Mainland Chinese students who hold a non-Chinese degree, or who have completed some courses in the framework of an official exchange programme at a university in another country than China (and can provide transcripts to prove this) do not have to go through the APS procedure. Non-Chinese citizens who have obtained a degree in P.R.China also do not need to go through the APS procedure. Citizens of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao do not need to go through the APS procedure.