StudyChina GraduateEconomics and finance master's degrees in China: academic disciplines and professional categories
Sources checked
A master's in finance in China is a professional degree, not an academic-discipline degree, in the national catalogue. Under the Graduate Education Discipline and Programme Catalogue (2022), finance is listed as 0251 金融 (Finance), a professional degree category marked '', while the economics discipline category 02 经济学 (Economics) contains the academic first-level disciplines 0201 理论经济学 (Theoretical Economics) and 0202 应用经济学 (Applied Economics). The third digit of its code is 5 and its name carries '*', so under note 5 it is a professional degree category that can be awarded only as a professional master's degree.
What the catalogue lists under economics
The Catalogue is attachment 1 to notice 学位〔2022〕15号, dated 13 September 2022, of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee and the Ministry of Education, and it applies from 2023 (document note). The English names in the table, and the English renderings of quoted provisions on this page, are this site's translation of the Chinese text; the Catalogue gives Chinese names and codes only.
| Code | Chinese name | English rendering | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 经济学 | Economics | Discipline category (two-digit code) |
| 0201 | 理论经济学 | Theoretical Economics | First-level discipline; awards degree by its discipline category (note 4) |
| 0202 | 应用经济学 | Applied Economics | First-level discipline; awards degree by its discipline category (note 4) |
| 0251 | 金融* | Finance | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
| 0252 | 应用统计* | Applied Statistics | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
| 0253 | 税务* | Taxation | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
| 0254 | 国际商务* | International Business | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
| 0255 | 保险* | Insurance | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
| 0256 | 资产评估* | Asset Appraisal | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
| 0258 | 数字经济* | Digital Economy | Professional degree category; professional master's only (note 5) |
Note 1 says the catalogue is divided into discipline categories, first-level disciplines and professional degree categories and is the basic basis for degree-authorization review, discipline management and degree-awarding units' training; it applies to master's and doctoral awarding, enrolment and training, statistics and employment guidance. Note 3 gives the code rule: two-digit discipline categories, four-digit first-level disciplines and professional degree categories, and a third digit of 5 or higher marking a professional degree category. Note 5 says a professional degree category awards the degree under its own name; a name with '*' only as a professional master's degree, the others as professional master's or doctoral degrees.
What the difference means under the Degree Law
Degree Law Article 2 says degrees are bachelor's, master's and doctoral, include academic and professional types, and are awarded by discipline category, professional degree category and the like. Article 20 sets the master's standard: after required course assessment or credits, the applicant completes academic research training or professional practice training and passes a degree thesis defence or a prescribed practical-results defence; the applicant must have solid foundational theory and systematic specialised knowledge (item 1), and an academic degree applicant should be capable of academic research work, while a professional degree applicant should be capable of professional practice work (item 2). So 0251 金融* leads to the professional-practice ability, and 0201 and 0202 to the academic-research ability. The Law was adopted on 26 April 2024 and entered into force on 1 January 2025, repealing the Regulations on Academic Degrees (document note; Degree Law, Article 45). Detailed standards are published by each degree-awarding institution (Degree Law, Article 22).
Which universities offer these, and on what terms
The provisions of the Catalogue quoted on this page do not cover which universities offer any category, nor whether any is open to international students. Under Order No. 42, Article 10, institutions independently determine international student enrolment plans and programmes according to their conditions and capacity, except where the state provides otherwise; under Article 11, they publish their own admissions brochure and recruit under its conditions and procedures. Order No. 42 was signed on 20 March 2017 and has been in force since 1 July 2017 (Order No. 42, Article 48). This page names no university and states no university's programme, date, fee, language proof or length of study.
Suggestion (not a rule): begin by reading the current admissions brochure of the university you are considering, because that brochure is where programmes, dates, fees, language proof and length of study are published (Order No. 42, Articles 10 and 11). For a fuller comparison of the two degree types, see academic versus professional degrees in China.
Questions people ask
Is a master's in finance in China an academic or a professional degree?
It is a professional degree category. 0251 金融 (Finance) is listed under economics as a professional degree category marked '', which note 5 says can be awarded only as a professional master's degree. The academic first-level disciplines in the same discipline category are 0201 理论经济学 (Theoretical Economics) and 0202 应用经济学 (Applied Economics).
Can 0251 金融* be awarded as a doctoral degree?
No. Under note 5, a professional degree category whose name carries '' can be awarded only as a professional master's degree; those without '' may be awarded as professional master's or doctoral degrees.
Does the catalogue say which universities offer 0251 金融* or whether international students can enrol?
No. The provisions of the Catalogue quoted on this page do not cover which universities offer any category, nor international student access. Under Order No. 42, Article 10, institutions determine their own international student enrolment plans and programmes, and under Article 11 they publish their own admissions brochure and recruit under its conditions and procedures; check that brochure.
Sources
- Graduate Education Discipline and Programme Catalogue (2022) (研究生教育学科专业目录（2022年）), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Degree Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国学位法), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn), text sourced from the National People's Congress website
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法), Order No. 42, Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary, 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.