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Master's student: the category and the master's degree standard

Unofficial entry · Sources checked

A master's student (硕士研究生) is an international student enrolled in master's-level degree education. Article 9 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security) lists "master's students" as one of the degree-education categories for international students. For the universities that offer these programmes, see Universities and degrees.

Definition

Article 9 of Order No. 42 divides the categories of international students at schools into two groups. The degree-education categories are junior college students, undergraduate students, master's students (硕士研究生) and doctoral students. The non-degree-education categories are preparatory students, advanced-study students (进修生) and research scholars.

The English wording on this page is this site's own translation of the Chinese text.

What the official text says

Order No. 42, Article 9. The article names master's students as a degree-education category. It does not define the degree itself. The degree standard is set by the Degree Law.

Degree Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国学位法), Article 20. A master's degree is conferred on a degree candidate who meets three conditions. First, the candidate completes the required coursework assessments or the required credits. Second, the candidate completes academic research training or professional practice training. Third, the candidate passes the thesis defence or the specified practical-achievement defence. The article then requires the candidate to show two levels of ability:

  1. Solid basic theory and systematic specialised knowledge in the discipline or professional field.
  2. For academic-degree candidates, the ability to do academic research work. For professional-degree candidates, the ability to undertake professional practice work.

Degree Law, Article 25. Before a defence is organised, the degree-awarding unit shall send the candidate's thesis or practical achievements to experts for review. If the review finds that they meet the requirements set by the degree-awarding unit, the candidate enters the defence procedure.

Degree Law, Article 26. The degree-awarding unit organises master's and doctoral defence committees by discipline or specialty. A master's defence committee shall have at least three members. The thesis or practical achievements shall be sent to the committee members for review before the defence. The committee shall announce its resolution on whether the candidate passes the defence at the time of the defence. The vote is passed by two-thirds or more of all members. Except where the content involves state secrets, the defence shall be held in public.

Degree Law, Article 28. The degree evaluation committee, based on the resolution of the defence committee and after reviewing the application, decides whether to confer the master's or doctoral degree.

Degree Law, Article 44. The degree-awarding unit confers the corresponding degree on a foreign individual who applies for a degree, under the academic or professional requirements and procedures set by the Law. Article 44 also states that recognition of degree certificates issued by foreign educational institutions shall be handled strictly under the relevant national provisions.

Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship (China Scholarship Council), section IV, items 3 and 10. These items are conditions of the Chinese Government Scholarship only. They are not general admission rules.

  • Item 3 requires an academically excellent holder of a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent, under the age of 35, when applying for a Master's program.
  • Item 10 requires a pass in HSK Level 4 when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral program.

Related terms

  • Doctoral student (博士研究生), Order No. 42, Article 9
  • Undergraduate student and junior college student, Order No. 42, Article 9
  • Defence committee, Degree Law, Article 26
  • Degree evaluation committee, Degree Law, Article 28
  • Admission and documents
  • Tests and verification, including HSK
  • Scholarships, including the Chinese Government Scholarship

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. If the official text and this summary differ, the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail.

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