Overseas organizations and individuals are not allowed to act alone in establishing independent universities in the PRC; if they don't establish a local joint venture, the only thing they are allowed to do is establish departments or schools within an existing university. That is why most overseas parties have opted to set up joint ventures with a local partner.
由於大陸規定，境外團體或個人不能單獨辦一級大學，只能辦二級的教育機構，也就是附屬於大學之內的學院，多數外商進入大陸辦學，都採取「中外合資辦學」的模式。