Enforcement Regulations on Degree Awarding of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University
(Revised in 2020)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 In order to implement the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Academic Degrees, the Interim Measures for the Implementation of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Academic Degrees and the relevant provisions of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, these enforcement regulations are formulated in accordance with the actual situation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (hereinafter referred to as the University).
Article 2 With the approval of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, the University has the right to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees based on disciplines and majors.
Article 3 Anyone who supports the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system and has a certain academic level can apply for a corresponding degree in accordance with the provisions herein.
Article 4 The University accepts applications for corresponding degrees from undergraduates, masters, and doctoral graduates, and allows anyone having the same academic ability as the postgraduate to apply for a master's degree.
Chapter II Bachelor’s Degree
Article 5 The award of bachelor's degree shall adhere to the principle of comprehensive assessment of qualities and abilities in morality, intelligence, physical education, art and labor. The University may grant a bachelor's degree to a student who meets the following conditions:
(1) Comply with Article 3 of the General Provisions;
(2) Have a good command of the basic theories, specialized knowledge and basic skills of the subject, and have the preliminary ability to engage in scientific research or undertake specialized technical work;
(3) The undergraduate graduates who have completed all the requirements ofthe training program of relevant major within the learning period stipulated by the University.
Article 6 Those who have been punished for academic misconduct, such as cheating and plagiarism, within prescribed period of study, shall not be awarded a bachelor’s degree while the punishment is not lifted. Undergraduate students of adult higher education shall not apply for degree course examination during the period of punishment.
Article 7 Ordinary full-time undergraduate students who have received "demerit record" or higher punishment due to academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarism within the study period stipulated by the University may apply for degree awarding,provided that such punishment has been discharged, no further violation of discipline has occurred, their performance has been improved and they meet one of the following conditions:
(1) After being punished within the schooling length of the major, the student performs well and ranks within the top 60% of the major in the comprehensive evaluation.
(2) Such students have participated in the national A+ competition before graduation and won the national second prize or the provincial first prize or above (those who have participated in the competition in the form of a team shall rank top 5 in team contribution).The specific competition identification shall be subject to the relevant measures of the University on academic competition management;
(3) Such students have been admitted to master’s degree candidates (the admission notice for master's degree candidates or the proposed admission certificate issued by the relevant institution is required);
(4) Publish a high-quality paper related to the subject as the first author, including the paper published in an internationally influential domestic journal or a top international or important journal recognized by the industry. The identification of high-quality dissertations shall be organized and completed by the colleges and approved by the college academic degree evaluation subcommittee and the party-government joint committee. Suchdissertations shall be submitted to the Academic Affairs Office after objection-free publicity.
Article 8 Undergraduate students of adult higher education who apply for a bachelor's degree shall abide by the provisions of Article 5 and shall pass the examination for bachelor's degree courses organized by the university (the exam-free courses shall be handled according to the relevant provisions). There are 3 bachelor's degree courses, including 1 professional course, 1 professional basic course, and 1 foreign language course (or the second foreign language course for foreign language major). Students with a second degree in the self-study exam shall have obtained the bachelor’s degree of full-time undergraduate major.
Chapter III Master’s Degree
Article 9 Qualification review of applicants: anyone applying for a master's degree must meet the following requirements:
(1) Comply with Article 3 of the General Provisions;
(2) Complete the courses specified in the training program, pass the exams, obtain the required credits, and complete the required courses;
(3) Interdisciplinary majors or master's students without a bachelor's degree shall complete the main undergraduate courses of the major they apply for in accordance with the regulations and pass the examinations;
(4) During the study period, the degree course credits obtained through the make-up examination shall not exceed 6 credits;
(5) The academic achievements obtained after enrollment meet the requirements of the training program;
(6) The professional practice of professional degree graduate students meets the requirements of the training program during their studies;
(7) Within the stipulated learning period, the student has not been punished for academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarismor the punishment has been removed;
(8) Pass the review and defense of the dissertation.
Article 10 Degree courses and requirements
(1) Degree courses:
Complete the political theory courses, professional basic and professional courses, foreign language and other degree courses specified in the training program, and gain the required credits. Cultivate a sound political quality; master solid basic theories and systematic and in-depth specialized knowledge; be able to read foreign language materials of the major, and have listening and writing skills to some extent.
(2) Examination requirements of degree courses for postgraduate students receiving academic education:
1. Pass the course examinations;
2. The foreign language level of the degree awarded meets the requirements in the training program.
Article 11 The basic requirements of the master's thesis: The basic arguments, conclusions and suggestions of the master's thesis shall have certain academic value; the content shall reflect that the author has mastered the solid basic theory and expertise of the subject as well as the research methods and skills of this research subject, and has the ability to engage in scientific research or independently undertake specialized technical work; the paper has new insights into the research subject and has achieved some scientific achievements.
The master's degree thesis shall be completed independently by graduate students under the guidance of the tutor, and the content shall be based on the first-hand experimental data or survey data obtained by the student. The master's degree thesis must contain a certain amount of work, and the students generally spend no less than one year in the research and paperwork.
