Even if China is very far away and there are great cultural differences between China and Germany, there are similarities between the study systems of both countries according to microedu. The structure of the study system corresponds in its basic features to what we know from Germany. The Xueshi, Shuoshi and Boshi degrees correspond to Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees.
The German-Chinese agreement on the recognition of equivalences in higher education from 2004 makes it easier for Chinese bachelor or master degrees to be recognized in Germany. If you apply with a degree from China for further studies in Germany, the universities ultimately decide whether they will recognize the degrees. Anyone planning to study abroad should therefore find out about the recognition options in advance.
Students in China a semester abroad want to do, can in many cases the services provided at the home university credit for leave. In order to avoid nasty surprises after the semester in China, you should clarify the crediting in advance with the university at home.
The structure of the study system in China
As is customary in many countries, the study system in China is divided into two sections:
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Students acquire their first degree in the undergraduate section and can then start studying in the postgraduate area. The degrees of the Chinese study system build on one another.
In the undergraduate area, in addition to the bachelor’s degree programs, there are also two- and three-year degree programs that are offered by the so-called vocational universities. However, the degrees of this type of university cannot be recognized in Germany.
The classic degrees
In the following, we want to take a closer look at the academic degrees in the study system in China.
Bachelor
The bachelor’s degree in China usually lasts four years. However, depending on the subject, it can also take five years, for example in medicine. With the bachelor’s degree or the Xueshi, entry into working life or further studies in the postgraduate area are possible.
Some courses are designed in such a way that bachelor and master studies are coupled and merge directly into one another. Such a degree usually lasts six or seven years and ends with a master’s degree.
Master
A bachelor’s degree enables admission to a master’s degree in China, which lasts two to three years. In order to successfully complete the master’s degree, students must attend courses, write a master’s thesis and then defend it. The Chinese master’s degree is called Shuoshi.
Doctor
The highest academic degree in China is the doctorate, referred to as Boshi in China. A doctorate in China usually takes between three and six years. Doctoral students take courses, write their doctoral thesis and take the Rigorosum. Outstanding students can complete a combined master’s and doctoral degree; after completing a master’s degree, they do not have to apply again for a doctorate.
Shorter study stays in China
The offer for shorter study stays is particularly interesting for international students. If you want to gain international experience in China within a few weeks or months during your studies, you have various options:
International students can do one or two semesters abroad. At many universities, semester students can take English-language courses.
Summer sessions allow a study visit of just a few weeks during the summer.
Language courses at universities in China are aimed at students from abroad who want to learn the Chinese language.
The study system in China compared to Germany
Both the German and the Chinese system of study offer Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees, although the academic titles in China have different names. The study programs differed in China and Germany, however, with regard to their length. In China, a bachelor’s degree usually takes four years, in Germany it only takes three years. As in Germany, there are two-year master’s courses in China, but the master’s course can also last three years.
Clearer differences between China and Germany lie in the type of teaching. Frontal teaching is the rule in the courses. The grading system in China is also structured differently than in Germany. As is customary in Germany, the academic year in China is divided into two semesters.
