Note: These Regulations are written in both Chinese and English. The Chinese translation will take precedence if there is any discrepancy or disagreement. The English version is for reference only.

(Originally adopted in January 2016, revised at the 22nd HIT Presidential Executive Council meeting in 2024 on December 23, 2024, and issued on December 26th, 2024)

Chapter I  General Provisions

Article 1  These Measures are established to regulate the degree conferral process, protect the legitimate rights and interests of degree candidates, uphold the quality and integrity of degrees, and contribute to the cultivation of a new generation capable of advancing national rejuvenation. They are formulated in accordance with the “Academic Degree Law of the People’s Republic of China” (《中华人民共和国学位法》) and relevant guidelines from the State Council Academic Degrees Committee, taking into account the specific context and needs of HIT.

Article 2  The university's degree conferral processes are guided by the leadership of the Communist Party of China, national education policies, and core socialist values. These processes prioritize the cultivation of both virtue and talent, adhere to educational laws, and uphold fairness, justice, and transparency. The university maintains a balance between academic freedom and standards, fosters innovation, and is dedicated to continuously improving the quality of independent talent development.

Article 3  Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Harbin Institute of Technology, as well as individuals holding qualifications equivalent to a graduate degree, are eligible to apply for the corresponding degree, provided they meet the relevant academic, scholarly, or professional criteria outlined in this document.

Article 4  The university confers degrees in three categories: bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, including both academic and professional distinctions. These degrees are awarded based on specific disciplines, professional classifications, and other relevant criteria.

Chapter II Conditions for Degree Conferral

Article 5  Degree candidates must uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, support the socialist system, abide by the Constitution and laws of the People’s Republic of China, adhere to academic ethics and standards, and comply with the relevant rules and regulations of HIT.

1Article 6  For undergraduate degree candidates, they must successfully complete all required course assessments, earn the necessary credits, and pass the evaluations for their thesis or graduation project. To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree, candidates must demonstrate:

(I) A good understanding of foundational theories, specialized knowledge, and essential skills in their field of study.

(II) The ability to conduct basic academic research or participate in professional practice.

Article 7  For master's degree candidates, they must pass all required course assessments, earn the necessary credits, complete academic research training or professional practice, and successfully defend their thesis/dissertation or practical work. To be eligible for a master's degree, candidates must demonstrate:

(I) A solid understanding of foundational theories and systematic, specialized knowledge in their field of study.

(II) Academic degree candidates should possess the ability to engage in academic research, while professional degree candidates should demonstrate the ability to participate in professional practice.

Article 8  For doctoral degree candidates, they must pass all required course assessments, earn the necessary credits, complete academic research training or professional practice, and successfully defend their thesis/dissertation or practical work. To be eligible for a doctoral degree, candidates must demonstrate:

(I) A comprehensive understanding of foundational theories and systematic, in-depth knowledge in their field of study.

(II) Academic degree candidates must show the ability to conduct independent academic research, while professional degree candidates must demonstrate the ability to engage independently in professional practice.

(III) Academic degree candidates should have made original contributions to academic research, while professional degree candidates should have demonstrated innovative contributions in their respective fields of practice.

Chapter III Bachelor’s Degree Conferral Process

Article 9  Candidates who have fulfilled the criteria specified in Article 6 may submit their application materials in accordance with the university’s guidelines to apply for a bachelor’s degree.

Article 10  For the bachelor’s degree application, the graduation thesis or project, along with other relevant materials, must undergo a review by the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee and receive approval from the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee.

Article 11  The Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the graduation thesis, project, and other relevant materials, and for making a recommendation regarding the conferral of the degree. This recommendation will then be submitted to the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee for approval.

Article 12  The HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee will determine whether to award the bachelor’s degree based on the subcommittee’s resolution and a review of the degree application materials.

Chapter IV Master’s Degree Conferral Process

Article 13  Candidates who fulfill the criteria specified in Article 7 may submit their application materials in accordance with the university’s guidelines to apply for a master’s degree.

Article 14 To apply for a master’s degree, the candidate's thesis or practical work must undergo the following steps: preliminary review, expert evaluation, defense, review by the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee, and approval by the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee.

Article 15 The Preliminary Review Panel is responsible for evaluating whether the thesis or practical work meets the requirements of the relevant discipline or major. Once the preliminary review is successfully completed, the materials will be forwarded for expert evaluation.

Article 16  The expert evaluation assesses whether the thesis or practical work meets the academic or professional standards set by the university. Upon successful completion of the expert evaluation, the application will proceed to the defense stage.

Article 17  The Defense Committee is responsible for evaluating the thesis or practical work, organizing the defense, and voting on whether to recommend awarding the master's degree. The committee’s resolution will be submitted to the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee for further review.

