In addition to preparing the materials required by Chinese universities (Study in China Guide), every international student who comes to study in China also needs to do one thing, that is, a physical examination. Today we are going to share how to get a medical examination for international students.

First of all, it should be clear that the physical examination is an important document that must be provided to study in China. You can do the physical medical exam in your home country, or when you arrive in China. But sometimes it is necessary to take the medical examination in your country before applying to some universities or scholarships. 

Complete the Foreigner Physical Examination in Your Home Country

Generally, the Foreigner Physical Examination Form is included in the admission package and will be sent to students in the mail before arrival at the university. The student can take the form to a hospital or clinic in their home country. The form should be written, signed, and stamped by the doctor conducting the examination. The original form must then be brought to China (including the original blood test reports) and presented at the designated agency for authentication. The student will then receive a Physical Examination Report after authentication is approved. The student must redo the health examination at the designated agent if the health documents provided do not meet the standards.

Complete the Foreigner Physical Examination after Arrival in China

If you want to do a physical examination in China, not just any physical examination is recognized by government agencies in China, and the physical examination of foreigners is subject to government-designated agencies in China.

After arriving in China, students can undergo a physical examination at the designated agency to obtain the Physical Examination Report.

Each city has a medical examination institution for foreigners designated by the Chinese government agency. A personal medical examination program is usually carried out at the International Travel Health Care Center at the location of the university after entry, for example:

l  Beijing International Travel Health Care Center

Address: No.10 Dezheng Rd., Haidian Dist., Beijing

Website: https://www.beijingithc.org.cn/yuyue/

l  Shanghai International Travel Health Care Center

Address: No.15 Jinbang Rd., Shanghai

Website: https://online.shhg12360.cn/sithc/ywjs/crbjctj/

l  Guangzhou International Travel Health Care Center

Address: No.207 Longkou West Rd., Tianhe Dist., Guangzhou

Website: https://www.gzwbzx.com/

l  Hunan International Travel Health Care Center

Address: No.801 Yuanda 1st Rd., Furong Dist., Changsha City, Hunan Province

Website: http://www.ithc.cn/hn/tjyy.html

l  Heilongjiang International Travel Health Care Center

Address: No. 9 Ganshui Road, Nangang District, Harbin

Website: http://zxyy.hkayy.org.cn/

l  Shenyang International Travel Health Care Center

Address: No. 433 Danan Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang

Website: http://sab732192.atobo.com/

It is worth noting here that although the institutions that conduct the physical examination are all stipulated by the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, since the policies of each region are different, to save you time, we do not recommend you apply across cities.

8 Steps to Complete a Standard Physical Examination

Step 1: Download the Foreigner Physical Examination Form designed by the Chinese Quarantine Authority. Select an appropriate time to take a physical examination as the result is valid for only 6 months.

Step 2: Print the Foreigner Physical Examination Form on the front and back of the same piece of A4 paper. (Do not print it into two pieces of paper)

Step 3: Fill in your personal information on the Foreigner Physical Examination Form as same as the information on your passport and affix one of your recent passport-sized photos. The name written on the form should not be abbreviated or omitted.

Step 4: Bring the form to a public hospital to complete all the checkups, explain to the staff, and have the doctors fill in all boxes for you in English only. Let them know that signature of the doctor and the date at the end of the form are required, and hospital stamps on the applicant’s photo and the end are required as well. The official hospital stamp on your ID photo should be the same as the one stamped on the bottom of the second page.

Step 5: Confirm the pick-up date of the report before you leave the hospital

Step 6: Go and get the report and inspection contents on time. To meet the application requirements, please carefully check the form when you receive the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Make a necessary correction in the hospital before you leave there if it’s incomplete or has any mistakes. The report should be attached with the negative film for Chest X-ray exams, ECG, and the examination certificates/sheets for laboratory exams (Serodiagnosis), which include exams on Cholera, Yellow fever, Plague, Leprosy, Venereal Disease, Opening lung tuberculosis, AIDS, Psychosis, Liver function, and HBsAg. You should get the certificate notarized if the physical check-up is done at a private hospital.

Step 7: Scan the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, ECG, X-ray, laboratory exam report and other all testing reports into one PDF in order with the Foreigner Physical Examination Form on the first two pages, then submit the PDF to the Chinese university with other required documents. If your universities only accept Foreigner Physical Examination Forms submitted in JPG. or JPEG. format, follow their instructions, please.

Step 8: Keep the both original and copies of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form and related reports carefully and bring them along with you when you leave for China. The Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine may double-check the submitted form and attached documentation upon your arrival and decide whether it's acceptable or you should take an additional or another physical examination. If an additional check or re-check is required, related fees should be covered by yourself. Universities in some strict cities even require every international student to do a new medical check-up at the locally designed hospital once they arrive at school, which is also a common situation.

Before your medical check, it is important to keep in mind:

Skip breakfast on the morning of a medical check.

Continue to take any prescribed medication and take it with you to the exam so any Doctors are aware.

Dressed sensibly and comfortably. As X-rays will be conducted, wearing a skirt or dress is not a good idea.

You will usually be required to go to different rooms for the following examinations:

Urine Test

Ultrasound

ECG

Pulse regularity check

Stethoscope check for breathing regularity

X-Rays (usually of the torso)

Vision test

Height and Weight Check

A blood test with sterile needles and gloves

Blood pressure check

The borders of China are gradually opening up, and international students are returning to campus one after another (List of Different Chinese Universities' Policy Regarding International Students' Returning). If you want to study in China (WinThe Chance to Apply to Chinese Universities for Free), you must have a medical examination, the above is the guide on the medical examination for international students. Hope this article on medical examination will help you.