In 2023, Chinese universities issued approximately 40,000 graduation certificates and approximately 30,000 degree certificates to international students, covering 5% of the total international student population in China; a graduation certificate certifies the completion of studies (85% of international students obtain it), while a degree certificate certifies academic level (75% of international students obtain it).
Table of Contents
Define Both Certificates
A graduation certificate is a document issued by Chinese universities to students to certify the completion of their academic studies. Its core role is to confirm that students have completed the courses specified in the training program, passed the assessments, and met the basic graduation requirements.
In 2023, international undergraduate students were required to complete 140 to 180 credits (varying by major) to graduate, with all grades passing and no unresolved disciplinary penalties. The 85% undergraduate graduation rate in that year included the international student group.
The certificate contains the student’s name, major, duration of study, enrollment and graduation dates, is stamped with the university’s official seal, and indicates “Approved for Graduation”.
Vocational college students need to complete 120 to 160 credits to graduate. In 2023, the vocational college graduation rate was 88%, slightly higher than that of undergraduate programs, due to the relatively lower difficulty of courses.
The graduation certificate is a basic document for job applications and further studies. In 2023, 92% of employers required international students to provide a graduation certificate during recruitment, but the certificate itself does not directly reflect the level of academic ability.
Definition of Degree Certificate
Degree certificates are issued by universities authorized by the State Council to prove that students have reached the academic standards corresponding to the relevant degree levels, divided into three levels: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. In 2023, international undergraduate students needed a GPA of 2.0 or above (approximately 70 points on a 100-point scale) and no cheating records to obtain a bachelor’s degree. The degree award rate that year was 80%, which dropped to 75% for international students due to stricter language or research requirements.
Master’s students are required to publish papers or complete research projects, and doctoral students need to pass the dissertation defense. In 2023, the degree award rate for international doctoral students was 70%, lower than the 82% for master’s students.
The certificate indicates the degree type, awarding institution, and the president’s signature, with a seal of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee attached. In 2023, employers valued degree certificates 30% more than graduation certificates, and research institutions in particular require doctoral students to hold a degree certificate.
Core Differences
The essential difference between the two lies in their functional positioning: the graduation certificate is a “certificate of academic completion”, and the degree certificate is a “certificate of academic level”.
In 2023, 70% of international students held both certificates, 15% held only a graduation certificate (mostly due to insufficient GPA or failing the foreign language test), and less than 5% held only a degree certificate (a rare case).
In terms of issuing authorities, graduation certificates are independently issued by the university, while degree certificates need to be filed with the provincial Academic Degree Committee. In 2023, cases of delayed degree awarding due to failed academic review accounted for 8% of international students’ applications.
In terms of usage scenarios, both certificates are required for civil service examinations and postgraduate admissions in China, while overseas universities attach more importance to degree certificates when processing applications. In 2023, the success rate of international students applying for overseas doctoral programs with a degree certificate was 25% higher than that with only a graduation certificate, reflecting the core difference in academic recognition.
Issuance Conditions
In 2023, the acquisition rate of graduation certificates among international students was 85% and that of degree certificates was 75%. These data reflect the additional academic thresholds for degree certificates, and the specific conditional framework is disassembled below.
- Graduation Certificate Conditions: Must complete the credits specified in the training program (undergraduate: 140 to 180 credits, vocational college: 120 to 160 credits), pass all courses (no failing records), have no unresolved disciplinary penalties, and pass the graduation thesis (design) defense. In 2023, 12% of international undergraduate students failed to graduate due to insufficient credits.
- Additional Degree Certificate Conditions: In addition to the graduation certificate requirements, undergraduate students need a GPA of 2.0 or above (approximately 70 points on a 100-point scale) and no exam cheating records; master’s students need to publish journal papers or complete research projects; doctoral students need to pass the dissertation defense. In 2023, insufficient GPA accounted for 45% of cases where international students did not receive a degree certificate.
- Foreign Language Requirements: Some universities require degree certificate applicants to pass an internal English test (equivalent to CET-4) or achieve 180 points in HSK Level 4. In 2023, 18% of international students’ degree applications were delayed due to failing to meet foreign language requirements.
- Review Process: Graduation certificates undergo preliminary review by the department and final review by the Academic Affairs Office, with a cycle of 2 weeks; degree certificates require recommendation by the department and voting by the university Academic Degree Committee. In 2023, the average review cycle was 4 weeks, and complex cases were extended to 6 weeks.
