Special Education

South China Normal University is an institution of higher learning with a long history and a rich legacy. Situated in Guangzhou, an open metropolis in South China, South China Normal University is imbued with Lingnan’s pioneering and pragmatic spirit. Furnished with English-taught Bachelor’s course Accounting as well as an abundance of other Chinese-taught courses, South China Normal University is known for a tradition of elegant simplicity and a favorable learning atmosphere. South China Normal University, a first-rate university in China in terms of the overall level of school running and comprehensive capabilities, featured by its uniqueness, openness and comprehensiveness, will be a fabulous choice for International students to pursue their study in China.

Special education is an educational theory and practice discipline aimed at children with special needs (such as intellectual disabilities, autism, hearing impairments, visual impairments, learning disabilities, etc.). The curriculum integrates knowledge from multiple disciplines including education, psychology, medicine, and rehabilitation, emphasizing the combination of theory and practical operation, and cultivating professional talents with the ability to assess, intervene, and teach special children.

South China Normal University(SCNU) was established in 1933, and is now a member of “Project 211” and a prestigious university in Guangdong Province.

The university’s three campuses total approximately 509 acres, which are located in or near Guangzhou, the largest city in southern China. This region is one of the most economically and commercially vibrant regions in China, with excellent public transport system, pleasant weather and two large trade fairs (Canton Fair) in this city every year. It is a comprehensive university, consisting of diverse branches of learning, such as philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, engineering, and management.



Campus view of SCNU at night

The university comprises 24 schools and one department, offering programs, which include a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a doctoral degree. Three large libraries house a collection of over 3 million books. The total number of full time students reaches approximately 29,000, in addition, there are about 1000 international students for both long and short study.



Campus view of SCNU in daytime

SCNU adheres to the goal of becoming a teaching-oriented research university. It has a team of experts and scholars who are famous at home and abroad. There are over 1,600 teachers, of whom over 300 are professors, over 400 associate professors, over 600 master and doctoral supervisors, and 1,202 are holders of master or doctoral degrees. There are 4 members of the Academy of Science of China (ASC).

SCNU strives to nurture qualified personnel, emphasizing the development of the students’ overall abilities. Its alumni are playing their parts in education, government, business and other fields. Some of them are government leaders, famous scholars, professors, and business elites.

Dorm for international students

The university is active in international exchange, having the advantages of being close to Hong Kong, Macao,not far from Taiwan and its strength in teacher education. Links have been established with dozens of universities and educational organizations from over 20 countries and regions?

The university will continue to maintain its good tradition developed over years, adjusting and optimizing its programs, focusing on teaching and research, stressing the whole person education. It strives to build itself into a first-rate university in the country in terms of the overall level of school running and comprehensive capabilities, featured by its uniqueness, openness and comprehensiveness. 
 

3 Steps to Apply to a Chinese University

2.1 General requirements

(1) Applicants must abide by the laws and regulations of China and the rules and regulations of the university, and respect Chinese social customs.

(2) Applicants should be healthy, both physically and psychologically, with no criminal record, and meet the physical standards required for applying for a student visa or residence permit.

2.2 Age and identification requirements

(1) Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with valid passports.

(2) Applicants who are residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Region and have obtained foreign nationality, or whose parents are both Chinese nationals and have both settled abroad, or one of whose parents is a Chinese national and has settled abroad, and who have acquired foreign nationality at birth, should meet the requirements specified in Notice of the Ministry of Education on standardizing the acceptance of international students in Chinese universities (No.12 issued in 2020).

(3) Those who apply as international students should have had a valid foreign passport or proof of nationality document for at least four years and had a record of actual residence in a foreign country for at least two years from May 1st, 2021 to April 30th, 2025. Actual residence in a foreign country for nine months out of a year can be counted as one year, based on entry and exit stamps.

(4) Residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Region who apply as international students after immigrating and acquiring foreign nationality must have acquired foreign nationality before May 1st, 2021, and had a record of actual residence in a foreign country for at least two years from May 1st, 2021, to April 30th, 2025. Actual residence in a foreign country for nine months out of a year may be counted as one year, based on entry and exit stamps.

(5) Applicants should be aged between 18 and 35 years. (Scholarship applicants must meet the age requirements of each program).

2.3 Academic requirements

(1) Equal to high school qualification (or above) in China;

(2) Full transcripts of final education, original or notarized version, in notarized Chinese or English Translation.

2.4 Language proficiency

Applicants should hold an HSK (Level 5) certificate, and those who apply for a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language should obtain an HSK (Level 4) certificate after February 2023.

2.5 Financial condition

Applicants should be able to pay tuition fees, accommodation and related daily living expenses. 

(1) Equal to high school qualification in China or above;

(2) Full transcripts of final education, original or notarized version, in notarized Chinese or English Translation.

(3) A scanned copy of score reports of the HSK tests. Applicants should hold an HSK (Level 5) certificate with a minimum score of 180. Those who apply for a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language should obtain an HSK (Level 4) certificate with a minimum score of 180. Admitted students are required to submit original copies of those official documents for verification. Those who provide fake materials will be disqualified from admission.

(4) An undergraduate study plan, including applicants' understanding of the discipline or major they are applying for and their plan, about 400 words.

(5) A scanned copy of passport valid for more than 6 months.

(6) A scanned copy of passport including the photo page, and all pages with visa records, and entry and exit stamps (if any).

(7) Single person color photo without a hat, taken recently within the last 6 months (same size as the one on the passport).

(8) Other requirements

★ Applicants are required to submit additional materials if necessary.

★Documents that can prove applicants' comprehensive abilities, such as certificates of awards, certificates, admission letters from foreign universities and so on, can be submitted together with their application.

★ Application materials will NOT be returned regardless of the application result.