The Chinese government warned that it would no longer accept distance diplomas and urged Chinese citizens who had been enrolled in online courses at international colleges to return to their original study locations.

Students who still need to finish their coursework this semester should make sure to go back to school the next semester, according to a statement from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE).

Students were able to study online during the COVID-19 pandemic due to travel restrictions, but authorities have now announced that the temporary regulations allowing the accreditation of degrees earned online from China are ending, so they should return to their study locations “as soon as possible.”

In addition to new enrolment and continuing study, CSCSE stated that it would not offer certification/accreditation services for certificates and degrees earned after the 2023 Spring semester (Southern Hemisphere Autumn Semester). Additionally, it stated that the center would appropriately handle every case if certain factors adhered to the necessary regulations.

Although such news may be welcomed by many, according to Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), students will still have to cope with concerns related to lodging, travel, and visas.

The higher education advocacy group Colleges Australia recently weighed in on China’s directive for students to return to face-to-face instruction at their foreign universities, praising it as a wise move.