New Degree Certificate Format, People’s Republic of China

General Information...... 2 Bachelor’s Degree Certificate – Regular , Adult Higher Education, International in China ...... 3 Bachelor’s Degree: Regular Higher Education...... 4 Bachelor’s Degree: Adult Higher Education ...... 5 Bachelor’s Degree: International Student in China ...... 6 Master’s and Doctor’s Degree Certificates...... 7 Master’s Degree...... 8 Doctor’s Degree...... 9 Professional Degree Certificates...... 10 Professional Bachelor’s Degree...... 11 Professional Master’s Degree ...... 12 Professional Doctor’s Degree ...... 13 Background Information...... 14 Certificate Number Preceded by T - “Applying for Master’s/Doctor’s Degree by Claiming Comparable Educational Competence”14 Certificate Number Preceded by Z - Professional Degrees ...... 15

Compiled by International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), Alberta Employment and Immigration, Canada (www.employment.alberta.ca/iqas)

Page 1 of 17 General Information

The new format, announced by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council and Ministry of Education on July 25, 2007, takes effect on January 1, 2008. It applies to all certificates of bachelor, master and doctor’s Degrees issued in China.

1. The booklet is replaced by an A4-size single page. 2. The certificates no longer provide information on place of birth and duration of study. 3. All certificates feature the Chinese national emblem and a colour photo of the degree holder. 4. The doctor’s degree is pink, the master’s degree light blue, and the bachelor’s degree light green. 5. Three types of bachelor’s degrees are identified at the bottom of the certificate: “regular higher education”, “adult higher education” and “international student in China”. 6. Professional degrees (bachelor, master and doctor) are identified by the wording “Professional degree certificate” at the bottom of the certificate. 7. All certificates have multiple security features. 8. Each certificate is assigned a unique 16-digit certificate number: First 5 digits: issuing body 6th digit: degree level (doctor: 2, master: 3, bachelor: 4) 7th to 10th digits: year Last 6 digits: degree recipient’s sequential number at the degree-awarding institution 9. The 16-digit number is preceded by T for those who obtained their graduate degrees (usually master’s) through an alternative route (“comparable educational competence”) rather than regular fulltime study. The 16-digit number is preceded by Z for professional degrees.

Source: Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of China (http://www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18/40/info1206343226901140.htm)

Page 2 of 17 Bachelor’s Degree Certificate – Regular Higher Education, Adult Higher Education, International Student in China

1. Full name 2. Sex 3. Date of birth (in Arabic numbers) 4. For “regular higher education” and “international student in China”: Institution (institution attended – may be different from degree-awarding institution) and major For “adult higher education”: Institution (institution attended – may be different from degree-awarding institution), mode of study (fulltime, part-time, evening study, correspondence, TV and Radio University, or online education), and major. 5. Degree category 6. recent colour photo (fixed with dry seal of the degree-awarding institution) 7. Degree-awarding institution 8. President/Principal 9. Signature or (dark blue) seal of the President/Principal 10. Signature or (dark blue) seal of the Chairman of the Degree Evaluation Committee 11. Certificate number 12. Date of approval (in Chinese) by the Degree Evaluation Committee, e.g. 二〇〇八年六月二十五日(June 25, 2008) 13. Nationality (for “international student in China” only)

Page 3 of 17 Bachelor’s Degree: Regular Higher Education

Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, in

4 major has completed the course of study for the 6

undergraduate [benke] program and graduated. In conformity with the provisions of

the Regulations on Academic Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the

5 bachelor’s degree is awarded.

8 9 7 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 10

Certificate Number: 11 12 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council (Benke Graduate of Regular Higher Education)

Page 4 of 17 Bachelor’s Degree: Adult Higher Education

Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, in

4 major has completed the course of study for the 6 undergraduate [benke] program and graduated. In conformity with the provisions of the Regulations on Academic Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the

5 bachelor’s degree is awarded.

8 9 7 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 10

Certificate Number: 11 12 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council (Benke Graduate of Adult Higher Education)

Page 5 of 17 Bachelor’s Degree: International Student in China

Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , nationality: 13 born on 3 year

month day, in 4 major has completed the 6

course of study for the undergraduate [benke] program and graduated. In conformity

with the provisions of the Regulations on Academic Degrees of the People’s Republic

of China, the 5 bachelor’s degree is awarded.