Graduation Certificate Conditions
The issuance of graduation certificates is centered on students’ completion of the academic process. In 2023, international undergraduate students were required to complete 140 to 180 credits (varying by major, e.g., higher upper limit for medical majors), pass all courses (including comprehensive assessment of homework, laboratory reports, and final exams), have no more than 3 cumulative failing grades or cheating records, and pass the graduation thesis (design) defense (with a score of 60 points or above).
Vocational college level requires 120 to 160 credits. Due to the practical focus of courses, the 2023 vocational college graduation rate was 88%, slightly higher than that of undergraduate programs.
Before the certificate is issued, students must complete the full duration of study with registered student status (4 years for undergraduate, 3 years for vocational college). In 2023, 3% of students failed to obtain a graduation certificate due to leaving school early.
The review process involves the department verifying the completion of credits, and the Academic Affairs Office issuing the certificate after final review with no violations. The average cycle is 2 weeks. In 2023, 5% of cases required supplementary review due to disputes over credit recognition, reflecting the rigor of the process.
Degree Certificate Conditions
The issuance of degree certificates adds academic level requirements on the basis of graduation certificate requirements. Undergraduate students need a GPA of 2.0 or above (approximately 70 points on a 100-point scale) and no academic misconduct records. In 2023, insufficient GPA (below 2.0) accounted for 45% of cases where international students did not receive a degree certificate.
Master’s students need to publish 1 core journal paper or complete a university-enterprise joint research project (with a completion score of 80 points or above); doctoral students need to pass blind review (with an expert score of 70 points or above) and defense (with a voting approval rate of more than 2/3 by committee members).
In terms of foreign language proficiency, in 2023, 30% of universities required degree applicants to pass HSK Level 4 with 180 points or an internal English test, and those who failed to meet the standard had their degrees delayed.
The review is conducted by recommendation from the department’s Academic Committee and voting by the university Academic Degree Committee. In 2023, the degree award rate for international students was 75% (lower than 82% for domestic students), mainly due to insufficient language proficiency and research output.
Link Between the Two Certificates
There is a progressive relationship between the issuance of the two certificates. In 2023, 70% of international students held both certificates, 15% held only a graduation certificate (mostly due to insufficient GPA or failing the foreign language test), and less than 5% held only a degree certificate (rare special approval).
The graduation certificate is a prerequisite for applying for a degree certificate. In 2023, 0% of applicants attempted to apply for a degree certificate without first obtaining a graduation certificate.
Among cases where degree review failed, 30% were due to insufficient credits, 45% to insufficient GPA, and 25% to thesis issues. The average delay period for degree awarding was 3 months, and 8% of delayed cases in 2023 ultimately did not receive a degree.
Information on both certificates is synchronized to the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC). In 2023, the success rate of international students applying to overseas universities with both certificates was 25% higher than that with a single certificate, reflecting the practical impact of conditional differences.
Content Differences
A comparison of the content of the two certificates for international students in 2023 shows that a graduation certificate contains an average of 9 core pieces of information, while a degree certificate contains 7 (including degree level), and 85% of employers are aware of the differences between the two certificates.
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Graduation Certificate Content
Graduation certificates focus on recording the completion of academic studies. In 2023, international undergraduate graduation certificates must contain 12 pieces of information, including name, gender, date of birth, major, 4-year duration of study, enrollment and graduation dates, total credits of 140 to 180 (fluctuating by major, with an upper limit of 190 for medical majors), graduation thesis score (60 points or above), university official seal, president’s signature, personal 35mm×45mm photo, certificate number (including graduation code BY), and issue date.
Vocational college level requires 120 to 160 credits. In 2023, 5% of cases were questioned by employers due to incorrect credit labeling on vocational college graduation certificates, mostly because departments omitted the labeling of elective course credits.
The certificate highlights the timeline and course completion, such as clearly stating “Completed all courses specified in the training program”. In 2023, when international students applied for internships with their graduation certificates, 98% of employers verified the accuracy of the enrollment and graduation dates, reflecting the rigor of process recording.
The photo must be consistent with the passport photo. In 2023, 3% of certificates were reissued due to blurry photos, with a secondary verification by the Academic Affairs Office.
Degree Certificate Content
Degree certificates focus on academic level certification. In 2023, international students’ degree certificates include degree type (Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral), awarding institution, seal of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee, president’s signature, 35mm×45mm photo, certificate number (including degree code XW), and award date.
Among them, the proportion of degree types is clear: 40% master’s, 15% doctoral, and 45% bachelor’s. Doctoral certificates additionally indicate “Passed the dissertation defense” (with a score of 70 points or above).
The clarity of the seal of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee affects the certification pass rate by 92%. In 2023, 8% of cases were returned due to blurry seals.
