International universities, usually with experience in online education, have been targeting learners in China by launching online degree programs developed in partnership with local Chinese organizations. Class Central has put together a list of online degrees offered in China by global universities.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese government closed university campuses and students were forced to learn online. After the pandemic restrictions were eased, China ended its temporary recognition of distance-learning qualifications in early 2023, with allowances for students in special circumstances.
Even though the Chinese government does not recognise online-taught qualifications, some international universities are continuing to partner with Chinese universities to offer degrees.
These organizations stood out during our research, click to jump to the corresponding section:
- Arizona State University — 26 degrees
- Beacon Education with Kettering University and others — 20 degrees
- XuetangX with the Open University — an MBA
- Keystone Online Studies with University of Manchester and Oxademy Business School — 5 degrees
- (Discontinued) Georgia Tech.
Below, you can find a comprehensive list of the online degrees offer by these organizations and universities.
Arizona State University (ASU) Online
Arizona State University Online offers over 300 online degree programs, which hold the same accreditation as the traditional on-campus programs. And they’ve partnered with a Chinese education company in Shanghai to help them enroll students in China via a localized domain.
There are currently 26 degrees listed, with some offering multiple specializations. Some are offered in Chinese, some in English. Admissions, fees, and courses are the same as on ASU’s main website. Students may either learn entirely online or decide to spend a semester abroad studying on campus.
Here’s a list of ASU Online degrees in China:
| Degree | Length (Years) | Courses | Tuition |
| BS Business Data Analytics | 4 | 41 | $89,280 |
| BA Business (Accounting) | 4 | 41 | $89,280 |
| BA Business Administration | 4 | 41 | $89,280 |
| BS Management | 4 | 41 | $89,280 |
| BS Economics – Business | 4 | 41 | $81,190 |
| BS Marketing | 4 | 41 | $89,280 |
| BS Supply Chain Management | 4 | 40 | $89,280 |
| BS Information Technology | 4 | 40 | $89,280 |
| MS Psychology | 1.5–2 | 12 | $27,540 |
| MS in Aging | 1.5–2 | 12 | $22,470 |
| MS Global Technology & Development | 1.5–2 | 10 | $19,950 |
| MEd Educational Leadership | 1.5–2 | 11 | $26,568 |
| M Leadership & Management | 1.5–2 | 10 | $41,670 |
| MEd Learning Design and Technologies | 1.5–2 | 10 | $22,140 |
| MEng Engineering | 1.5–2 | 10 | $29,995 |
| MS Supply Chain Management | 1.5–2 | 10 | $41,970 |
| Master of Healthcare Innovation | 1.5–2 | 11 | $32,334 |
| MS Biomimicry | 1.5–2 | 17 | $29,490 |
| MS Legal Studies | 1.5–2 | 10 | $36,690 |
| MA Education | 1.5–2 | 10 | $22,950 |
| MEng Engineering Management | 1.5–2 | 10 | $32,010 |
| 商业分析硕士 | 1.5–2 | 10 | $30,000 |
| 全球化运营管理硕士 | 1.5–2 | 11 | $35,677 |
| 心理学硕士 | 1.5–2 | 12 | $26,370 |
| 计算机科学与技术硕士 | 1.5–2 | 10 | $27,040 |
| 工程博士 Doctor of Engineering In English | 18 | $60,093 |
Beacon Education
Beacon Education aims to provide localized online master’s degree services for adult students in China in cooperation with global universities. Their partners include the University of Arizona, University of Otago, Kettering University, and Illinois Tech. Currently, the website lists 20 online master’s degrees.
Here’s a list of the universities offering online degrees in China via Beacon Education:
Stevens Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Golden Gate University
Hawaii Pacific University
University of Arizona
Northern Arizona University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Kettering University
- Master of Engineering
- Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence
- Master of Engineering in Autonomous Vehicles
- Master of Engineering in Electric Vehicles
University of Otago
Cleveland State University
Webster University
Adrian College
XuetangX Online MBA
In October 2019, XuetangX announced an online MBA built jointly with The Open University (OU), UK. It licenses content from OU’s MBA and leads to degree certificates from both OU and XuetangX. It comprises seven core online courses as well as supplemental, in-person sessions.
Keystone Online Studies
In 2026, five online degree programs are available through Keystone Online Studies. More programs are available through Chinese universities.
Oxademy Business School
- Masters in Management and Strategic Leadership: 12-16 months, cost on request
- Master of Science in Organisational Leadership: 1-2 years, full-time, cost on request
The University of Manchester Worldwide China Centre
- MSc International Fashion Marketing: 2 years part-time, cost GBP 19,500
- MSc Financial Management – Online: 2-5 years part-time, cost GBP 19,500 / per year
- MA Educational Leadership in Practice: 2 years part-time, cost GBP 16,500
Discontinued: Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institution of Technology offers 13 online master’s degrees for online learners around the world, including the well-known Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS), one of the largest online degree programs in the world, and the Online Master of Science in Analytics (OMSA).
For a long time, Georgia Tech’s MOOC-based degrees didn’t have a formal presence in China, which precluded them from being recognized in the country. But that changed in 2020, with the degree gaining full recognition by way of Georgia Tech-Shenzhen, the university campus in China.
But with China reversing its temporary acceptance of online tuition in early 2023, Georgia Tech announced in September 2024 that its participation in Georgia Tech Shenzhen will be discontinued and is no longer accepting new applications for admission. Current students will have the opportunity to complete their programs.
While most of Georgia Tech’s online degrees have a significant cost, on par with their on-campus cost, the university’s MOOC-based degrees are much more accessible — in fact, in 2022, they became more affordable.
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