So I contacted KUST and asked them some questions about getting a student visa. I told them I currently have a work visa (I'm currently an EFL teacher in China). All they said was "sorry we can't admit you to the university because we can't change a work visa to a student visa." Really helpful. It's like they are actively discouraging people from attending the university.

Does anybody have any experience with this? Can't I just go to Hong Kong to apply for a student visa? Or get a tourist visa, come to Kunming, and then change it to a student visa?