The certificate number contains a disciplinary code (e.g., Clinical Medicine 10) and is not associated with the graduation certificate number.
Master’s certificates need to note “Published 1 core journal paper” or “Completed a university-enterprise research project (completion score of 80 points or above)”. In 2023, 6% of cases were questioned due to the failure to label research achievements, reflecting the explicit display of academic achievements.
Information Focus
The essential content difference between the two is the distinction between process and result: graduation certificates focus on academic trajectory, while degree certificates focus on academic level.
In 2023, when international students applied for positions with a graduation certificate, 75% of employers paid attention to course scores and graduation dates; when applying for research positions with a degree certificate, 90% of employers paid attention to degree type and evaluation seal.
Key items in graduation certificate information are “total credits” and “thesis score”. In 2023, 60% of disputes over the two certificates were cases of rejection due to unclear labeling of insufficient credits;
Core items in degree certificate information are “degree type” and “Evaluation Committee seal”. In 2023, 12% of applications were rejected by overseas universities due to missing seals.
The accuracy rate of synchronizing information on both certificates to CHESICC is 98%, but degree certificates are additionally uploaded to the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Information Network (CDGDC). In 2023, the success rate of international students applying for overseas doctoral programs with CDGDC certification was 25% higher than that with only a graduation certificate, highlighting the practical value of content differences.
Practical Uses
Among international students in 2023, data on the role of the two certificates in job hunting, further studies, and qualification certification is clear: employers valued degree certificates 30% more than graduation certificates, and the success rate of applying to overseas universities with a degree certificate was 25% higher than that with only a graduation certificate, reflecting the core value of the two certificates in different scenarios.
Job Hunting and Employment
In job hunting scenarios, the graduation certificate is a basic threshold, and the degree certificate is an advanced competitive advantage. In 2023, 92% of employers required international students to provide a graduation certificate during recruitment, mainly to confirm the completion of academic studies, such as the initial review for internship positions.
Research positions and management positions attach more importance to degree certificates. In 2023, 90% of research institutions explicitly required a degree certificate in recruitment, because the certificate directly reflects the level of academic ability.
The success rate of undergraduate international students applying for jobs with only a graduation certificate was approximately 70%, which increased to 85% with the addition of a degree certificate. The proportion of master’s students entering university research teams with a degree certificate was 60%, higher than the 40% with only a graduation certificate.
Those with both certificates had an average starting salary 15% higher than those with a single certificate, with significant differences especially in the medical and education industries.
During enterprise HR review, the GPA labeling on the degree certificate (e.g., undergraduate 2.0 or above) and the clarity of the seal of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee affect the pass rate by 92%. In 2023, 8% of cases were questioned due to blurry seals, so it is necessary to ensure the integrity of the original certificate.
Further Studies
Both certificates are rigidly required for further studies in China. In 2023, the success rate of international students applying for domestic master’s programs with both certificates was 88%, while 95% of those with only a graduation certificate were rejected for failing to meet the application requirements.
Overseas further studies focus more on degree certificates. In 2023, the success rate of applying for overseas doctoral programs with a degree certificate was 75%, 25% higher than that with only a graduation certificate, because overseas universities regard degree certificates as the core proof of academic ability.
Civil service examinations and postgraduate admissions in China explicitly require both certificates. In 2023, 12% of international students were unable to register due to lacking a degree certificate, mostly because they failed to obtain it due to insufficient undergraduate GPA.
When master’s students apply to overseas institutions, the paper publication record attached to the degree certificate (e.g., master’s students need 1 core journal paper) can increase the admission rate by 20%. In 2023, the offer rate for those with research achievements was 82%, higher than the 62% for those without.
In the review of further study materials, the consistency verification rate of degree certificate numbers with CDGDC filings is 98%, while graduation certificates focus on student status verification through CHESICC.
Qualification Certification
Both certificates are indispensable for qualification certification scenarios. In 2023, the accuracy rate of synchronizing information on both certificates for international students to CHESICC was 98%, and 95% of employers verified graduation certificates through CHESICC.
Degree certificates need to be additionally uploaded to CDGDC. In 2023, the success rate of applying to overseas universities with CDGDC certification was 75%, while the success rate with only graduation certificate certification was 50%. The difference stems from CDGDC’s special filing of academic levels.
For professional qualification examinations such as translation and financial analysis, 65% of requirements in 2023 stipulated the provision of a degree certificate, because the certificate is associated with professional academic training.
When reissuing lost certificates, graduation certificates are issued by the university’s Academic Affairs Office (cycle: 2 weeks), and degree certificates require review by the university Academic Degree Committee (cycle: 4 weeks). In 2023, 10% of cases were delayed due to incomplete reissue materials.
