‘学籍’ (xuéjí) literally combines ‘学’ (xué), meaning ‘study’ or ‘learning’, and ‘籍’ (jí), meaning ‘register’, ‘record’, or ‘official file’. Together, it refers to a student’s official registration record maintained by an educational institution—containing details like enrollment status, grade level, academic history, and graduation eligibility. It is not a physical document but an administrative record in school databases and government education systems.

This term is essential in formal Chinese education contexts: students must have valid 学籍 to take national exams, transfer schools, or receive diplomas. It is tied to hukou (household registration) for public schooling access, especially in compulsory education. While often translated as ‘student registration record’, it carries stronger bureaucratic and legal weight than its English equivalent—similar to a combination of ‘enrollment record’, ‘academic file’, and ‘school affiliation status’.