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When a degree is refused or revoked: notice, academic review and review under Articles 39 to 41

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If a university intends not to award you a degree or to revoke one, the Degree Law requires it to tell you the intended decision and its grounds, and to hear your statement and defence before it decides (Article 39). If you disagree with an academic conclusion, you may apply to the institution for academic review (Article 40). If you dispute a refusal to accept your application, a refusal to award a degree or a revocation, you may ask the institution for review, or ask the relevant authorities to act under the law (Article 41).

This article is an unofficial English summary. The Degree Law and the Quality Standards are Chinese texts, and the English wording here is this site's own translation. Where the translation and the Chinese text differ, the Chinese text prevails.

Which situation leads to which remedy

Situation Remedy Time limit Article
The institution intends not to award a degree, or to revoke one The institution must state the intended decision, facts, reasons and basis, and hear your statement and defence before deciding Article 39 gives no time limit for this Degree Law, Article 39
You disagree with an academic evaluation conclusion made in expert review, defence or achievement recognition Apply to the degree-awarding institution for academic review; the institution reconvenes experts Decision within 30 days of accepting the application Degree Law, Article 40
You dispute a refusal to accept an application, a refusal to award a degree, or a revocation Apply to the institution for review Decision within 30 days of accepting the review application Degree Law, Article 41
The same dispute Ask the relevant authorities to deal with it under the law, as an alternative to the institution's review Article 41 gives no time limit for this request Degree Law, Article 41

Notice and hearing before a refusal or revocation (Article 39)

Article 39 applies when the institution intends to decide not to award a degree or to revoke one. Before it decides, it must tell you the intended decision, the facts, the reasons and the basis for it. It must also hear your statement and defence.

Article 39 names only these two decisions. It does not cover a refusal to accept an application, which is dealt with under Article 41. Article 39 does not say whether your statement and defence must be made in writing or in person, and it gives no time limit for the notice or the hearing.

Academic review (Article 40)

Article 40 covers disagreement with an academic evaluation conclusion reached in expert review, in a defence or in achievement recognition. To use it:

  1. Apply to the degree-awarding institution for academic review.
  2. The institution accepts the application.
  3. The institution reconvenes experts to review the conclusion.
  4. The institution makes its review decision within 30 days of accepting the application.

Article 40 states that the review decision is final. It also states that the institution makes the procedure for academic review. Article 40 does not say how many experts are reconvened, or how they are chosen.

The Ministry's press Q&A on the Degree Law, answer 8, explains that institutions should set out their procedures for academic review and degree review and make them public to staff and students. The Q&A also says that a university's appeals committee should include outside expert representatives. This is the Q&A's explanation of the Law, not a rule in the Law itself.

Review of refusal or revocation (Article 41)

Article 41 covers disagreement with a refusal to accept an application, a refusal to award a degree, or a revocation. You may take one of two routes. You may apply to the institution for review, or you may ask the relevant authorities to deal with the matter under the law.

If you apply to the institution, it must review the matter and make a decision within 30 days of accepting your application. Article 41 does not say whether the institution's review decision is final. Article 40 calls the academic review decision final, but Article 40 does not cover review under Article 41.

Article 41 does not name the relevant authorities, and it gives no time limit for a request to them.

Student complaints under the Quality Standards (section 17.3)

Section 17.3 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) says that a university must clearly tell an international student who receives a treatment or a disciplinary sanction (处理或处分) how to appeal. It also says the university must handle such appeals in a standard way. The section is addressed to universities. It is worded for students who receive a treatment or sanction, and it does not mention degree refusal or revocation. Section 17.3 gives no time limit.

Planning suggestion

This is a suggestion, not a requirement: keep dated copies of every notice you receive from your university and every application or request you send. Dated copies make it easier to show when the 30-day periods in Articles 40 and 41 began.

Questions people ask

Must my university tell me before it revokes my degree?

Article 39 says that when the institution intends to revoke a degree, it must state the intended decision, the facts, the reasons and the basis, and hear your statement and defence before deciding. Article 39 does not say how long before the decision this must happen.

How long does an academic review take?

Article 40 says the institution must make its review decision within 30 days of accepting the application. Article 40 does not say how long the institution may take to accept an application.

Can I take my case outside the university?

Article 41 says you may ask the relevant authorities to deal with a refusal to accept, a refusal to award or a revocation under the law. Article 41 does not name the authority and gives no time limit for the request.

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, and it is not legal advice. If the official text differs from this page, or if the current notice of the university or authority handling your case differs, the official text and that notice prevail.

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