8 9 7 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 10

Certificate Number: 11 12 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council (Benke Graduate – International Student in China)

Page 6 of 17 Master’s and Doctor’s Degree Certificates

1. Full name 2. Sex 3. Date of birth (in Arabic numbers) 4. Institution and discipline/discipline plus major 5. Degree category 6. recent colour photo (fixed with dry seal of the degree-awarding institution) 7. Degree-awarding institution 8. President/Principal 9. Signature or (dark blue) seal of the President/Principal 10. Signature or (dark blue) seal of the Chairman of the Degree Evaluation Committee. If one person is concurrently President/Principal and Chairman of the Degree Evaluation Committee, a single signature/seal may appear in between 9 and 10. 11. Certificate number 12. Date of approval (in Chinese) by the Degree Evaluation Committee, e.g. 二〇〇八年六月二十五日(June 25, 2008)

Page 7 of 17 Master’s Degree Master’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, in

4 discipline (major) has passed master’s degree course 6

examinations and thesis defense with satisfactory results. In conformity with the

provisions of the Regulations on Academic Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the 5 master’s degree is awarded.

8 9 7 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 10

Certificate Number: 11 12 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council

Page 8 of 17 Doctor’s Degree Doctor’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, in

4 discipline (major) has passed doctor’s degree course 6

examinations and thesis defense with satisfactory results. In conformity with the

provisions of the Regulations on Academic Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the 5 doctor’s degree is awarded.

8 9 7 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 10

Certificate Number: 11 12 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council

Page 9 of 17 Professional Degree Certificates

1. Full name 2. Sex 3. Date of birth (in Arabic numbers) 4. Name of degree-awarding institution 5. Name of professional degree (following standard nomenclature). Professional engineering degrees must indicate the engineering field, e.g. 机械工程领域 (field of mechanical engineering). 6. Name of professional degree 7. recent colour photo (fixed with dry seal of the degree-awarding institution) 8. Degree-awarding institution 9. President/Principal 10. Signature or (dark blue) seal of the President/Principal 11. Signature or (dark blue) seal of the Chairman of the Degree Evaluation Committee. If one person is concurrently President/Principal and Chairman of the Degree Evaluation Committee, a single signature/seal may appear in between 10 and 11. 12. Certificate number 13. Date of approval (in Chinese) by the Degree Evaluation Committee, e.g. 二〇〇八年六月二十五日(June 25, 2008)

Page 10 of 17 Professional Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, at 4

has completed the study plan for 5 professional bachelor’s degree program

7 with satisfactory results. In conformity with the provisions of the Regulations on Academic

Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the 6 bachelor’s degree is awarded.

9 10 8 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 11

Certificate Number: 12 13 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council (Professional Degree Certificate)

Page 11 of 17 Professional Master’s Degree

Master’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, at 4

has completed the study plan for 5 professional master’s degree program

7 with satisfactory results. In conformity with the provisions of the Regulations on Academic

Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the 6 master’s degree is awarded.

9 10 8 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 11

Certificate Number: 12 13 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council (Professional Degree Certificate)

Page 12 of 17 Professional Doctor’s Degree

Doctor’s Degree Certificate

1 , 2 , born on 3 year month day, at 4

has completed the study plan for 5 professional doctor’s degree program

7 with satisfactory results. In conformity with the provisions of the Regulations on Academic

Degrees of the People’s Republic of China, the 6 doctor’s degree is awarded.

9 10 8 Chairman of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee 11

Certificate Number: 12 13 year month day Produced by the authority of the Office of Academic Degrees Committee, State Council (Professional Degree Certificate)

Page 13 of 17 Background Information

Certificate Number Preceded by T - “Applying for Master’s/Doctor’s Degree by Claiming Comparable Educational Competence”

Understanding this unconventional way of obtaining graduate degrees requires some knowledge of the dual-credential system in China. There are two major types of Chinese credentials: qualifications and degrees: • The Chinese term for educational qualifications (xueli, 学历) literally means “educational experience”. It represents the completion of a recognized educational program of a defined level. Qualifications are documented by 毕业证书 / 毕业文凭, usually translated as Certificate of Graduation. At the zhuanke level it is often translated as . • The Chinese term for (xuewei, 学位) literally means “academic position/status”. It represents academic achievement of a defined level. Degrees are documented by degree certificates.

