This is a process that changes all the time. Procedures can change from person to person or vary between different embassies in the same country. At the time of writing we are told that Chinese consulates the UK, Germany, New York and Japan do not require originals for student visa applications. However, those in Italy, Spain, Indonesia and Texas do. Ask your student advisor regarding recent experiences of other LTL students who applied for a student visa in the consulate you are planning to apply. It might also be a good choice to not apply in the consulate closest to you, but the one that currently has the easiest application procedures. Your student advisor can help you there.