How long university study takes in China: the basic study lengths in the Higher Education Law
Sources checked · Unofficial summary
Under Article 17 of the Higher Education Law of the People's Republic of China, the basic study length is 2 to 3 years for junior-college education, 4 to 5 years for bachelor's education, 2 to 3 years for master's education and 3 to 4 years for doctoral education. These are basic lengths, not fixed lengths: the same article says that an institution may adjust the study lengths of its own school according to actual needs. For a given programme, check the university's own programme description, and see this directory's section page for the section on choosing and checking a university.
The basic study lengths in Article 17
Article 17 gives each level as a range of years.
| Level | Basic study length under Article 17 |
|---|---|
| Junior-college education (专科教育) | 2 to 3 years (二至三年) |
| Bachelor's education (本科教育) | 4 to 5 years (四至五年) |
| Master's education (硕士研究生教育) | 2 to 3 years (二至三年) |
| Doctoral education (博士研究生教育) | 3 to 4 years (三至四年) |
Article 17 also says that the study length of non-full-time higher academic education shall be extended appropriately. Article 15 states that higher education takes full-time and non-full-time forms.
Article 17 gives ranges, and it calls them basic study lengths. It says that an institution may adjust the study lengths of its own school according to actual needs. Each university sets out the length of its programmes in its own programme description.
The three levels and their academic standards
Article 16 divides higher academic education into three levels: junior-college education, bachelor's education and graduate education. It sets the academic standards for each level in three items.
- Item (1) sets the standard for junior-college education. Students shall master the basic theory and specialised knowledge essential to the major, and have basic skills and a preliminary ability for practical work in the field.
- Item (2) sets the standard for bachelor's education. Students shall systematically master the basic theory and basic knowledge of the discipline and major, and have a preliminary ability for practical and research work in the major.
- Item (3) sets the standard for master's and doctoral education. For master's education, students shall master solid basic theory and systematic professional knowledge, and have the ability to do practical and scientific research work. For doctoral education, students shall master solid and broad basic theory and systematic, in-depth professional knowledge, and have the ability to carry out creative scientific research independently.
Who may enter each level
Article 19 sets out entry to each level in four paragraphs.
- Senior secondary graduates, or people with equivalent academic attainment, who pass the examination are admitted by a higher education institution that runs the corresponding academic education. They obtain the qualification to enter junior-college or bachelor's study (Article 19, paragraph 1).
- Bachelor's graduates, or people with equivalent academic attainment, who pass the examination are admitted by a higher education institution that runs the corresponding academic education, or by a research institution approved to undertake graduate education. They obtain the qualification to enter master's study (Article 19, paragraph 2).
- Master's graduates, or people with equivalent academic attainment, who pass the examination are admitted by the same kinds of institution. They obtain the qualification to enter doctoral study (Article 19, paragraph 3).
- Bachelor's graduates of specific disciplines and majors are allowed to obtain the qualification to enter doctoral study directly. The specific measures are set by the education administrative department of the State Council (Article 19, paragraph 4).
Certificates
Article 20, paragraph 1 says that the institution, or a research institution approved to undertake graduate education, issues the corresponding academic certificate or other academic certificate. The issue follows the study length, academic performance and other factors, under the relevant state rules.
Article 20, paragraph 2 says that students in non-degree higher education receive a completion certificate from their institution or other higher education institution. The completion certificate shall state the study length and the content of study.
Article 21 says that the state operates a self-study examination system for higher education. People who pass the examinations receive the corresponding academic certificate or other academic certificate.
About this text
The Higher Education Law was adopted on 29 August 1998 and amended on 27 December 2015 and 29 December 2018, according to the title and adoption line of the Chinese text. The English in this article is this site's translation of the Chinese text of the law.
Questions people ask
How long is a bachelor's programme in China under the law?
Article 17 of the Higher Education Law gives 4 to 5 years (四至五年) as the basic study length of bachelor's education. The same article says that an institution may adjust the study lengths of its own school according to actual needs. Check the programme description of the university for the length of a particular programme.
Is the doctoral study length the same at every university?
Article 17 gives 3 to 4 years (三至四年) as the basic study length of doctoral education. It also says that an institution may adjust its study lengths according to actual needs. The programme description of each university sets out the length of its own programmes.
Who may enter master's study?
Under Article 19, paragraph 2 of the Higher Education Law, a bachelor's graduate, or a person with equivalent academic attainment, who passes the examination is admitted to master's study. The admitting body is a higher education institution that runs the corresponding academic education, or a research institution approved to undertake graduate education.
Sources
- 中华人民共和国高等教育法 (Higher Education Law of the People's Republic of China) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary, is not published by the Ministry of Education or any university, and promises no admission outcome. If the official Chinese text and the current official list differ from this page, the official Chinese text and the current official list prevail.