Overview
The Open University of China (国家开放大学) is a national institution under China's Ministry of Education that delivers both degree (学历) and non-degree (非学历教育) education through distance and online learning. It operates through a nationwide network of branches, an online learning platform, and a separate lifelong-education platform, rather than through a single campus.
Who can take it
The university serves adult and continuing-education learners across China, offering routes to a bachelor's degree as well as shorter, non-degree credentials, through its distance-education model.
Structure or exam pattern
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Online learning platform plus a nationwide network of local branches |
| Study tracks | Degree programmes (学历教育) and non-degree programmes (非学历教育) |
| Outcome | Bachelor's degree awarded to qualifying graduates of degree programmes |
What it covers
Programmes span multiple academic and vocational fields, delivered through the university's own online learning system rather than a fixed on-campus curriculum.
Credit bank (学分银行)
A distinctive feature of the Open University of China is its credit bank system, which lets learners accumulate and convert credit between degree and non-degree learning outcomes. It handles credit recognition applications, conversion of learning achievements between programmes, and participates in learning-outcome mutual-recognition alliances with other providers, aiming to connect degree education with non-degree, work-based and other forms of learning.
Recognition
The Open University of China issues both degree and non-degree certificates, and provides an official credential-verification service (学历认证查询) for graduates.
How to register
Admission and enrolment are handled through the university's own admission service platforms, linked from its main site.
What is the difference between 学历教育 and 非学历教育 at the Open University of China?
学历教育 (degree education) leads to a recognized bachelor's degree; 非学历教育 (non-degree education) offers shorter courses and certificates that do not confer a degree.
What is the credit bank (学分银行)?
It is a system for recognizing and converting credit between different types of learning — degree and non-degree — so that learning done in one context can count toward another.
How is the Open University of China different from a traditional university?
It delivers education through a distance and online model across a nationwide network of branches, rather than through a single physical campus.