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Five myths about studying in China

Things students believe that are not true — about visas, cheap universities, language requirements, scholarships and agents.

China Sourcing Bridge · 4 September 2026

A student researching universities

Some beliefs come up so often that they are worth correcting directly.

Myth: an admission letter means the visa is guaranteed

It does not. The university decides your admission. The embassy decides your visa, separately, and it looks at your documents, your finances and your interview.

A genuine admission letter and a complete, honest document file give you a strong application. Nobody can promise you the outcome.

Myth: the cheapest university is the best value

Price is one factor out of several. Recognition, teaching quality, the city, the hostel and whether anyone will help you after you land all matter, and a very low price sometimes means one of those has been cut.

Myth: you need no Chinese at all for an English-medium MBBS

You can start without it. You cannot finish without it. Clinical years mean real patients who speak Chinese, and most universities expect HSK 4 before rotations begin — Jianghan asks for it before the end of the first academic year.

Plan for it from your first semester and it is comfortable.

Myth: all scholarships cover everything

Very few cover everything. Most cover tuition, or part of tuition. Accommodation, insurance, food, travel and visa costs are usually yours.

Always ask what is covered and what you still pay.

Myth: anyone calling themselves a university representative is genuine

Verify the agent, the university link and the documents before trusting anyone with your money or your passport. Ask for things you can check independently.

We would rather you checked us than took our word for it.

Still not sure how this applies to you?

Every university sets its own rules and they change between intakes. Send us your situation and we will give you the specific answer, not the general one.