recipients and self-funded international students.
Phase 3: Confirmation of the List of Students Arriving at School
September 30th of each year is the deadline for international students to report for enrollment. Students who fail to report by this date will be regarded as having given up their opportunity to study in China. The enrollment of international students is based on their actual arrival at the school.
Q: When is the application time for international students to pursue a postgraduate degree?
Answer: 1. Chinese Government Scholarship (Master's and Doctoral Programs), Northwest University Silk Road Scholarship (Doctoral Program): December 1st of the previous year to March 30th of the current year.
2. Northwest University International Student Scholarships and Self-Financed Students (Master's and Doctoral Programs): January 1st to June 30th
Q: How does our school stipulate the training work and training programs for international students?
Answer: According to Article 7 of the "Management Measures for the Cultivation of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5), the cultivation of international postgraduate students is the responsibility of the training unit. A training model mainly based on the supervisor responsibility system is implemented. In light of the educational background or the characteristics of the home country of the international postgraduate students, the principle and approach of individualized training are emphasized.
Supplementary Provisions of the "Administrative Measures for the Cultivation of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Research Office Document No. 4 [2017]) Article 2: On the basis of referring to the domestic postgraduate student training program of the discipline, the training unit may formulate independent training programs for international postgraduate students taught in Chinese and English, taking into account the characteristics of international postgraduate students. After being reviewed and approved by the sub-committee of the degree evaluation committee, they shall be filed with the postgraduate business management department and the international student management department for implementation.
Q: What are the regulations of our school regarding the teaching of courses for international students?
Answer: According to Article 16 of the "Measures for the Admission and Training of International Students in Schools" (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China) and the second part of Article 7 of the "Management Measures for the Training of Foreign Postgraduate Students Studying in China at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5), the regulations of the course teaching department are as follows:
The curriculum for international postgraduate students is implemented in accordance with their training programs. Professional courses are organized by the training units, while public courses are taught by the international student management department.
The public course system for international postgraduate students includes:
General Information about China: Compulsory course, 60 class hours, 4 credits
(2) Chinese Language Course: Compulsory course, 60 class hours, 4 credits
Q: What are the requirements for the research achievements of international students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees during their study at our university?
Answer: According to Article 11 of the "Management Measures for the Training of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5), there is no requirement for master's students to produce research achievements during their study period, but they are encouraged to write similar research reports or summaries. Doctoral students are required to publish at least one academic paper related to their major in core or higher-level journals that meet the university's requirements during their study period.
Q: What are the language requirements for international students to write their graduate theses and defend them at our university?
Answer: According to Article 3 of the Supplementary Provisions of the "Management Measures for the Cultivation of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Research Office Document No. 4 [2017]), the dissertations of international postgraduate students taught in Chinese should be written in Chinese and include an English abstract; the dissertations of international postgraduate students taught in English should be written in English and include a Chinese abstract. The principle requirement for the defense of theses is to use Chinese. International postgraduate students who have been taught entirely in English may defend their theses in English.
Q: Who is responsible for the degree application process for international students?
Answer: Article 10 of the "Management Measures for the Training of International Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5) stipulates that the application for degrees of international postgraduate students shall be organized by the training units, while the review for graduation and the processing and distribution of graduation certificates shall be handled by the international student management department (International Cultural Exchange College). Relevant information of the graduation certificates should be filed with the competent department for postgraduate affairs.
Article 14 of the "Management Measures for the Cultivation of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5) stipulates that the application materials for degrees of international postgraduate students who have obtained degrees shall be the same as those of Chinese postgraduate students. They shall be uniformly sorted out by the cultivating units and submitted to the university archives for retention. Each cultivating unit shall also simultaneously send copies of the degree application materials to the international student management department (International Cultural Exchange College) for archiving.
Q: What are the regulations of our school regarding the submission of international students' theses for review?
Answer: According to the Supplementary Provisions of the "Management Measures for the Training of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Research Office Document No. 4 [2017]), Article 4 stipulates that the review of theses for international postgraduate students shall be the responsibility of the training units. For master's theses, three copies shall be sent for review, and the reviewers shall consist of three experts with senior professional titles, at least one of whom shall be from outside the province. For doctoral theses, five copies shall be sent for review, and the reviewers shall consist of five professors or experts with equivalent professional titles, generally doctoral supervisors, at least three of whom shall be from outside the province. The handling of the review results of theses shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the university. The quality control of theses for international postgraduate students shall be the responsibility of the training units and the sub-committees for degree evaluation.
Q: What are the regulations of our school regarding the review of international students' theses?
Answer: Article 12 of the "Management Measures for the Cultivation of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5) stipulates that the thesis review of international postgraduate students shall be conducted in the same way as that of ordinary students, and shall be the responsibility of the training unit. The number of review copies and the handling of review results shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the university. Among the reviewers of the doctoral thesis of international doctoral students, there should be at least two professors (generally doctoral supervisors) from outside our university.
Q: What are the regulations for the graduation defense of international students in our school?
Answer: According to Article 13 of the "Management Measures for the Cultivation of International Postgraduate Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5), the thesis defense of international postgraduate students must be held at our university. The defense should be conducted in Chinese. The questions raised by the defense experts should focus on the review of academic level and the discussion of academic issues, avoiding political sensitive topics or taboos of the students' home countries. Personal attacks are strictly prohibited. The department in charge of international students (International Cultural Exchange College) should arrange staff to attend the thesis defense of international postgraduate students as observers.
Q: How should the list of international students and their student numbers be reported?
Answer: According to Article 5 of the "Management Measures for the Cultivation of International Students at Northwest University" (Xida Yan [2010] No. 5), international students admitted to our university will have their admission notices issued and relevant procedures handled by the International Cultural Exchange College, the department in charge of international students, after approval by the superior administrative department. The student numbers of international students will be assigned by the International Cultural Exchange College and filed with the university's graduate affairs department. The graduate affairs department will then include them in the university's graduate student list and distribute them to the relevant training units.
Q: How is the teaching load of international students' master's and doctoral supervisors calculated?
Answer: Refer to the standards for master's and doctoral supervisors of Chinese students set by the Teaching Management Section of the Graduate School, and each department can make adjustments as needed.
Doctoral program: 5 class hours each in the first and second semesters, 25 class hours each in the second to sixth semesters, totaling 110 class hours over three years.
Master's Degree: Academic Master's (Science), 3 years, 90 credits.
Master of Arts, 3 years, 70 credits.
Professional Master's Degree (Science), 3 years, 80 credit hours;
Professional Master's Degree (Arts), 3 years, 60 credits.
Q: Can international students on campus change their major?
Answer: In principle, international students are not allowed to change their major after arriving at the school. If the research direction does not match the supervisor, the student may submit an application for a major change. The application can only be approved after both the original and the new training units agree.