The Chinese education system provides six years of primary school, followed by six years of secondary education. At higher-education institutions, junior college programs take two to three years, bachelor's programs take four to five years, and master's and doctoral programs take two to three years. Each school year consists of two semesters, with each semester about 21 weeks long. The first semester begins on September 1 and ends in mid-January of the next year, and the second semester begins in early or mid-February and ends in early July. Each school year has about 10 weeks of summer and winter breaks.

A foreign national wishing to attend a primary or secondary school in Guangzhou should apply for an educational residence permit according to the Interim Administrative Provisions on Primary and Secondary Schools Admitting Foreign Students. A foreign national wishing to attend a higher-education institution in Guangzhou should apply for an educational residence permit according to the Administrative Provisions on Higher-education Institutions Admitting International Students.

An applicant who has entered China with a regular passport and an "X" visa may apply for a residence permit with the Entry and Exit Administration Department of the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau by presenting the letter of offer that he or she has received from a higher-education institution and other required documents (for details, see the entry-exit service guide of Bureau of Public Security of Guangzhou Municipality

School-age children of foreign nationals residing in Guangzhou may apply to attend their nearest school by presenting their Guangdong Residence Permits. The children may also choose to attend a school dedicated to foreign children in Guangzhou.

For more information on how to obtain a residence permit and the privileges associated with the residence permit, please contact: