# Joint universities and collaborative training: what is the difference?

Cross-border education takes several organisational forms. Similar names may conceal different application routes, study locations and degree arrangements.

Source page: https://hk.mba/en/insights/forms-of-collaboration/

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# Joint universities and collaborative training: what is the difference?

Cross-border education takes several organisational forms. Similar names may conceal different application routes, study locations and degree arrangements.

Prepared by
HK.MBA Editorial
Published
30 October 2026
Study resources
Resource guide

## Identify the level of cooperation

Distinguish joint universities, institutes without separate legal personality, collaborative degrees and joint training. The involvement of a Hong Kong or Macao institution does not establish that its home-campus admissions and training arrangements apply unchanged.

## Verify eligibility and the application route

Some routes accept public applications; others require nomination by a partner university or are restricted to enrolled students. A cooperation announcement establishes that a relationship exists, but is not necessarily an admissions notice.

## Record the degree and study location separately

Check registration, awarding institution, certificate title, teaching location, residence requirements and graduation rules. A research institute, laboratory or campus should not automatically be counted as an independently recruiting university.

## Create a programme record

Record the approval or partnership basis, eligible students, admissions route, training responsibilities and current notice. This makes unresolved points visible and avoids treating a partnership narrative as a confirmed application pathway.

## Sources
- [Official source 1 ](https://www.polyu.edu.hk/mdo/study-at-polyu/)
- [Official source 2 ](https://www.oalmr.cuhk.edu.hk/en/cuhk-programmes/joint-programmes/)
- [Official source 3 ](https://www.crs.jsj.edu.cn/)

Sources consulted: 2026-10-30. Language editions translate the Centre’s content; external sources remain in their original language.

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