Legal basis: People's Republic of China (PRC) Higher Education Law.
Article 16 Higher education is divided into junior college education, undergraduate education and postgraduate education.
Higher education should meet the following academic standards:
(a) college education should enable students to master the basic theory and professional knowledge necessary for their major, and have the basic skills and preliminary ability to engage in practical work in their major;
(2) Undergraduate education should enable students to systematically master the basic theories and knowledge necessary for this discipline and major, master the basic skills, methods and related knowledge necessary for this major, and have the initial ability to engage in practical work and research work in this major;
(3) Postgraduate education should enable students to master solid basic theories and systematic professional knowledge in this discipline, master corresponding skills, methods and related knowledge, and have the ability to engage in practical work and scientific research in this major. Doctoral postgraduate education should enable students to master solid and broad basic theories, systematic and in-depth professional knowledge, corresponding skills and methods, and have the ability to independently engage in creative scientific research and practical work in this discipline.
Article 17 The basic study period of junior college education is two to three years, that of undergraduate education is four to five years, that of postgraduate education is two to three years, and that of doctoral education is three to four years. The length of study of part-time higher education should be appropriately extended. Colleges and universities can adjust the length of study according to actual needs.
Article 18 Higher education shall be implemented by institutions of higher learning and other institutions of higher education.
Universities and independent colleges mainly implement undergraduate and above education. Colleges and universities carry out specialized education. With the approval of the education administrative department of the State Council, scientific research institutions can undertake the task of postgraduate education.
Other institutions of higher education implement non-academic higher education.
Article 19. Those who have graduated from senior secondary education or have the same academic qualifications and passed the examination shall be admitted to institutions of higher learning that implement corresponding academic education and obtain the qualifications for junior college students or undergraduates.
Those who have graduated with a bachelor's degree or equivalent and passed the examination shall be admitted to institutions of higher learning or scientific research institutions approved to undertake the task of postgraduate education and obtain the qualification for postgraduate entrance.
Those who have graduated from a master's degree or have equivalent academic qualifications, after passing the examination, will be admitted to institutions of higher learning or scientific research institutions approved to undertake postgraduate education tasks and obtain doctoral qualifications.
Undergraduate graduates of specific disciplines and majors are allowed to directly obtain doctoral admission qualifications, and the specific measures shall be formulated by the education administrative department of the State Council.
Article 20 Students who receive higher education with academic qualifications shall be awarded corresponding academic certificates or other academic certificates by their institutions of higher learning or scientific research institutions approved to undertake postgraduate education according to their study years and academic achievements and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state.
Students who receive non-academic higher education shall be awarded corresponding certificates of completion by their institutions of higher learning or other institutions of higher education. The certificate of completion shall specify the length of schooling and academic content.
Article 21 The state implements the system of self-study examination for higher education, and those who pass the examination will be issued with corresponding academic certificates or other academic certificates.
Article 22 The state practices a degree system. The degree is divided into bachelor, master and doctor.
Citizens who receive higher education or self-study may apply to the degree-conferring unit for conferring the corresponding degree if their academic level reaches the degree standard stipulated by the state.
Article 23 Institutions of higher learning and other institutions of higher education shall undertake continuing education according to social needs and their own conditions for running schools.