What is the difference between a graduation certificate and a degree certificate in China?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
They are two separate documents, issued on two different conditions. Article 21 of Order No. 42 says a university issues an academic qualification certificate (学历证书 — in the electronic-registration sentence it appears as the graduation certificate, 毕业证书) or another study certificate according to national rules, and registers the student status and graduation certificate electronically; the same article then says, separately, that the university awards a degree certificate (学位证书) to students who meet the degree conditions. Finishing the programme and satisfying the degree conditions are therefore not one test, and the articles read for this page do not say what a student receives who completes the study without meeting the degree conditions.
What the rules say
Order No. 42 was issued on 20 March 2017 and has been in force since 1 July 2017 (Article 48); Chapters 2 to 5, Articles 7 to 34, are the chapters that apply to higher education institutions (Article 2), and Article 21 sits inside them. In English, Article 21 reads:
A higher education institution issues an academic qualification certificate or other study certificate to international students in accordance with relevant national regulations. For international students receiving higher academic qualification education, the institution shall promptly handle student status and graduation certificate electronic registration. A higher education institution issues a degree certificate to international students who meet the degree awarding conditions.
That rendering is this site's translation of the Chinese text; the page carries no official English version.
The two documents are also listed separately when something goes wrong. Article 44 names "issuing degree certificates, academic qualification certificates or other study certificates in violation of regulations" as one of the acts for which the competent education administrative department shall order rectification, pursue legal liability under the Education Law of the People's Republic of China, and may restrict the institution's recruitment of international students.
| Academic qualification certificate (学历证书) | Degree certificate (学位证书) | |
|---|---|---|
| Set out in | Order No. 42, Article 21, first paragraph | Order No. 42, Article 21, second paragraph |
| Condition | Issued under national rules; student status and graduation certificate registered electronically | Awarded to students who meet the degree conditions |
| Named in Article 44 | Yes — item (四) lists issuing it in violation of regulations | Yes — item (四) lists issuing it in violation of regulations |
Which study categories are degree education
Article 9 of Order No. 42 divides international students into two groups:
| Degree education | Non-degree education |
|---|---|
| Specialist/diploma student (专科生) | Preparatory student (预科生) |
| Undergraduate (本科生) | Visiting or advanced student (进修生) |
| Master's student (硕士研究生) | Research scholar (研究学者) |
| Doctoral student (博士研究生) |
A bachelor's programme falls in the undergraduate category, which is degree education. Article 21's electronic-registration sentence applies to international students receiving higher academic qualification education, and its degree sentence applies to those who meet the degree conditions; the articles read for this page do not tie the two documents to each other beyond that.
What the 2018 quality standards add
The Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), attached to Ministry of Education notice Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 of 3 September 2018, are addressed to higher education institutions and state what a university's own rules must contain. Their preface says the standards were formulated on the basis of the Higher Education Law, the Regulations on Academic Degrees and the Measures (Order No. 42), and that they apply to higher education for international students nationwide, including higher vocational education.
Section 4 (majors and degree awarding) states that a university may recruit international students only into majors that fall within a discipline or professional degree category for which it holds the corresponding degree-awarding authority and that the state has opened to international students; majors such as medicine, which bear directly on personal health and safety, must also meet the relevant national provisions, specific standards or norms. Length of study must comply with the national basic higher education system.
Section 10.1 requires a university to improve its student status management rules, implement the electronic registration system for student status and academic qualifications, and set out the conditions and procedures for changing major.
What the official pages do not say
The articles and sections read for this page do not explain how either certificate is verified, how a lost certificate is replaced, or how authorities outside China treat either document; ask the university office handling your case about that.
Related questions
Is a bachelor's programme in China degree education?
Yes. Article 9 of Order No. 42 lists undergraduate students (本科生) among the degree-education categories, alongside specialist/diploma, master's and doctoral students; preparatory students, visiting or advanced students and research scholars are the non-degree categories named in the same article.
Can a university recruit international students into any major it teaches?
No, not under Section 4 of the 2018 quality standards. The major must fall within a discipline or professional degree category for which the university holds degree-awarding authority and must be one the state has opened to international students; fields such as medicine must also meet the relevant national provisions, specific standards or norms.
Can I change my major after enrolment?
Section 10.1 of the 2018 quality standards requires each university to set out the conditions and procedures for changing major in its own rules. The sections read for this page do not set those conditions themselves.
What happens if a university issues these certificates in violation of the rules?
Article 44 of Order No. 42 lists issuing degree certificates, academic qualification certificates or other study certificates in violation of regulations among the acts for which the competent education administrative department shall order rectification, pursue legal liability under the Education Law, and may restrict the institution's recruitment of international students.
Sources
- Administrative Measures for the Enrolment and Education of International Students by Schools (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security) — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), attachment to Ministry of Education notice Jiaowai [2018] No. 50 — Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education or any other body named here, and the official Chinese text and the instructions of the university, embassy or exit-entry office handling your case prevail if they differ.