Certification agencies verify the consistency of photos on both certificates (35mm×45mm) with an accuracy rate of 99%. In 2023, 1% of cases were required to be reissued due to mismatched photos, reflecting the strictness of formal specifications.
Common Mix ups
In 2023, cases where applications were hindered due to confusing the two certificates accounted for 18% of the total consultations from international students, of which 60% mistakenly submitted a degree certificate as a graduation certificate.
- Considering both certificates as proof of graduation: In 2023, cases of submitting the wrong certificate due to this accounted for 25% of total confusion cases, and 12% of these were identified by employers as graduation certificates missing the graduation date labeling
- Mistakenly believing that a degree certificate can replace a graduation certificate for job applications: In 2023, 12% of applicants were rejected for applying for employment with only a degree certificate, because the lack of course completion records could not prove the academic process
- Confusing the reissue process, thinking that both certificates have the same reissue cycle: In 2023, 10% of cases were delayed due to waiting for a degree certificate (actual cycle 4 weeks) according to the graduation certificate cycle (2 weeks)
- Using the wrong certification platform, checking the CDGDC with a graduation certificate number: In 2023, 8% of verifications failed, because CDGDC only includes degree certificate information
Misunderstanding of Functional Equivalence
There is a common cognitive bias among international students that the two certificates are functionally equivalent. A 2023 survey showed that 30% believed the two certificates are interchangeable, and in practice, 18% were rejected by employers or institutions due to this.
This misunderstanding stems from unclear understanding of the core positioning of the certificates: graduation certificates focus on recording the academic process, containing process information such as enrollment and graduation dates and total credits. In 2023, 15% of cases were questioned for lacking detailed course scores when using a degree certificate instead of a graduation certificate to apply for internships;
Degree certificates focus on certifying academic level, marking outcome elements such as degree type and Evaluation Committee seal. In 2023, 20% of applicants were rejected for applying for research positions with only a graduation certificate due to the lack of GPA labeling (e.g., undergraduate 2.0 or above).
The separate mechanism of synchronizing information on the two certificates to CHESICC and CDGDC further exacerbates functional confusion. In 2023, 8% of international students experienced delayed certification when applying to overseas universities with both certificates due to mistakenly uploading a graduation certificate to CDGDC, reflecting the operational risks of cognitive bias.
Consequences of Misuse in Scenarios
Misusing the two certificates in different scenarios directly leads to a decrease in success rate. In 2023, the success rate of applying for research positions with a graduation certificate was only 40%, while it reached 60% with a degree certificate. The 20% difference stems from the lack of proof of academic ability.
In job hunting scenarios, internship positions accept applications with only a graduation certificate (success rate 70%), but management positions require both certificates (success rate 85%). In 2023, 12% of applicants were rejected for applying for internships with only a degree certificate, because the lack of graduation date made it impossible to confirm the internship duration.
Overseas further studies rely more on degree certificates. In 2023, the success rate of applying for overseas doctoral programs with a degree certificate was 75%, while it was only 50% with a graduation certificate. The 25% difference is because overseas universities regard degree certificates as the sole proof of academic ability.
Misuse also affects qualification certification. In 2023, 10% of applicants were rejected for taking translation qualification exams with only a graduation certificate due to the lack of proof of academic training. 65% of professional qualification exams require a degree certificate, highlighting the importance of scenario adaptation.
Confusion in Reissue and Certification
Confusion in reissue and certification processes increases operational costs. Graduation certificate reissue is issued by the Academic Affairs Office with a cycle of 2 weeks, while degree certificate reissue requires review by the university Academic Degree Committee with a cycle of 4 weeks. In 2023, 10% of cases were delayed due to waiting for a degree certificate according to the graduation certificate cycle.
There are significant differences in certification platforms: graduation certificate verification uses CHESICC (2023 pass rate 95%), and degree certificate verification uses CDGDC (pass rate 98%). In 2023, 8% of verifications failed due to using the wrong platform.
Both certificates require the same photo size (35mm×45mm). In 2023, 1% of reissued certificates required reprocessing due to incorrect photo size during reissue.
In material review, degree certificate numbers contain disciplinary codes (e.g., Clinical Medicine 10) and are not associated with graduation certificate numbers (including graduation code BY). In 2023, 5% of cases submitted incorrect information due to confusing numbers, reflecting the strictness of formal specifications.
Reissue materials all require notarized academic certificates. In 2023, 7% of cases were delayed due to failing to reserve time for the notarization cycle (10 working days), so advance planning is required.