The Ministry of Education has warned students to carefully choose foreign schools for study abroad, amid reports about Chinese students being ripped off in some countries.

Efforts had been made to step up control over the activities of local agencies that help Chinese students go abroad, said the ministry.

The ministry has published a list of schools in 21 nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Canada and Australia, on its two websites -- www.jsj.edu.cn and www.cscse.edu.cn.

Before choosing a school, students should consult relevant sources, such as the overseas studies service center of the ministry, foreign embassies, and officially-approved intermediate companies, the ministry said.

It advised students to learn about the real situation of the schools from reliable sources and not to be taken by bogus advertising.

Hot lines on 010-82300056 and 82301008 were open to the students, together with an email address: interco@stnet.cscse.edu. cn.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2003)