There is a big difference. The orientation training of graduate students belongs to the national plan, which means that students will work in the orientation unit in the form of contract before entering the school, and the training expenses will be borne by the state. Only national key enterprises (determined by the Ministry of Education jointly with relevant departments), public welfare institutions such as culture, medicine and health funded by the government and the party and state organs, and the People's Liberation Army can require directional training. In addition, only the employer can provide training fees and entrust training, and students can work in the entrusted unit according to the contract after graduation.

Recruiting directional training or entrusted training master students to implement contract system. Admissions units, employers, candidates who intend to enroll in directional training or entrusted training of master students shall sign a contract for directional training or entrusted training before the candidates are admitted.

The school also stipulates that in principle, all oriented or entrusted training units for master students must be the students' original work units.

Directional training of graduate students refers to the graduate students who specify their work units after graduation by contract at the time of enrollment, and the training expenses during their study period are provided by the state to the training units according to the prescribed standards.

Employers within the service scope of the national postgraduate enrollment plan, that is, institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutions focusing on basic research, national key enterprises (determined by the State Education Commission in consultation with relevant departments), public welfare institutions such as culture, medicine and health funded by the government, the party and state organs, and the People's Liberation Army, may require directional training. In addition to the above scope, the employer's demand for graduate students shall not be directed, and the employer can only provide training expenses and entrusted training. Training units or their competent departments shall not expand the scope of directional training employers by themselves.