Article 12 Review of master’s thesis
(1) The reviewers of master's thesis shall be 3 experts with a strong sense of responsibility, decent academic style, deep academic attainments, and a certain degree of influence in the research of this field, havingsub-senior professional and technical titles or above of this discipline or related specialty, including at least one off-campus expert. The tutor shall not act as the reviewer.
(2) The thesis reviewers shall be determined by the academic degree evaluation subcommittee of the college. The master's thesis shall be subject to "blind review", which shall be sent to the reviewers by the college. The applicant and the tutor shall not participate in the submission and review of the thesis. The names and comments of the reviewers before the defense shall be kept confidential and the thesis must be transmitted in a sealed manner. It is strictly prohibited for the degree applicant and the tutor to deliver the thesis to the reviewers or ask for comments.
Article 13 The Master's Thesis Defense Committee is composed of 5 or 7 experts with the title of associate professor or equivalent professional titles and above. At least one member of the defense committee shall be off-campus. The chairman of the defense committee shall be an expert with a high professional title. The tutor is not advised to participate in the defense committee.
The thesis defense committee member is nominated by the academic degree subcommittee of the college and reported to the office of the academic degree evaluation committee for record. The defense committee has 1 secretary, who is a teacher with a title of teaching assistant or above and a master's degree. The secretary shall truthfully record the main situation at all stages of the defense meeting in the form of transcripts.
Article 14 The thesis defense shall generally be held in public (except confidential papers). The defense procedure shall be separately stipulated.
The defense committee shall adopt secret ballot to vote on the conclusion of the thesis defense and the proposal for awarding of the master’s degree. The approval shall be confirmed with the consent of more than two-thirds of all the members. The resolution shall, after being signed by the chairman of the defense committee, be submitted to the academic degree evaluation subcommittee of the college for deliberation.
Article 15 In case that the defense of a master’s degree thesis fails, with the approval of more than half of the members of the defense committee and a resolution, the thesis may be revised within one year and a new defense application can be made. At the time of re-defense, more than half of the members of the defense committee shall be original members (except where the composition of the original members does not conform to the statutory provisions). Those who fail to pass the defense again or fail to apply for the defense within the time limit shall not apply for the defense again.
Chapter IV Doctoral Degree
Article 16 Qualification review of applicants: anyone applying for a doctoral degree must meet the following requirements:
(1) Comply with Article 3 of the General Provisions;
(2) Complete the courses specified in the training program, pass the exams, obtain the required credits, complete the required courses, and pass the comprehensive level examination of the subject;
(3) If the applicant is a doctoral student of interdisciplinary major or with the same educational level, he/she shall complete the master's degree courses of the major he/she applies for according to the regulations and pass the examinations;
(4) After admission, the academic achievements obtained meet the requirements of relevant regulations;
(5) Within the stipulated learning period, the student has not been punished for academic misconduct such as cheating and plagiarismor the punishment has been removed;
(6) Pass the review and defense of the thesis.
Article 17 Degree courses and requirements
(1) Doctoral degree programs:
Complete the political theory courses, professional basic and professional courses, foreign language and other degree courses specified in the training program, and gain the required credits. Cultivate a sound political quality; master solid basic theories and systematic and in-depth specialized knowledge; be able to read foreign language materials of the major, and have good listening and writing skills.
(2) Examination requirements: 1. Pass the course examinations;
2. Pass the comprehensive level examination of the subject;
3. The foreign language level of the degree awarded meets the requirements in the training program.
Article 18 Basic requirements for a doctoral dissertation: A doctoral dissertation shall be complete, systematic, and high-level; the basic arguments, conclusions, and suggestions shall have greater theoretical significance and practical value; the content shall reflect that the author has mastered the solid and broad basic theories and systematic in-depth expertise of the subject, mastered the research methods and skills of this research topic, and has the ability to engage in independent scientific research; for the topic finished in cooperation with others, only the own part can be included into the dissertation; the dissertation shows creative opinion to the research topic, and obtains the original scientific research achievement.
The dissertation shall be completed independently by the doctoral student under the guidance of the tutor. The dissertation must contain a certain amount of work, and the students generally spend no less than 2 years in the research and paperwork.
Article 19 Review of doctoral dissertation
(1) The reviewers of doctoral dissertations shall be determined by the Office of Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University. They shall be experts with strong sense of responsibility, rigorous scholarship, decent academic style, profound academic attainment in relevant discipline and achievements in scientific research in recent years. Generally, they shall be composed of no less than 3 off-campus doctoral tutors of the relevant discipline and specialty. The tutor (including steering group member) shall not act as a reviewer.
(2) The dissertation shall be subject to "blind review", which shall be sent to the reviewers by the Office of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University. The applicant and the tutor shall not participate in the submission and review of the dissertation. The names and comments of the reviewers before the defense shall be kept confidential and the thesis must be transmitted in a sealed manner. It is strictly prohibited for the degree applicant and the tutor to deliver the dissertation to the reviewers and ask for comments.
