Doctoral thesis defence in China: reviewers, committee and what happens if you fail
A doctoral degree in China is examined through steps set by the Degree Law of the PRC: expert review of the dissertation before the defence, a defence before a committee, and a resolution by the degree evaluation committee. The conditions a doctoral candidate must meet are in Article 21 of that Law.
The Degree Law of the PRC was adopted on 26 April 2024 and came into force on 1 January 2025. The English on this page is this site's translation of that Law, whose official text is in Chinese.
Conditions for the doctoral degree
Article 21 of the Degree Law sets the conditions for granting a doctoral degree. A person is granted a doctoral degree when all of the following are met: - the person has received doctoral education; - the person has passed the required course assessments or earned the corresponding credits; - the person has completed academic research training or professional practice training; - the person has passed the dissertation defence or the required practice-outcome defence; and - the person shows the level described in items (1) to (3) below.
The required level is (Degree Law, Article 21): (1) a solid and comprehensive grasp of the basic theories and systematic, in-depth specialized knowledge in the discipline or professional field; (2) an academic-degree applicant shall have the ability to independently conduct academic research, and a professional-degree applicant shall have the ability to independently undertake professional practice; (3) an academic-degree applicant shall have produced innovative results in the academic research field, and a professional-degree applicant shall have produced innovative results in the professional practice field.
Expert review before the defence
Article 25 of the Degree Law applies to applicants for both master's and doctoral degrees. The degree-awarding institution shall, before organizing the defence, send the applicant's dissertation or practice outcome to expert review.
Upon expert review, where the applicant meets the requirements set by the degree-awarding institution, the applicant enters the defence procedure.
The defence committee
Article 26 of the Degree Law sets how the committees are organized and their composition.
The degree-awarding institution shall organize master's and doctoral defence committees by discipline and specialty.
The master's degree defence committee shall have at least three members (Degree Law, Article 26).
The doctoral degree defence committee shall have at least five members, of whom experts from outside the degree-awarding institution shall be at least two (Degree Law, Article 26).
The dissertation or practice outcome shall be sent to the committee members for review before the defence. Committee members shall perform their duties independently and responsibly.
The committee shall organize the defence according to the prescribed procedure. It shall form a resolution on whether the applicant passes the defence and announce it on the spot. The defence is decided by vote, passed by two-thirds or more of all members. Except where the content involves state secrets, the defence shall be held in public.
What happens if the defence fails
Article 27 of the Degree Law covers a defence that is not passed.
Where the defence is not passed, with the defence committee's consent, the applicant may revise within the prescribed period. The applicant may then re-apply for defence.
Article 27 also sets a separate rule for doctoral candidates. Where the doctoral defence committee finds that the applicant, though not reaching doctoral level, has reached master's level, and the applicant has not previously been granted the master's degree of that institution's discipline or specialty, then, with the applicant's consent, the committee may make a resolution recommending the granting of a master's degree. That resolution is submitted to the degree evaluation committee for review and decision.
The degree evaluation committee's resolution
Article 28 of the Degree Law states the final step. The degree evaluation committee shall, on the basis of the defence committee's resolution and a review of the degree application, make a resolution on whether to grant the master's or doctoral degree.
Questions people ask
Is the doctoral defence committee required to include outside experts?
Yes. The doctoral degree defence committee shall have at least five members, of whom experts from outside the degree-awarding institution shall be at least two (Degree Law, Article 26).
Can a failed doctoral defence be repeated?
Yes. Where the defence is not passed, with the defence committee's consent, the applicant may revise within the prescribed period and re-apply for defence (Degree Law, Article 27).
If a doctoral candidate fails but is at master's level, is a master's degree awarded automatically?
No. The committee may make a resolution recommending a master's degree only when the conditions in Article 27 are met: the committee finds the applicant has reached master's level but not doctoral level, the applicant has not previously been granted that institution's master's degree in the discipline or specialty, and the applicant consents. The resolution is then submitted to the degree evaluation committee for review and decision (Degree Law, Article 27).
Sources
- Degree Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国学位法) — Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn), text sourced from the National People's Congress website
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, and is not legal advice. If it differs from the official text or the current notice of the university or authority handling your case, the official text and that notice prevail.