How to Transfer Education Credentials from China to a U.S. University

If you need to transfer education credentials from China to a U.S. university, start by finding out exactly what the receiving school requires. Some universities review international academic records themselves. Others ask students to use an outside credential evaluation service. A Course-by-Course evaluation can translate your Chinese coursework, credits, and grades into U.S. terms when the university needs that level of detail.

The evaluation does not decide which credits your new university will accept. It gives the university the information it needs to make that decision.

Checking the requirements first can help you avoid ordering the wrong report or submitting unnecessary documents.

Start With Your U.S. University’s Requirements

Before you order a credential evaluation, check the admissions or transfer-credit instructions for every university on your list.

International application requirements can differ from one school to another. A university may name specific evaluation services, require a particular type of report, or handle international coursework internally. EducationUSA notes that U.S. universities review international academic subjects and may ask students to use a credential evaluation agency.

Find out whether the school wants a Course-by-Course evaluation and whether it accepts FIS before you pay for the report.

You should also confirm how the university wants to receive the finished evaluation. One school may accept an electronic report, while another could have different delivery instructions.

When you transfer education credentials from China, these requirements determine the rest of the process.

What Does a Course-by-Course Evaluation Show

A Course-by-Course evaluation gives the receiving institution a detailed view of your prior education.

FIS evaluates the foreign academic program and identifies its corresponding U.S. educational equivalent. The report also lists the individual coursework completed within the program, along with equivalent U.S. credit hours and a U.S. grade for each subject. It also addresses factors such as institutional recognition, program duration, dates of study, and entrance requirements.

That level of detail can be useful when a university needs to look beyond the degree itself and evaluate individual classes.

For example, a school may need to see whether you completed enough coursework in mathematics, computer science, business, or another subject before deciding where your previous study fits into its degree program.

Does a Credential Evaluation Transfer Your Credits

No. A credential evaluator does not award university credit.

FIS provides an advisory evaluation of your education. The receiving university still decides whether it will accept a course for transfer and how that course applies toward graduation requirements. FIS states that its evaluations are suggested guidelines and do not override the policies or academic autonomy of educational institutions.

This is an important distinction when you transfer education credentials from China.

A Course-by-Course report can give the university clearer information about the courses you completed. The university uses that information alongside its own curriculum, academic standards, and transfer policies.

That means you should avoid assuming that a certain number of evaluated U.S. credit hours will automatically become the same number of transfer credits at your new school.

What Documents Do You Need From China

FIS asks applicants to submit the relevant educational documents needed to evaluate their academic history. Depending on your credentials, that may include a diploma, transcript, or mark sheets.

Documents must come from the school or otherwise meet FIS requirements for academic records.

Eligible school-issued records can be uploaded. FIS does not accept unsigned or editable uploaded documents unless it can verify them through a secure link or QR code, and printouts from university websites are not accepted.

China is not currently on FIS’s list of countries for which original documents must automatically be mailed directly from the foreign institution. FIS can still contact an institution or other agency when it needs to verify authenticity, and that step can affect processing time.

Review the current document instructions before you submit your application so you know what format FIS can use for your particular records.

Do Chinese Academic Documents Need English Translations

Documents needed for the evaluation must have English translations if they were issued in another language.

FIS prefers certified translations and offers translation services when applicants do not already have acceptable English versions. Translation fees are separate from the evaluation cost.

Submit the academic record along with its translation. The English version helps the evaluator read the document, while the underlying Chinese record remains part of the academic evidence being reviewed.

Plan this step early if you need to transfer education credentials from China on a tight university deadline. Translation adds another step and can extend the overall turnaround time.

How Are Chinese Courses and Grades Converted to U.S. Terms

Chinese and U.S. universities may use different credit systems, grading practices, degree structures, and academic terminology.

A Course-by-Course evaluation analyzes each course rather than expecting the U.S. university to interpret those differences on its own. FIS reports the corresponding U.S. credit hours and grade for each evaluated subject.

You do not need to create your own U.S. GPA or independently decide how many American credits each Chinese course should equal.

The evaluator uses information about your academic program and educational system to make those comparisons.

The university can then review the resulting report in the context of its own degree requirements.

How Long Does a Course-by-Course Evaluation Take

The evaluation timeline depends on the service level you choose and whether FIS has everything needed to begin.

FIS currently offers Course-by-Course processing in one month for $245, two weeks for $295, and one week for $375. Processing time begins after payment, and we have all necessary documents on file.

That last point is easy to overlook.

If you are still waiting for an academic record, translation, or document verification, paying for faster evaluation service will not remove that earlier delay.

FIS may also contact an institution to verify a record, which can extend the timeline. Adding translation services also affects turnaround time.

When possible, begin the process well before your first university deadline.

How Much Does a Course-by-Course Evaluation Cost

FIS currently charges $245 for its standard one-month Course-by-Course service. Faster options cost more.

Your final cost can also depend on how you want reports delivered and whether you need translation services.

Electronic reports are included as high-resolution color PDFs. Hard copies and certain shipping options cost extra. FIS also allows applicants to add more than one delivery destination when ordering.

If you are applying to several universities, check each school's requirements before deciding where reports need to go.

That preparation can help you avoid paying for unnecessary deliveries or ordering another report later.

Can You Use the Same Evaluation for Several Universities

Potentially, yes.

FIS allows applicants to add multiple delivery addresses and additional email destinations to a Course-by-Course order.

The important question is whether every university accepts the same evaluator and report type.

If three schools all accept FIS Course-by-Course evaluations, you may be able to use your evaluation across those applications. If another university has different requirements, you need to follow that institution’s instructions separately.

This is another reason to compare university requirements before you transfer education credentials from China.

How to Avoid Delays When You Transfer Education Credentials from China

Start with the deadline, then work backward.

Confirm the university’s evaluator and report requirements before placing the order. Gather your Chinese academic documents early and arrange translations when needed. Make sure uploaded records meet FIS requirements so they do not have to be resubmitted.

Leave extra time for verification if FIS needs to contact your institution.

These steps matter because the fastest evaluation option begins only after the necessary documents and payment are in place.

A well-prepared application gives the evaluator a clearer path to completing the report and gives you more time to resolve an unexpected document issue before the university deadline.

Why Choose FIS for Chinese Credential Evaluation

Foundation for International Services has provided foreign credential evaluations since 1978 and is a founding member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

FIS offers Course-by-Course evaluations for applicants who need detailed analysis of their academic records, along with certified translation services when Chinese documents need English translations.

If you need to transfer education credentials from China, begin with the requirements of the U.S. university you plan to attend. Once you know the report it accepts, FIS can evaluate your academic records and present your coursework in U.S. educational terms.

Ready to begin? Review your university’s requirements, gather your academic documents, and start your Course-by-Course evaluation with FIS.

Transfer Education Credentials from China Using a Course-by-Course Evaluation

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Posted on November 2, 2026 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business