Many Chinese students have been attracted to overseas universities that grant entry without exams and then open courses in China.

But educational officials advise students to be careful when choosing a foreign university, because some of them are not qualified and are not recognized by foreign or domestic educational authorities.

American International University publishes tempting advertisements saying that Chinese students can enrol in courses offered by the university without leaving their homeland and without passing TOEFL or any other tests. They need only pay required tuition fees and they can get an academic degree in one or two years.

American International University has recruited 500 students in China by co-operating with regional colleges, which offer consultations, recruit students and open courses for the US school, according to a report by the China News Service.

A student can study for a year and a half after paying 31,000 yuan (US$3,735) in tuition fees, and on graduation receives a bachelor's degree. Students don't have to worry about their English level, as classes are given by domestic teachers using Chinese editions of the school's textbooks.

The degrees issued by this university are not recognized by either the US Department of Education or China's Ministry of Education. But regional Chinese colleges do not reveal this in their recruitment advertisements.

Some Chinese students, who refused to give their names, said they are willing to study for foreign academic degrees, because the degrees are recognized by their work units. In addition, the courses are more a matter of money than academic proficiency and students are spared the tensions of challenging tests.

The Ministry of Education has been monitoring the operations of American International University and other similar foreign universities. It will take measures to better regulate foreign universities which offer educational programs in China, Cen Jianjun, an official with the ministry's Department for International Co-operation and Exchanges told China Daily.

Sources from the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchanges said the centre has listed some of the qualified universities of the United States, Britain and eight other countries on its websites www.jsj.edu.cn and www.cscse.edu.cn. Such universities are recognized by these countries' own educational authorities.

The centre will continue to expand its list of qualified universities to help Chinese students.

(China Daily August 29, 2003)