China transnational education policy update: What it means for New Zealand education providers

In early June, China’s Ministry of Education (China MOE) hosted its second Policy Briefing on China’s Opening-up in Education. This session followed the initial briefing held in September 2025, which was detailed in this update from Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (China Insight: Transnational education update October 2025 | ENZ IntelliLab).

The briefing was led by the Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges. Crucially, China MOE used this senior-level platform to directly address widespread international concerns regarding policy continuity and stability.

The Director-General explicitly stated that China will not “slam on the brakes” on TNE partnerships in the coming years. Instead, Beijing views TNE as a core component of its strategy to become a world-leading education power by 2035, reassuring providers that the current open stance is built for the long term.

ENZ's Regional Director - Greater China, Dr Ron Xavier said understanding China MOE policies and how they guide and develop its international education priorities is crucial for New Zealand education providers.

“China remains New Zealand’s largest source for international students. Every year, up to 13,000 offshore Chinese students start their study with New Zealand providers as part of 81 transnational education partnerships. Understanding the essence of China's international education policies is important for New Zealand providers, as these settings continue to shape opportunities and expectations for transnational education partnerships between New Zealand and China,” Ron said.

For New Zealand providers – both those managing established programmes and those entering the market – the key takeaways sit across three main areas:

1. Regulatory predictability and market growth

Rather than a sudden tightening of controls, China MoE is shifting toward a more transparent, predictable, and streamlined regulatory environment.

·         Faster approval tracks: In the first half of 2026 alone, China MoE approved 219 joint institutes and programmes – the highest level of approvals seen in over a decade. A policy change introduced in September 2025 is driving this momentum that locks in a strict decision-making timeline of 45 working days from application acceptance.

·         The global and New Zealand footprint: As of 31 May 2026, China has over 1,700 approved degree-conferring joint programmes and institutes involving more than 1,100 overseas institutions. New Zealand providers are highly competitive in this stable framework, securing 15 of the 219 newly approved global partnerships.

·         Codifying the rules: To cement these reforms into permanent structures, China MoE confirmed that a revision of the Regulations on Sino-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools is actively underway, alongside the upcoming release of an official Guide to TNE Cooperation.

Regional growth pathways: As part of this stable expansion, China MoE highlighted strong, long-term demand from local governments in China’s central and western regions. Provinces with large populations and developing modern industries are actively seeking international partners, offering clear, secure opportunities for New Zealand providers looking to expand outside traditional coastal hubs.

2. Student demographics and sustained demand

To reassure providers that student demand will remain stable, China MoE linked its policy stance to clear demographic data:

·         Near-term peak (now to 2035): Demand for higher education places remains intensely strong. Gaokao (College Entrance Exam) registrations rose from 12.45 million in 2025 to 12.90 million in 2026, ensuring a massive pool of prospective students for the next decade.

·         Post-2035 demographic shift: While a dropping birth rate since 2017 means the college-aged population will fall sharply after 2035, the immediate focus for the next nine years is handling the current volume of students.

·         “Internationalisation at home”: Rising global mobility costs and broader international uncertainties mean more Chinese families prefer high-quality, international education delivered domestically. This structural social shift ensures steady, long-term recruitment for robust TNE programmes.

3. Shifting from volume to quality control

China MoE made it clear that while the door remains wide open, it is no longer about numbers alone. Policy stability will be paired with active quality management:

·         Normalised market exits: They noted that the closure of underperforming partnerships or those with low student recruitment is a normal, healthy part of managing a mature market. This ensures that high-quality, committed providers are protected from reputational risks caused by substandard programmes.

·         Official partner-matching platform: To support stable, high-level pairings, China is building an official online platform to help domestic institutions find suitable international partners. The first phase will list the world’s top 1,000 ranked foreign institutions, with plans to expand access later.

What does this mean for New Zealand education providers?

To help the sector understand these regulatory shifts and the TNE landscape between New Zealand and China, ENZ’s China team is running a targeted webinar unpacking these policy updates. This session will benefit both experienced TNE managers and providers new to the market. Read more and register on the link below.

Webinar: Snapshot of transnational education between New Zealand and China  

Join ENZ for a first sector-facing session on transnational education (TNE) trends, policy update, and an analysis of current TNE landscape between New Zealand and China, as well as what support Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) can offer to the sector.  

Date: Friday, 31 July, 2-2.30pm New Zealand time (10-10.30 am Beijing time) 

Presenters: ENZ Regional Director (Greater China), Ron Xavier, and Education Manager, Rosemary An 

Why attend? 

We are using this webinar as an opportunity to build broader sector awareness of TNE as an increasingly important tool for growing offshore enrolment, how well-structured TNE can contribute to expanding education access, generate revenue, build an international student pipeline and global brand awareness.   

We are also keen to gather practical feedback and insights from education providers to guide how ENZ can support you in delivering in-market strategy through TNE collaboration.

Who should attend? 

The webinar is primarily tertiary education sector focused.  

Register and attend

For specific policy questions or to discuss your institution’s strategy in China, please contact the ENZ China Team at China.Enquiries@enz.govt.nz.