Article 15 Higher Education includes education for academic qualifications and education for non-academic qualifications.

Higher Education takes the forms of full-time schooling and non-full-time schooling.

The State supports higher education conducted through radio, television, correspondence and other long-distance means.

Article 16 Higher education for academic qualifications includes special course education, regular course education and graduate program.

The following academic levels shall be attained through higher education for academic qualifications:

(1) Special course education shall enable students to grasp the basic theories and special knowledge which the course must offer and to acquire the basic skills and the preliminary ability of practical work in the fields of their specialized subjects.

(2) Regular course education shall enable students to grasp more systematically the basic theories and knowledge required by the branches of learning or specialized subjects offered, to grasp the basic skills, methods and relevant knowledge necessitated by their specialized subjects, and to acquire the preliminary ability of practical work and research in the fields of their specialized subjects.

(3) The graduate program for candidates working for MA shall enable candidates to grasp firmly the basic theories in their branches of learning and grasp the systematic knowledge of their specialized subjects, to grasp the skills and methods and relevant knowledge required, and to acquire the ability of practical work and research in the fields of their specialized subjects. The graduate program for candidates working for Ph. D shall enable candidates to grasp firmly the breadth of the basic theories and the systematic and profound knowledge of the specialized subjects and grasp the skills and methods required by their branches of learning, and to acquire the ability of creative research on their own and of practical work in the fields of their specific branches of learning.

Article 17 The basic length of schooling for special course education is from two to three years, for regular course education it is from four to five years, for graduate program for candidates working for MA it is from two to three years, and for graduate program for candidates working for Ph. D it is from three to four years. The length of schooling for non-full-time higher education for academic qualifications shall be prolonged properly. Higher education institutions may, in light of actual needs and with the approval of the competent administrative department for education, readjust the length of schooling of their institutions.

Article 18 Higher education shall be conducted by higher education institutions and other higher education organizations .

Universities and independent colleges shall mainly conduct regular course education and education at a still higher level. Specialized higher education schools shall conduct special course education. With the approval of the administrative department for education under the State Council, research institutes may undertake the graduate program.

Other higher education organizations shall conduct higher education for non-academic qualifications.

Article 19 Graduates from senior middle schools and people with the same educational level, who have passed the entrance examinations, shall be enrolled by higher education institutions that offer the necessary education for academic qualifications and shall acquire the status of special course students or undergraduates.

Graduates from universities and people with the same educational level, who have passed the entrance examinations, shall be enrolled by higher education institutions that offer the necessary education for academic qualifications or by research institutes that have obtained approval of undertaking the graduate program, and shall acquire the status of candidates working for MA.

People who have completed the graduate program and people who have the same educational level, having passed the entrance examinations, shall be enrolled by higher education institutions that offer the necessary education for academic qualifications or research institutes that have obtained approval of undertaking the graduate program, and shall acquire the status of candidates working for Ph.D.

Specific measures for allowing graduates of special branches of learning or specialized subjects directly to acquire the status of candidates working for Ph. D shall be formulated by the administrative department for education under the State Council.

Article 20 Students receiving higher education for academic qualifications shall be issued appropriate academic qualification certificates or other education certificates by their respective higher education institutions or research institutes that have obtained approval of undertaking the graduate program, on the basis of their length of study, academic records and so on and in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State.

Students receiving higher education for non-academic qualifications shall be granted appropriate diplomas by their respective higher education institutions or other higher education organizations. In the diplomas shall be recorded the length of study and the subjects studied.

Article 21 The State applies a system of higher education examinations for self-taught people, under which those who have passed the examinations shall be issued appropriate academic qualification certificates or other education certificates.

Article 22 The State applies a system of academic degrees. The academic degrees include the bachelor’s, the master’s and the doctor’s degrees.

Citizens who, through receiving higher education or self-teaching, have met the qualifications for academic degrees in terms of their educational level as prescribed by the State, may apply to degree-conferring bodies for the issue of appropriate degrees.

Article 23 Higher education institutions and other higher education organizations shall undertake continuing education in light of social needs and their own conditions for offering such education.