Can international students work in China? Learn the official work-study rules, 8-hour weekly limit, residence permit annotation, internships, penalties for illegal work and post-graduation options for Bangladeshi students.
Can international students work in China? Yes, but only in limited, approved ways. Under national rules issued by China's Ministry of Education and three other authorities, international students at universities may do part-time work-study. On campus, this means jobs such as teaching, research or administrative assistant roles. Off campus, work is allowed only after school approval and once the job is annotated on your residence permit. Hours are capped at 8 a week and 40 a month during term, and 16 a week and 80 a month during winter and summer holidays. Working without permission counts as illegal employment and can lead to fines, detention or deportation.
This guide explains the rules in plain language for Bangladeshi students and guardians. It covers who is eligible, what kind of work is allowed, how much you can earn, how internships work, the penalties, and what happens after graduation. Rules are applied through each university's own implementation rules, so always check with your international student office.
Key Takeaways
The national Work-Study Management Measures for International Students (Jiao Wai Ting [2021] No. 2) allow regulated part-time work-study.
The hour limits are 8 hours a week and 40 a month during term, and 16 a week and 80 a month during holidays.
For off-campus work you must be at least 18, have studied at your current university for more than one year, hold a study residence permit with more than six months left, and have your school's approval.
You must apply to add the work details to your residence permit within 10 days. Working off campus without this annotation is not allowed.
China's Exit and Entry Administration Law treats unauthorised student work as illegal employment, with fines of CNY 5,000–20,000 and, in serious cases, detention or deportation.
Don't plan your study budget around work income. China's student visa process expects you to show funds or a scholarship before you arrive.
The Legal Framework in Brief
Three sets of rules matter:
The Work-Study Management Measures for International Students in Higher Education Institutions: Issued on 29 December 2021 by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the National Immigration Administration, and published in January 2022. They set the national rules for student part-time work.
The Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC: Article 43 treats foreign students who work in breach of the rules, or beyond the permitted scope or time, as illegally employed. Article 80 sets the penalties.
Your university's implementation rules: Each university must publish its own detailed rules, which may be stricter. For example, Beijing Foreign Studies University and Peking University publish their own procedures.
What Kind of Work Is Allowed?
On-campus work-study
The national measures say on-campus positions should mainly be:
teaching assistant roles;
research assistant roles;
administrative assistant roles;
university public service roles.
These positions are organised by your university, so ask the international student office what is available.
Off-campus work-study
Off-campus part-time work is possible, but only if you meet the conditions, have your university's approval, and get your residence permit annotated. The work must take place within the city where your university is located. Each approval lasts no longer than your study residence permit and no more than one year at a time.
What is not allowed
Toxic, harmful or dangerous work.
Any off-campus job without a residence permit annotation.
Work outside the approved employer, location or period, or beyond the hour limits.
Work that interferes with your studies or attendance. Your university can withdraw approval.
Who Is Eligible for Off-Campus Work?
Under Article 9 of the national measures, you must:
be at least 18 years old and physically fit for the role;
hold a valid study residence permit in China with more than six months of validity remaining;
follow Chinese law and university rules, with no record of violations;
have studied continuously at your current university for more than one year;
meet your university's requirements for academic progress and attendance;
meet any extra conditions your university sets.
Some universities add more conditions. Peking University, for example, requires undergraduates applying for an internship annotation to rank in the top 50% of international students in their year and to have no failed core courses.
How Much Can You Earn?
The measures set minimum pay rules rather than typical salaries:
Fixed on-campus roles: Paid monthly. Pay for 40 hours should not, in principle, fall below the local minimum living guarantee standard.
Temporary on-campus roles: Paid hourly, with reference to the local minimum hourly wage.
Off-campus roles: Pay must not be below the local minimum wage and must be written into the employment agreement.
With a cap of 40 hours a month during term, work-study can help with small expenses but won't cover tuition or full living costs. See our cost of studying in China from Bangladesh guide to plan a realistic budget.
How to Apply for Off-Campus Work-Study
Check eligibility with your university's international student office.
Find a suitable role within your university's city that fits the rules.
Sign an employment agreement with the employer, stating the pay. Submit a copy to your university, along with a signed undertaking accepting the risks.
Get a certification letter from your university.
Apply to the local exit-entry administration within 10 days to have the employer and period annotated on your residence permit.
Make sure you have insurance that covers the work-study activity. The measures require it.
Report any changes within 10 days. If you change employer or period, or the job ends early, inform your university in writing and update the annotation.