Article 20 Doctoral Dissertation Defense Committee
The Doctoral Dissertation Defense Committee is composed of 5 or 7 professors or experts with equivalent professional titles and above, who have deep academic attainments and great academic influence in the field or related disciplines, of which the doctoral tutors shall account for two thirds and above, and there shall be at least one off-campus expert who shall be a doctoral tutor. The chairman of the defense committee shall generally be a professor or an expert with equivalent professional title. Either the tutor or steering group member can be involved in the defense committee, but cannot act as the chairman of the defense committee. The tutor is not advised to participate in the defense committee.
The Doctoral Dissertation Defense Committee shall be organized based on the discipline and specialty. The defense committee has 1 secretary, who is usually a lecturer or a teacher with a professional and technical title or above (the lecturer shall have obtained a doctorate degree). The secretary shall truthfully record the main situation at all stages of the defense meeting in the form of transcripts.
Article 21 The defense of doctoral dissertations shall generally be held in public (except for confidential dissertations). The defense procedure shall be separately stipulated.
The defense committee shall adopt secret ballot to vote on the conclusion of the dissertation defense and the proposal for awarding of the doctoral degree. The approval shall be confirmed with the consent of more than two-thirds of all the members. The resolution shall, after being signed by the chairman of the defense committee, be submitted to the academic degree evaluation sub-committee of the college for deliberation.
Article 22 In case the dissertation of an applicant for a doctorate degree has reached the academic level of a master's degree rather than a doctorate degree, the defense committee may make a resolution recommending the award of a master's degree, provided that the applicant has not yet obtained a master's degree in the subject,.
Article 23 In case that the defense of doctoral dissertation fails, with the approval of more than half of the members of the defense committee and a resolution, the dissertation may be revised within two years and a new defense application can be made. At the time of re-defense, more than half of the members of the defense committee shall be original members (except where the composition of the original members does not conform to the statutory provisions). Those who fail to pass the defense again or fail to apply for the defense within the time limit shall not apply for the defense again.
Chapter V Degree Award
Article 24 The degree evaluation sub-committee of the college shall convene a committee meeting to conduct a comprehensive review of the political and ideological performance of the undergraduates who apply for a bachelor’s degree and those who are recommended by the defense committee to be granted a master’s degree or doctor’s degree, deliberate whether the requirements for the degree they are applying for are met, and finally make a decision on whether to recommend the award of the corresponding degree.
If the applicant who has passed the defense is deemed unqualified after the review by the academic degree evaluation sub-committee of the college, the academic degree evaluation sub-committee may make a resolution on postponing the award of the degree or opposing the award. The resolution and the applicant’s application materials shall be submitted to the Office of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University for examination and approval, and shall be submitted to the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University for deliberation.
Article 25 The Office of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University shall review the materials and qualifications of applicants recommended by the college subcommittee for granting or not granting corresponding degrees, and then submit them to the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University for approval.
Article 26 The Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University shall convene a committee meeting to review the resolutions of the college evaluation subcommittee on granting corresponding degrees one by one, and make a decision on whether to grant the corresponding degrees. The applicant who has doubts about the resolution of an individual defense committee and sub-committee shall be subject to review by the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University, which shall make a decision on whether to grant the degree or revise the dissertation and re-defend the dissertation. The evaluation result of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University shall be conclusive.
Article 27 When the college degree evaluation subcommittee makes a decision on whether to recommend the award of a degree and the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University makes a decision on whether to award a degree, a meeting must be held and a secret ballot shall be used to vote. The number of people attending the meeting shall account for two-thirds of all the members. The resolution shall be passed when the votes of more than half of the members are affirmative, and the meeting shall be recorded in writing.
Article 28 The Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University generally convenes in March, June, August and late December every year to deliberate on matters such as degree awarding. Under special circumstances, with the consent of the chairman’s meeting, the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee may be convened or the relevant matters may be deliberated by means of communication evaluation.
Article 29 After being examined and approved by the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University, the committee shall make the resolution of awarding academic degrees and issue corresponding academic degree certificates. The list of doctoral degree recipients shall be published by the University. A doctor’s degree certificate may only be awarded if there is no objection 3 months after the announcement.
Article 30 If the applicant is unsatisfied with the decision of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University on not granting the academic degree, he/she may apply for reconsideration in written form to the Office of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University within 30 working days from the date of issuing the decision.
Article 31 For the degree awarded, if the dissertation is found to be false, the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University will deal with the case in accordance with the Measures for the Handling of Acts to Falsify Dissertations (No. 34Order of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China). For the degree awarded, in case of any serious violation of these enforcement regulations, such as fraud, the corresponding degree will be revoked upon the approval of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University.
Chapter VI Other
Article 32 International students and foreign scholars engaged in research in the University shall refer to the relevant provisions herein when applying for a degree from the University.
Article 33 Doctoral candidates who fail to formally publish academic papers before applying for the doctoral degree may apply for defense and be granted graduation. Those who have published qualified dissertation within 4 years after graduation can apply for a doctorate degree.
Article 34 The award of an honorary doctorate shall be discussed and approved by the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University and then be submitted to the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council for approval.
Article 35 These enforcement regulations are subject to the interpretation by the Office of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of the University and shall take effect from the date of issuance.