Two credentials of the same level often go together, e.g. a Bachelor’s degree accompanied by a benke Certificate of Graduation. When they don’t, it signifies that the individual has obtained their credentials through a somewhat unconventional route. This complex topic is covered in “Qualifications and Degrees: Understanding the Chinese Dual-Credential System” presented by Haichen Sun at NAFSA Conference, Montreal, May 2006.

What does it mean when a Chinese Master’s Degree (or less frequently, a Doctor’s Degree) has a certificate number preceded by T? • The individual has obtained the degree by claiming “comparable educational competence”. T is the first letter of the transliteration of the Chinese term for “comparable/equivalent”. This practice was first introduced in 1985, with the regulations finalized in 1998. • There is no Certificate of Graduation from a Master’s Degree program accompanying the degree certificate. In other words, the individual has not completed a regular Master’s Degree program (which would involve two to three years’ fulltime study). • The individual applied to and registered with the degree-awarding institution, passed national examinations in Master-level subjects in their field of study and a foreign language, and completed and defended a thesis. • To pass the national examinations, the individual may have relied completely on self-study, with no transcript or certificate to document their study. A popular alternative is to register in a non-recognized program offered by many prestigious institutions

Page 14 of 17 usually known as 研究生课程进修班 (Graduate Coursework Training Class), which issues a Certificate of Completion along with transcripts.

Please refer to International Education Guide: People’s Republic of China for more information on “comparable educational competence”.

Certificate Number Preceded by Z - Professional Degrees

China introduced academic degrees in 1981. They are awarded in 12 Categories: Philosophy 哲学 Economics 经济学 Law 法学 Education 教育学 Arts 文学 History 史学 Science 理学 Technology/Engineering* 工学 Agriculture 农学 Medicine 医学 Management 管理学 Military Science 军事学 *工学 (roughly translated as Technology) is an umbrella term that encompasses engineering. It is almost always mistranslated as Engineering.

Professional degrees were introduced about ten years later. (The practice of adding Z to the certificate number was not adopted immediately.) Z is the first letter of the transliteration of the Chinese term for “professional”.

Page 15 of 17 • Compared with general degrees, professional degrees are “discipline-specific”, e.g. , Master of Clinical Medicine, , etc. • Entry requirements are similar to those for general degree programs. • Most professional degrees are awarded at the Master’s level. • Most professional degree programs only issue the degree certificate, with no Certificate of Graduation.* • Most enrolled in professional degree programs study on a part-time basis. • China’s long-term goal is to make professional degrees the required educational credential to enter certain professions. * There are exceptions, depending on the discipline and program. Master’s degrees in architecture, business administration, clinical medicine and jurisprudence are issued along with Certificates of Graduation. Programs that hold national entrance exams in January, like other regular master’ degree programs, issue both Certificates of Graduation and degree certificates. Programs that only issue degree certificates typically hold national entrance exams in October.

Following is a (probably incomplete) list of professional Master’s Degrees: Master of Agricultural Extension 农业推广硕士 Master of Architecture 建筑学硕士 Master of Business Administration (MBA) 工商管理硕士 Master of Clinical Medicine 临床医学硕士 (Ed. M.) 教育硕士 Master of Engineering 工程硕士 (MFA) 艺术硕士 Master of Jurisprudence (J.M.) 法律硕士 Master of Landscape Architecture 风景园林硕士 Master of Military Science 军事硕士 Master of Physical Education 体育硕士 Master of Public Accounting (MPAcc) 会计硕士 Master of Public Administration (MPA) 公共管理硕士

Page 16 of 17 Master of Public Health (MPH) 公共卫生硕士 Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL) 汉语国际教育硕士 Master of Translation & Interpretation (MTI) 翻译硕士 Master of Veterinary Medicine 兽医硕士

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