Internships
Internships are treated separately from work-study, but they also need approval. Under the implementing regulations, students need school approval and must have the internship location and period recorded on their residence permit. According to the Beijing Municipal Government's residence permit guide, applicants for an internship annotation need:
a Chinese-language letter from the university approving the off-campus internship, stating the organisation, period and job description;
a Chinese-language letter or contract from the host organisation with matching details.
Internships that are part of your teaching plan, such as clinical rotations in MBBS, are organised by the university. They are not the same as private part-time work.
Penalties for Working Illegally
As summarised by Chinese universities' immigration notices:
Article 43 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law treats students who work in breach of the rules, or beyond the permitted scope or time limits, as illegally employed.
Article 80 sets a fine of CNY 5,000–20,000. In serious cases, it also allows detention of 5–15 days.
Article 81 allows deportation in serious cases. A deported foreigner cannot re-enter China for 10 years.
An illegal job could cost you your degree, your scholarship and future visas. It is never worth the risk.
Can Scholarship Students Work?
The national measures apply to international students generally, but scholarship terms and university rules can add conditions. If you hold a Chinese Government Scholarship or a university award, check with your international student office before taking any role. For scholarship options, see our China scholarship guide for Bangladeshi students.
Working in China After Graduation
Students cannot simply stay and work on their study residence permit after graduating. A 2017 national notice from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, as published by the Beijing government, allows outstanding foreign graduates to apply for work permits. Graduates must:
hold a master's degree or above from a Chinese university, or from a well-known overseas university;
apply within one year of graduation;
have an average score of at least 80/100 (or B or above) and a clean record;
have a definite employer and a job related to their field of study;
receive a salary no lower than the local average for urban employees.
Other graduates must meet China's standard foreigner work-permit requirements, which can include relevant work experience. Local policies can differ, so check the current rules in the city where you plan to work.
What This Means for Bangladeshi Students and Guardians
Plan your finances first. The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh asks self-funded X1 visa applicants for a bank statement showing at least USD 2,500 a year, or scholarship proof. Treat any work income as a small extra, not a way to pay fees.
Use your first year for study and language. Off-campus work is only possible after more than one year at your university.
Value experience over income. A research assistant role or an approved internship can help your CV more than casual work.
Be wary of recruiters. Avoid agents or "friends" who offer cash jobs, delivery work, or teaching or modelling gigs without an annotation. These are the most common routes to trouble.
If you are comparing destinations, see how the rules differ in our guides to working as a student in Russia and part-time work in Malaysia.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming a student visa or residence permit allows any part-time job.
Starting off-campus work before the annotation is issued.
Continuing work after changing employer without updating the permit within 10 days.
Working in a different city from your university.
Exceeding 8 hours a week or 40 a month during term.
Believing an agent who says work in China will pay your tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students work part-time in China?
Yes, through regulated work-study. On-campus roles are organised by your university. Off-campus roles require school approval and a residence permit annotation.
How many hours can international students work in China?
In principle, no more than 8 hours a week and 40 hours a month during term, and 16 hours a week and 80 hours a month during winter and summer holidays.
Can I work in my first year in China?
Not off campus. The national measures require more than one year of continuous study at your current university. Ask your university about on-campus roles.
Can Bangladeshi students pay tuition by working in China?
No. Hour caps and minimum-wage-based pay make that unrealistic, and visa rules expect you to show funds or a scholarship.
Can I do an internship in China as a student?
Yes, with your university's approval and an internship annotation on your residence permit. Programme-required internships are organised by the university.
What happens if I work illegally in China?
You can be fined CNY 5,000–20,000. Serious cases can lead to 5–15 days' detention or deportation, with a 10-year re-entry ban.
Can I work in China after graduation?
Possibly. Outstanding graduates with a master's degree or above from a Chinese university can apply for a work permit within one year of graduating, if they meet the grade, employer and salary conditions.
Plan Your Study in China with Southern Trip Limited
Southern Trip Limited helps Bangladeshi students build a realistic budget, choose universities and scholarships, and prepare the X1 visa file. We also brief students on residence permit and work-study rules before departure. We don't promise jobs or work income. Our aim is to help you study in China safely and legally.
Book a free counselling session or get your profile assessed. You can also read our China student visa guide and the full study in China from Bangladesh guide.
Information checked in October 2026 using the Ministry of Education's 2021 work-study measures, Chinese government and university sources, and Chinese embassy notices. Universities apply their own detailed rules, and policies can change, so always confirm with your international student office and the local exit-entry administration.