Understanding the PhD + Master's Dual Degree Pilot Initiative

In a significant move to foster interdisciplinary talent in China's higher education landscape, the State Council Academic Degrees Committee introduced the 'Pilot Management Measures for "PhD + Master's" Dual Degree Projects' in December 2025. This policy enables select top universities to offer programs where doctoral students can concurrently pursue a master's degree in a complementary discipline without extending their overall study timeline. The initiative targets elite PhD candidates, emphasizing cross-disciplinary skills crucial for addressing complex challenges in technology, industry, and innovation.

The program responds to China's rapidly expanding graduate education system, with over 676,300 PhD students enrolled and 97,200 graduates in 2024 alone, according to Ministry of Education data. Traditional single-discipline training often falls short in equipping researchers for real-world applications requiring integrated knowledge, such as AI-enhanced engineering or materials science fused with intelligent systems.

Policy Framework and Key Requirements

The measures outline a structured process for pilot universities, selected from the 38 institutions with independent doctoral degree authorization based on their disciplinary strengths and interdisciplinary platforms. Universities must develop project schemes, secure expert reviews (at least seven experts, half external), publicize plans for 15 days, and gain internal approval before filing on a national platform. Projects run in five-year cycles with mandatory midterm and end-term evaluations.

• Student Selection: Secondary recruitment from current PhD students, assessing master's aptitude, consulting PhD supervisors, and publicizing results.
• Curriculum: Multidisciplinary core courses meeting both degrees' standards, with master's research supporting PhD work.
• Degree Conferral: Separate theses or practical outcomes; master's awarded only after or with PhD.
• Exit Mechanisms: Students failing master's can revert to PhD-only; quality issues trigger university rectification or project termination.

This rigorous setup ensures quality while promoting innovation, aligning with national goals like the Education Powerhouse Construction Plan (2024-2035).

First Universities to Launch: HIT, BIT, and NWPU

Leading the charge in early 2026, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), and Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU)—all 'Double First-Class' powerhouses in engineering—aannounced their pilots in March. These institutions, renowned for aerospace, materials, and defense technologies, are pairing PhD programs with AI-focused master's to bridge theoretical research and practical applications.

BIT's公示 on March 19 highlighted 11 PhD majors eligible for AI master's, aiming for substantial annual cohorts to rapidly build interdisciplinary capacity.

Pioneers Beyond the Headline Trio: Fudan and Others

Fudan University leads with the nation's first enrolled cohort in its 'Journalism and Communication - Intelligent International Communication' PhD-Master's dual degree, launched in 2025 across 10 disciplines. This humanities-AI fusion empowers research like algorithm-driven global media analysis. Nanjing University emphasizes computer science and AI pairings, with plans for chemistry-electronics or math-biology. Shandong University enrolled 10 in its pilot, while Beijing Jiaotong University also prioritizes AI master's.China Daily reports on Shandong's interdisciplinary center.

These early adopters demonstrate the policy's flexibility, spanning STEM and even humanities, tailored to institutional strengths.

Eligibility, Application, and Student Experiences

Candidates are typically in-program PhD students with strong potential in the secondary master's field. Applications involve supervisor endorsement, aptitude assessments, and公示. For instance, at Shandong University, rock mechanics PhD student Fan Xuhan paired with materials engineering master's to tackle anti-corrosion challenges; clinical medicine PhD Chang Mengyuan integrated AI for lymphoma diagnostics.

1. Confirm eligibility via university pilot schemes.
2. Submit application with PhD progress proof.
3. Undergo selection interview and公示.
4. Enroll concurrently, aligning research.

Students note intensified workloads but enhanced innovation, without time extensions.

Strategic Focus on AI and Emerging Tech

AI dominates master's choices, reflecting China's push for tech self-reliance. BIT, NWPU, and Beijing Jiaotong explicitly pair engineering PhDs with AI professional master's. Fudan's model extends to 'academic PhD + professional AI master's' in news and literature. Experts like Prof. Han Bo at Shandong stress breaking silos for problems like zero-magnetic medicine needing engineering-medicine synergy.

This aligns with national priorities: over 3.4万高校专利转让 in 2024, underscoring application needs.

Implications for China's Higher Education and Innovation

The pilot redefines graduate training, producing versatile experts for industries like aerospace (HIT/NWPU strengths) and intelligent systems (BIT). It supports 'Double First-Class' goals, enhancing global competitiveness amid 12.7 million 2026 graduates.Official measures ensure quality via evaluations.

Stakeholders praise expanded employability; Chen Zhiwen notes STEM focus initially, but potential for broader fields.

Challenges, Supervision, and Future Prospects

Challenges include workload balance and quality assurance; measures mandate distinct outputs and monitoring, with revocation risks for lapses. Fan Xiudi advocates personalized plans and strict selection.

• Dynamic monitoring by Degree Committee.
• Resource allocation for cross-department coordination.
• Expansion post-pilot success.

Looking ahead, successful cycles could scale nationally, fueling 'Viksit Bharat'-like innovation by 2035, positioning China as interdisciplinary talent leader.

Photo by Say Wah Lee on Unsplash

Actionable Insights for Aspiring Scholars

PhD students at pilot universities should monitor announcements, align research needs, and prepare for rigorous selection. This dual path offers competitive edges in academia and industry, especially AI-integrated roles. Track BIT Graduate School for updates.

Explore opportunities via AcademicJobs.com for related positions.