Since 2025, the Ministry of Education has leveraged the "Safe Study Abroad" initiative to upgrade its overseas study support services from a one‑off "sending out" approach to a comprehensive "full‑process care" system covering pre‑departure, overseas study, and post‑return employment. For families in western China, understanding the entry points, procedures, and boundaries of this official support system is the first line of defence in assessing whether studying abroad is safe and worthwhile.
I. Pre‑departure Training under "Safe Study Abroad" Has Become an Institutionalised Regular Arrangement
According to Xinhua News Agency report on 13 February 2026, the Ministry of Education has continuously improved the content and expanded the coverage of pre‑departure training for overseas students, organising events such as the "Safe Study Abroad Publicity Month" and the "First Lesson of the Study Abroad Semester." Since January 2025, online and offline "Safe Study Abroad" training has reached nearly 900,000 participants, achieving full coverage for government‑sponsored students and broad coverage for self‑funded students
II. The "Six Modules" of Pre‑departure Training Have Become Standard
Official reports from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE, cscse.edu.cn) indicate that pre‑departure training sessions, guided by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education and hosted by the CSCSE, are delivered through host universities (e.g., South China University of Technology in June 2026, and Northwest A&F University's 2026 event "New Journey, Safe Travel with You"). The content typically includes:
1. Overseas consular protection – emergency resources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese diplomatic/consular missions, including the global consular protection and service hotline "12308";
2. Overseas laws and regulations – basic legal knowledge and typical case studies of the destination country;
3. Psychological adjustment – cross‑cultural adaptation, emotional awareness, and self‑regulation;
4. Study planning – university selection, major choice, timeline, and risk assessment;
5. Country‑specific training – sessions divided by region (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Europe, Southeast Asia, etc.) covering visas, academic systems, accommodation, and emergency response; First aid knowledge – response to public attacks, active shooter situations (the "run, hide, fight" principle), and crowd surge avoidance. On overseas anti‑fraud, the CSCSE and Chinese diplomatic missions repeatedly emphasise the "Three Don'ts, One More" principle: don't click unknown links, don't trust unfamiliar calls, don't disclose personal information, and verify more before any transfer or payment.
III. A "Trinity" Overseas Support Mechanism Has Been Established
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Chinese diplomatic and consular missions abroad, has built a three‑pillar support mechanism for overseas students:
1. Psychological assistance – the Ministry has launched the "Safe Study Abroad Mind‑Care Programme," providing online psychological counselling;
2. Legal aid – the public welfare insurance scheme for overseas students covers emergency medical evacuation, urgent family visits, and other protections; 24‑hour emergency hotlines at diplomatic missions offer legal advice, visa status verification, and emergency coordination;
3. Security risk prevention – the CSCSE has established a service network with over 300 overseas Chinese students and scholars associations in nearly 50 major destination countries, delivering real‑time safety alerts.
IV. Information Tools: Two "Reference Books" and Two Apps
Blue Book on Chinese Students Studying Abroad 2025 – the first national comprehensive report analysing the current status and environment of Chinese overseas students. It builds an "evaluation index system for study‑abroad environments," assessing 28 major destination countries from three dimensions: quality and employment, safety and cost, and trust and openness – a systematic reference before choosing a university.
"Study Abroad e‑Pass" mobile app (new version released by the CSCSE in 2025) – enables online handling of four government services: overseas academic credential certification, study archives storage, employment registration, and government‑sponsored study administration.
National Talent Employment Service Platform for Overseas Returnees – upgraded in December 2025, adding policy services, AI interviews, and other features to support key stages of returning for employment.
V. Practical Advice for Families in Western China
1. Pre‑departure preparation: Three months before departure, actively participate in "Safe Study Abroad" pre‑departure training sessions hosted by local universities or provincial education authorities. Training schedules and host university sessions are available at cscse.edu.cn. The training covers six modules; it is recommended to attend all sessions, not just "study planning" and "country‑specific training."
2. Emergency contact backup: Save "12308" as a speed‑dial number on your phone. During your overseas stay, for any emergencies involving personal safety, lost documents, or unexpected incidents, dial this number immediately or contact the nearest Chinese diplomatic/consular mission.
3. Overseas anti‑fraud: Always remember the "Three Don'ts, One More" principle. Reject any unsolicited requests for "transfers," "currency exchange," or "tuition fee payment." When in doubt, verify with your university's Chinese students and scholars association or the local Chinese mission.
4. Post‑return procedures: Immediately after returning to China, download the "Study Abroad e‑Pass" app and initiate the three key processes: academic credential certification, study archives storage, and employment registration. For processing times and document checklists, refer to Part 05 of this series.
5. Risk screening before university selection: Check the accredited institutions list on the Ministry of Education's "Foreign Education Supervision Information Network" and the certification institution query system (yxcx.cscse.edu.cn) within the "Study Abroad e‑Pass" app to confirm that your target institution falls within the certification scope.