3.Degrees and diplomas

　　Degrees titles vary according to each university. The most common titles are Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science or doctor of Philosophy.

　　Some universities are responsible for validating degrees at higher education institutions without degree-awarding powers.

　　Besides, there are some other diplomas and certificates such as diplomas conferred by specialized higher-learning schools and short-cycle colleges, certificates for graduates from assistant professor classes at universities, certificates for graduates from post-graduate classes, certificates for post-doctor research

　　4. Terms of study

　　The term of study in most colleges and universities is 4 years, while that for those of medicine and some engineering is 5 years. Students are required to complete all the required courses of total credits within the provision of the school-year for graduation.
　　
　　The required total credits for graduation among colleges or universities of normal courses are different, since the term of study, the major fields of study, methods of counting credits and the courses provided in study programs among different institutions are quite different from each other.
　　
　　The study term for master’s degrees is 2-3 years. Since the numbers of required courses for students of master’s degrees among colleges or universities do not differ a lot from each other, the minimum of credits for graduation among different institutions is more or less the same.
　　
　　Students of doctor’s degrees take research as the main work of study programs in which a certain number of degree courses that amount to 12-16 credits are included as well. The term of a doctor’s degree program is generally 3 years, while that for those in-service is usually about 4 years.

　　Practical experience of students is taken seriously at colleges and universities in China. It is generally required in the programs and certain credits are given to it in a number of colleges or universities. Practical experience usually takes the form such as practical teaching, probation, productive labor, military training, social investigation and services, and scientific research. The allocation of academic hours for these activities in the programs of normal courses is by and large as follows : 4-8 weeks for productive labor and military training, and the time for practical teaching and probation depends on major fields of learning, usually 3 weeks for the major fields of science, 10-14 weeks for the major fields of engineering, 20 weeks for the major fields of agriculture, and 6 weeks for teaching practice. Time provided for other activities of practical experience is different among college or universities, some of them such as social investigation and services are carried out in summer or winter vacations.

　　5. Adult education

　　Because only 4 percent of the country’s senior secondary graduates are admitted to universities, China has found it necessary to develop other ways of meeting the demand for education. Adult education has become increasingly important in helping China meet its modernization goals. Adult, or "nonformal," education is an alternative form of higher education that encompasses radio, television, and correspondence universities, spare-time and part-time universities, factory-run universities for staff and workers, and county-run universities for peasants, many operating primarily during students‘ off-work hours.

　　In 2002, all forms of adult non-regular schools graduated 89.89 million. At present, more than 63 million people are receiving higher education of one kind or another. They include 389,500 adult technical training school, which traing 81,188,000 people every year.

　　China‘s educational television system began in 1960 but was suspended during the Cultural Revolution in 1966. In 1979 the Central Radio and Television University was established in Beijing with branches in twenty-eight provincial-level universities. Many Central Radio and Television University students are recent senior secondary school graduates who failed the university entrance examinations. Full-time (who take four courses) and part-time students (two courses) have at least two years‘ work experience, and they return to their jobs after graduation. Spare-time students (one course) study after work. Students whose work units grant them permission to study in a television university are paid their normal wages; expenses for most of their books and other educational materials are paid by the state. A typical Central Radio and Television University student spends up to six hours a day over a three-year period watching lectures on videotapes produced by some of the best teachers in China. These lectures are augmented by face-to-face tutoring by local instructors and approximately four hours of homework each evening. The major problem with the system is that there are too few television sets.


　　In 1987 the Central Television and Radio University had its programs produced, transmitted and financed by the Ministry of Radio, Cinema, and Television. The State Education Commission developed its curriculum and distributed its printed support materials. Curriculum included both basic, general-purpose courses in science and technology and more specialized courses. Programs in English-language instruction were particularly popular. The Central Television and Radio University offered more than 1,000 classes in Beijing and its suburbs and 14 majors in 2- to 3-year courses through 56 working centers. Students who passed final examinations were given certificates entitling them to the same level of remuneration as graduates of regular, full-time colleges and universities. The state gave certain allowances to students awaiting jobs during their training period.