China has launched pilot PhD + Master’s dual-degree programs at select universities, allowing a small number of doctoral students to pursue interdisciplinary training under new national rules.
China has introduced a pilot program that allows a limited number of doctoral students to earn a master’s degree in a different discipline while completing their PhD, according to new rules released by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council.
The policy is outlined in the Measures for the Pilot Establishment and Management of “PhD + Master’s” Dual-Degree Programs. It supports select doctoral students with strong academic capacity to pursue cross-disciplinary training.
The initiative follows earlier experiments launched in 2023. Since then, the Ministry of Education has encouraged leading research universities to establish interdisciplinary centres. Several institutions explored new training models by adjusting curricula and building collaborative research platforms.
To regulate these pilots and ensure consistency, the Academic Degrees Committee issued the new measures. The rules define the program’s scope, approval process, core requirements, and supervision mechanisms.
Under the policy, pilot universities may independently design and offer dual-degree programs. The programs must align with national priorities such as technological development, industrial transformation, and interdisciplinary research.
Participation remains highly selective. Only a small number of universities can join the pilot, and each institution may offer only a limited number of programs. Eligible students must be capable of meeting the academic requirements for both degrees.
Participants pursue a PhD while simultaneously studying for a master’s degree in another discipline. To receive both degrees, students must independently satisfy all degree-awarding standards set by the university.
Each program operates on a five-year cycle and must be registered through a filing system. Authorities emphasise that the pilot will remain “small but high-quality,” focusing on elite training rather than large-scale expansion.
Written by Ronnie Yu, additional reporting by HKCNA, CNS.
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