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China's Degree Law and international students: Article 44 and what the new law changed

Sources checked

Yes. The Degree Law reaches you as a foreign applicant through Article 44. Its first paragraph says a degree-awarding unit grants the corresponding degree to an individual from outside the mainland who applies, under the Law's conditions on academic requirements, academic or professional level "and so on," and the relevant procedures (Degree Law, Article 44, first paragraph). The official press Q&A repeats this point (Press Q&A on the Degree Law, answer 5).

The English wording in this article is this site's translation of the Chinese text.

What Article 44 says

Article 44 has four paragraphs (Degree Law, Article 44):

  • A degree-awarding unit grants the corresponding degree to an individual from outside the mainland who applies, under the Law's conditions on academic requirements, academic or professional level "and so on," and the relevant procedures (first paragraph).
  • Where a degree-awarding unit grants a degree outside the mainland, the Law's relevant provisions apply (second paragraph).
  • Where an education institution from outside the mainland grants a degree inside the mainland, it must comply with China's relevant laws and regulations (third paragraph).
  • Recognition of degree certificates issued by education institutions from outside the mainland must be handled strictly under the relevant state regulations (fourth paragraph).

The same Q&A notes the Law sets award conditions at three levels — bachelor, master and doctoral — and two types, academic and professional degrees, with academic degrees emphasising research ability and professional degrees emphasising practical ability (Press Q&A on the Degree Law, answer 5). This is the frame behind the "academic or professional level" wording in Article 44.

Article 4 and Article 18: who each provision covers

Article 4 sets out the route for Chinese citizens. It says Chinese citizens who support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system, study at a higher school or scientific research institution or receive education through other state-prescribed means, and meet the corresponding academic requirements, academic level or professional level, may apply for the corresponding degree under this Law (Degree Law, Article 4).

Article 18 sets the general conditions for degree applicants. It says a degree applicant shall support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, support the socialist system, abide by the Constitution and laws, and abide by academic ethics and academic standards; an applicant who studies at a higher school or scientific research institution or receives education through other state-prescribed means and meets the corresponding academic requirements, academic level or professional level is granted the corresponding degree by the degree-awarding unit under the conditions of Articles 19 to 21 (Degree Law, Article 18). Article 18 frames these conditions for "degree applicants" without limiting the wording to Chinese citizens; Article 18 does not state how these conditions apply to applicants from outside the mainland, so this page does not decide that point.

What the new law changed

The Degree Law was adopted on 26 April 2024 by the 9th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (Degree Law, adoption line). It took effect on 1 January 2025, and the Regulations on Academic Degrees (学位条例) were repealed on the same day (Degree Law, Article 45).

For an applicant from outside the mainland, the practical effect is that this Law — not the old Regulations — now governs the route set out in Article 44 for being granted a degree in China.

As a planning suggestion, read the admissions brochure of the specific degree-awarding unit you plan to apply to for its own requirements and procedures, since the Law gives units room to set their own specific degree-granting standards based on the Law's conditions (Press Q&A on the Degree Law, answer 5).

Questions people ask

Does Article 44 mean a foreign applicant can be granted a Chinese degree?

Article 44, first paragraph says a degree-awarding unit grants the corresponding degree to an individual from outside the mainland who applies, under the Law's conditions and relevant procedures (Degree Law, Article 44, first paragraph). The press Q&A repeats this (Press Q&A on the Degree Law, answer 5).

Do the old Regulations on Academic Degrees still apply to foreign students?

No. Article 45 states the Degree Law took effect on 1 January 2025 and the Regulations on Academic Degrees were repealed the same day (Degree Law, Article 45).

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, CHSI or any university, is not legal advice, and the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.

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