If the defense is unsuccessful, the candidate may, with the approval of the Defense Committee, revise the thesis or practical work within one year. Within the maximum allowed duration for degree completion, the candidate may apply for another defense.

Article 18  The Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the graduation thesis, practical work, resolution of the Defense Committee, and other relevant materials, and for making a recommendation regarding the conferral of the degree. This recommendation will then be submitted to the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee for approval.

Article 19 The HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee will decide whether to award the master’s degree based on the resolutions from the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee and the Defense Committee, along with a review of the degree application materials.

Chapter V Doctoral Degree Conferral Process

Article 20  Candidates who have fulfilled the criteria specified in Article 8 may submit their application materials in accordance with the university’s guidelines to apply for a doctoral degree.

Article 21  To apply for a doctoral degree, the candidate's dissertation or practical work must undergo the following steps: pre-defense, expert evaluation, defense, review by the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee, and approval by the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee.

Article 22  The Pre-defense Committee is responsible for reviewing the dissertation or practical work, organizing the pre-defense, and voting on whether the work meets the required standards to pass. If successful, the work will proceed to expert evaluation.

Article 23   The expert evaluation assesses whether the dissertation or practical work meets the academic or professional standards set by the university. Upon successful completion of the expert evaluation, the application will proceed to the defense stage.

Article 24  The Defense Committee is responsible for evaluating the dissertation or practical work, organizing the defense, and voting on whether to recommend awarding the doctoral degree. The committee’s resolution will be submitted to the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee for further review.

If the defense is unsuccessful, the candidate may, with the approval of the Defense Committee, revise the thesis or practical work within two years. Within the maximum allowed duration for degree completion, the candidate may apply for another defense.

If the defense committee determines that the candidate's dissertation or practical work does not fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree but meets the standard of a master's degree, and the candidate has not yet earned a master's degree in the relevant discipline or major from our university, they may, with the candidate's consent, recommend awarding a master's degree. This recommendation will then be submitted to Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee for review.

Article 25  The Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing the dissertation, practical work, resolution of the Defense Committee, and other relevant materials, and for making a recommendation regarding the conferral of the degree. This recommendation will then be submitted to the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee for approval.

Article 26   The HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee will decide whether to award the doctoral degree based on the resolutions from the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee and the Defense Committee, along with a review of the degree application materials.

Chapter VI  Voting, Resolutions, and Certificate Issuance

Article 27  A meeting of the Defense Committee is valid only when all members are present. Meetings of the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee and the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee are valid when at least two-thirds of the members are in attendance.

Article 28  The Defense Committee, Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee, and HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee shall vote anonymously to decide on the conferral of the degree and make a corresponding resolution.  A resolution of the Defense Committee requires approval from more than two-thirds of the total members. Resolutions of the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee and HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee are valid when passed by a majority of the members present at the meeting.

Article 29  Based on the resolution of the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee, the university will publicly announce the list of individuals recommended for degree conferral and issue the degree certificates.

Chapter VII  Degree Quality Assurance

Article 30  Information regarding the candidate’s defense and degree conferral must be made publicly available to ensure transparency.

Article 31  The HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee may, through resolution, decide not to award a degree or to revoke a degree already conferred in the following circumstances:

(I) The thesis, dissertation, or practical work of the degree candidate is found to involve academic misconduct, including but not limited to ghostwriting, plagiarism, falsification, or other unethical practices.

(II) The candidate has fraudulently used someone else's identity, substituted another individual to obtain admission qualifications, or has obtained admission qualifications or graduation certificates through illegal means.

(III) The candidate has been involved in serious illegal activities during their studies, which disqualify them from being awarded the degree.

Article 32  If the HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee or the Academic Degree Evaluation Subcommittee intends to deny the conferral of a degree or revoke an already conferred degree, the degree candidate or holder must be notified in writing. The notification must clearly explain the facts, reasons, and legal grounds for the proposed decision. The candidate will have an opportunity to present their defense or challenge the decision before a final decision is made.

Article 30  If a degree candidate disagrees with the academic evaluation results provided by the relevant academic bodies or personnel during expert evaluation, defense, or work assessment, they may request an academic reassessment. The reassessment results must be provided within thirty days and will be final.

If the degree candidate or holder disagrees with the denial of their degree application, the refusal to confer their degree, or the revocation of their degree, they may apply for a degree reassessment. The reassessment result must be issued within thirty days.

Chapter VIII  Supplementary Provisions

Article 34  The Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of Harbin Institute of Technology is responsible for interpreting these Measures.

Article 35  These Measures shall be effective as of January 1, 2025. The previous “Measures for Degree Conferral at Harbin Institute of Technology” (No. 5 [2016], HIT Academic Degree Evaluation Committee) are hereby rendered invalid.