Degrees and graduation

7 points · checked 11 October 2026

What the official texts say

Each point names the article or section it is taken from.

1. Three levels, and academic or professional type

   Degrees are bachelor's, master's and doctoral. They include academic degrees and professional degrees, among other types, and are awarded by discipline category or professional degree category.

   Source: Degree Law, Article 2

2. What a master's degree requires

   A master's candidate passes the required courses or earns the credits, completes academic research training or professional practice training, and passes a thesis defence or a defence of practical results. An academic degree candidate shows the ability to do academic research; a professional degree candidate shows the ability to take on professional practice.

   Source: Degree Law, Article 20

3. What a doctoral degree requires

   A doctoral candidate shows the ability to do academic research independently, or to carry out professional practice independently, and must have produced innovative results in research or in professional practice.

   Source: Degree Law, Article 21

4. Each university publishes its own degree standards

   A degree-awarding unit sets and publishes the specific standards for awarding degrees in each discipline and major.

   Source: Degree Law, Article 22

5. Thesis language in a foreign-language programme

   An international student taught in a foreign language may write the thesis in that language, with an abstract in Chinese. The university decides whether the defence may be held in the foreign language.

   Source: MOE Order No. 42, Article 19

6. Graduation certificate, degree certificate and electronic registration

   The university issues a graduation certificate or other study certificate, registers the student record and graduation certificate electronically for degree-education students, and awards a degree certificate to those who meet the conditions.

   Source: MOE Order No. 42, Article 21

7. Where a Chinese qualification is verified

   CHSI is run by the Center for Student Services and Development, which describes itself as the qualification verification institution authorized by the Ministry of Education. It offers online verification and verification reports in Chinese and English for higher education qualification certificates, student records and transcripts.

   Source: CHSI, home page, Our Services and Welcome to CHSI