Universities and degrees

A type of degree under the Degree Law. A master’s candidate must show the ability to do academic research; a doctoral candidate must do so independently and produce innovative research results.

SourceDegree Law, Articles 2, 20 and 21See alsoProfessional degreeDegree education

Study that leads to a qualification. For international students the categories are junior-college, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. Non-degree study covers preparatory students, advanced students and research scholars.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Article 9See alsoPreparatory studentAcademic degree

The national programme to build world-class universities and first-class disciplines. The list of universities and disciplines in its second round was published in February 2022 by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission.

SourceMOE notice, second-round Double First-Class list, notice textSee alsoProject 985Project 211

One of the non-degree categories of international student. Under the Chinese Government Scholarship, Chinese language (preparatory) study lasts one year and comes before the major.

SourceMOE Order No. 42, Article 9CSC application guide, section II(II)See alsoDegree educationHSK

A type of degree under the Degree Law. A master’s candidate must show the ability to take on professional practice; a doctoral candidate must do so independently and produce innovative results in practice.

SourceDegree Law, Articles 2, 20 and 21See alsoAcademic degree

A national university-building project. The Ministry of Education’s published list of Project 211 universities has 112 names.

SourceMOE list of Project 211 universities, listSee alsoProject 985Double First-Class

A national university-building project. The Ministry of Education’s published list of Project 985 universities has 39 names.

SourceMOE list of Project 985 universities, listSee alsoProject 211Double First-Class