The Higher Education Law of the People’s Republic of China, adopted at
the 4th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People’s
Congress of the People’s Republic of China on August 29, 1998, is hereby
promulgated and shall go into effect as of January 1, 1999.

Jiang Zemin
President of the People’s Republic of China
August 29, 1998

HIGHER EDUCATION LAW OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

(Adopted at the 4th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth
National People’s Congress on August 29, 1998)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II BASIC SYSTEMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
CHAPTER III ESTABLISHMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER IV ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

CHAPTER V TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL WORKERS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER VI STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER VII INPUT TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND GUARANTEE OF CONDITIONS
CHAPTER VIII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Article 1 This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution and
the Education Law with a view to developing higher education,
implementing the strategy of developing the country by relying on
science and education, and promoting socialist material and ethical
progress.
Article 2 This Law shall be applicable to higher education conducted
within the territory of the People’s Republic of China.

For purposes of this Law, higher education means education conducted on
the basis of completion of senior middle-school education.

Article 3 In developing socialist higher education, the State adheres to
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as its
guide and follows the basic principles laid down in the Constitution.