Study abroad in China: The European Health Insurance Card does not apply there, and the social security agreement with China does not cover health insurance according to the scope published by the DVKA. Visa-free entry for German citizens is limited to 30 days and, according to the Federal Foreign Office, valid only until 31.12.2026. For a study period, apply for the visa before you travel. The DAAD uses 800 euros per month as a benchmark for students.
Study abroad in China at a glance
| Point | Information (status October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | European Health Insurance Card does not apply, the social security agreement does not cover health insurance, travel health insurance with evacuation cover is recommended | European Commission, DVKA, Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Visa-free entry up to 30 days only under conditions and until 31.12.2026, otherwise a visa before travel | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees | No verified amount, fees depend on the exchange agreement | Host university |
| Living costs | 800 euros per month as a benchmark for students | DAAD, scholarship rate list (undated) |
| Study abroad BAföG | Possible, responsible office according to the DSW assignment: Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim | German Student Union, leaflet (status January 2026) |
| Travel warning | No partial or full warning, security information on Xinjiang and Tibet | Federal Foreign Office |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The official pages linked below are binding.
How are you insured in China?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
China lies outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. The European Commission names the EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as the scope of the European Health Insurance Card. China is not on this list. Your card from your statutory health insurer therefore does not count as proof of cover for treatment there.
There is a social security agreement between Germany and China. The DVKA describes its scope, and according to that, it does not cover health insurance. You cannot be insured in China through this agreement. Ask your statutory health insurer in writing which benefits it provides for a stay outside the EU, and get the answer confirmed. The basics for statutory insured people abroad outside the EU are summarised in our guide on private health insurance for students outside the EU, which is available in German.
Health care in China
For direct entry from Germany, no vaccinations are required. The Federal Foreign Office recommends a hepatitis A vaccination and the standard vaccinations according to the STIKO schedule. Depending on the indication, the page also mentions rabies, Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever. It points out that hygiene may not meet European standards and names the language barrier as the main problem.
The Federal Foreign Office warns that hospitals can demand advance payment or refuse departure while bills remain open. Before you leave, ask your insurer how it settles bills in an emergency.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office recommends a travel health insurance with medical evacuation cover. The insurance should cover the air ambulance flight to Germany. Without sufficient cover, treatment and the flight home must be paid by you. The page names no state repatriation services. Background information is in our guide on travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and Work and Travel, available in German.
Do you need a visa for China?
The Federal Foreign Office names visa-free entry for German citizens for up to 30 days. According to the page, it applies under certain conditions until 31 December 2026 and not to holders of official passports, temporary passports or travel documents that replace a passport. Without a valid visa or the conditions for visa-free entry, entry is generally refused. The visa must be applied for in person before the trip (status of the page 25.10.2026).
With a visa, the passport must be valid for at least six months. For visa-free entry, the documents must be valid for the planned stay. Accepted are the passport, the children’s passport, and the temporary passport only with a visa. Identity cards are not accepted. Within 24 hours you must register with the responsible Public Security Bureau. In hotels, the hotel does this for you. Foreigners aged 14 to 70 are asked to give fingerprints.
The Federal Foreign Office gives no rule for study. For academic and cultural exchange, the page says visa-free entry applies, but research activities need a work visa (type Z). Whether your studies require a study visa is decided binding by the Chinese diplomatic mission. For stays longer than 180 days, a residence permit is needed, and you can only get one if the visa was already issued for such a long stay. Keep these documents ready:
- Passport with at least six months of validity when entering with a visa
- Visa applied for before the trip at the Chinese diplomatic mission, if you stay longer than 30 days or do not meet the conditions for visa-free entry
- Proof of travel health insurance with medical evacuation cover
There is no travel warning for China. The Federal Foreign Office gives security information. In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, stricter controls apply according to the page, especially for people of Uyghur descent. Foreigners always need a special permit for Tibet, and places may be closed. Exit bans can be imposed on foreigners. The use of VPN services is prohibited.
What does a study abroad in China cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees arise at the host university depends on the exchange agreement of your university. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official figure. Ask your university and the host university before you accept a place.
Living costs
For students in China, the DAAD uses a monthly scholarship rate of 800 euros. This is a benchmark, not a budget. The DAAD scholarship rate list carries no date, so you cannot read off its status. Living costs depend strongly on the city, so ask the host university what it expects exchange students to budget.
Funding: Erasmus+ and study abroad BAföG
China is not one of the Erasmus+ programme countries. Whether your university awards funds through a partnership is for the International Office to clarify. For more on planning, see our guide Planning Erasmus and study abroad, available in German.
Study abroad BAföG is possible for a part of your studies abroad. According to the DSW assignment, the responsible office is the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim. According to the leaflet (status January 2026), you must have a permanent residence in Germany, and funding starts at the earliest with the month of application. Outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, a foreign-stay supplement may be added. Under the BAföG foreign-stay supplement regulation, it is a percentage of the need that the Federal Foreign Office sets. We have not verified a euro amount for China.
Worked example: For a study period of five months, the DAAD benchmark of 800 euros per month gives 4,000 euros for living costs. Tuition, visa, insurance and flights are not included, because we have no verified amounts for them. The sum is a guide, not a promise.
Steps before you leave
- Have your statutory health insurer confirm in writing which benefits it provides for a stay outside the EU.
- Take out travel health insurance with medical evacuation cover and check whether the flight to Germany is included.
- Ask the Chinese diplomatic mission whether your studies need a visa and apply in time.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months when you enter with a visa.
- Plan to register with the Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival if you do not stay in a hotel.
- Clarify your vaccinations: hepatitis A, the standard vaccinations according to STIKO and, depending on the indication, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever.
- Check the security information on Xinjiang and Tibet if your route leads there.
- Ask the International Office about fees, insurance requirements and the host university’s budget.
- If you receive funding, file the study abroad BAföG application about six months before the start. The required details are in our guide to study abroad BAföG, available in German.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in China?
No. The European Commission names the EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as the scope. China is not among them. According to the DVKA, the social security agreement does not cover health insurance.
Do I need a visa for China?
Visa-free entry for up to 30 days applies according to the Federal Foreign Office, under certain conditions and until 31.12.2026. For longer stays or a study period, the Chinese diplomatic mission decides binding. We do not give a rule of our own.
Do I have to pay tuition in China?
That depends on the exchange agreement of your university. We do not name a verified amount. Ask your university and the host university before you accept a place.
What are living costs in China?
The DAAD uses 800 euros per month as a benchmark for students, without a dated list. It is not a budget. Ask the host university what it expects exchange students to budget.
Is there a travel warning for China?
No. The Federal Foreign Office names no partial or full travel warning for China (status of the page 25.10.2026). It gives security information, among other things on Xinjiang and Tibet.
Who handles study abroad BAföG for China?
According to the DSW assignment, the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim. The assignment is in the leaflet of the German Student Union (status January 2026).
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, China: travel and security information (status of the page 25.10.2026, German)
- European Commission, FAQ social security: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- DVKA, social security agreement with China (scope, undated, German)
- DAAD, scholarship rates for students and graduates (undated, German)
- BAföG foreign-stay supplement regulation, section 2 (undated, German)
- German Student Union, leaflet study abroad BAföG (status January 2026, German)
Sources accessed on 25.10.2026 unless stated otherwise.
Related
- Study abroad in Japan: health insurance, visa, costs
- Study abroad in South Korea: health insurance, visa, costs
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Status: October 2026. This guide gives general information and does not replace individual advice.
