Money you must show
No fixed national figure
Neither the visa rules nor the residence permit rules set an amount. Your university may ask for a bank statement or a guarantor, and the figure it sets is the one that applies to you.
National Immigration Administration, checked 24 Sep 2026
Visa fee
Set by nationality: US$140 single entry for US citizens, US$23 for most other nationalities applying in the US
Reduced fees in force until 31 December 2026. Add a US$25 express fee if you use it, and the residence permit fee (RMB 400 for up to one year) after arrival.
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, checked 24 Sep 2026
Work while you study
No general right to work. Work-study and internships only with university approval and a residence permit annotation
Peking University, for example, caps work-study at 8 hours a week and 40 hours a month in term.
Ministry of Education Order No. 42 / National Immigration Administration, checked 24 Sep 2026
Stay after you graduate
No post-study work visa. Master's graduates and above may apply for a work permit directly within one year of graduating
Conditions include a grade average of at least 80/100 or B+, a job in your field and a salary at or above the local average wage.
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education notice, 6 January 2017, checked 24 Sep 2026