Given　the　Chinese　government＇s　high　degree　and　strict　control　over　universities,　the　question　arises　whether　and　how　foreign　universities,　as　one　of　the　organizers　of　Chinese-Foreign　cooperation　in　running　schools　(CFCRS)　can　adapt　to　the　Chinese　institutional　environment.　This　paper　argued　that　the　loose　coupled　cooperation　between　foreign　and　Chinese　universities　is　the　key　for　foreign　universities　to　maintain　their　autonomy　and　operate　effectively.　Adopting　case　study　approach,　the　data　gathered　through　intensive　interviews　with　key　stakeholders　is　examined　through　the　theoretical　lens　of　Weick＇s　Loosely　Coupled　System,　offering　new　insights　into　the　operation　of　CFCRS　in　Chinese　mainland.　The　findings　show　that　Chinese　and　foreign　universities　only　achieve　loose　coupling　cooperation　in　curriculum　and　teaching,　foreign　and　Chinese　teachers,　management　and　operation　in　CFCRS.　While　loose　coupling　cooperation　ensures　the　adaptability　of　CFCRS　to　the　external　environment　(including　Chinese　and　foreign　parent　universities,　governments,　quality　assurance　institutions,　etc.),　it　has　limited　scope　for　spillover　of　its　benefits　to　Chinese　higher　education.　In　addition,　even　though　Chinese　teachers　and　students　find　the　cross-cultural　experience　valuable,　the　academic　burden　on　students　can　be　overwhelming　as　they　have　a　heavy　workload.　This　article　also　reflects　upon　the　policy　implications　of　these　findings　for　the　future　CFCRS　development　in　China.