China Pilots Engineering PhD Program Allowing Graduation with Real-World Products Instead of Traditional Research Papers

Revolutionizing Doctoral Education in Engineering

China's higher education landscape is undergoing a transformative shift with the introduction of a pilot program for engineering PhDs, allowing graduates to earn their degrees through the development of real-world products rather than solely relying on traditional research dissertations. This reform, deeply rooted in the nation's drive for technological self-reliance, marks a pivotal moment in aligning academic training with industrial demands.8182

The initiative challenges the conventional 'publish or perish' model, emphasizing practical innovation amid global tech competitions. By fostering engineers capable of solving 'bottleneck' problems in fields like semiconductors and quantum computing, China aims to bridge the gap between theory and application.

Historical Evolution of the Reform

The seeds of this change were sown in the National Excellent Engineer Training Plan launched in 2010, which sought to cultivate industry-ready talent. Momentum built after the 2021 Central Talent Work Conference, leading to a 2022 joint pilot by nine government departments, including the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Central Organization Department. This program targeted 18 strategic sectors such as integrated circuits (ICs), artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced manufacturing.83

The landmark 2024 Degree Law formalized the option for PhDs to apply via 'practice results defense,' complemented by October 2024's 'Basic Requirements for Engineering Doctoral Professional Degree Dissertations and Application for Degree Practice Results.' These policies explicitly permit products, designs, patents, or engineering solutions as equivalents to theses, provided they demonstrate innovation, applicability, and problem-solving prowess.29

🚀 Pioneering Universities and Enrollment Scale

Over 60 universities and 100+ enterprises participate, with nearly 26,000 students enrolled in joint school-enterprise programs over three years. Key institutions include Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), Tsinghua University, Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), Chongqing University, and Xi'an Jiaotong University. These 'Seven Sons of National Defence' and top polytechnics lead, establishing 50 excellence engineer colleges and four national innovation institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, and the Greater Bay Area.8083

Training features 'four commons'—joint recruitment, cultivation, topic selection, and result sharing—and 'four connections' between academia and industry. Students spend at least one year (masters) or two years (PhDs) in enterprises, tackling frontline challenges under dual mentors (academic and industry chief engineers).82

Trailblazing Graduates and Their Innovations

Wei Lianfeng at HIT became the first in September 2025, graduating with vacuum laser welding processes and equipment for nuclear applications. From a technician at China National Nuclear Corporation, his decade-long factory experience culminated in reliable welds for high-stakes environments.8159

Tsinghua's Nie Hailiang (2019 environmental engineering) developed a 'one furnace, three phases' recycling process for electric furnace dust ash, including equipment for heavy metal separation from steel slag—addressing environmental pollution and resource recovery.8379

Other notables: NPU's Huang Lingcai with the AG600 seaplane fire-fighting system; Chongqing U's Yuan Xiaohu on high-temperature turbine valve coatings; and Zheng Hehui's reinforced steel for Yangtze River bridges. To date, 60+ graduates (59 masters, 3 PhDs) have succeeded via practice results, yielding 2500+ innovations and 800+ intellectual properties (IPs).80

• Practical focus: Products must show engineering novelty, feasibility, and industrial value.
• Expert validation: Rigorous defenses with enterprise panels.
• Real impact: Many deployed in production, e.g., steel recycling tech promoted nationwide.

The Rigorous Evaluation Framework

Practice results must embody engineering, innovation, practicality, applicability, and displayability. They include prototypes, techniques, installations, or major projects. Evaluation prioritizes problem-solving over publication counts, 'breaking the five onlies' (唯论文, etc.). Enterprise experts comprise defense committees, assessing via site visits, demos, and oral exams.MOE Guidelines (2024)29

Step-by-step process:

1. Topic selection from 10,000+ enterprise problems.
2. Dual-mentored R&D with enterprise immersion.
3. Interim reviews and IP applications.
4. Final defense: Product demo + impact report.
5. Degree award if criteria met (e.g., patents, standards, economic value).

Benefits Driving Industry-Academia Synergy

Graduates boast 81% placement in key firms, seamless title progression (e.g., engineer certifications), and rapid contributions. Enterprises gain tailored solutions; universities access real data for teaching. Over 200 co-developed courses, 13,000 mentors, and 300 technical centers amplify this.83

• Combats paper mills/plagiarism: Focus on verifiable outputs.
• Boosts self-reliance: Tackles US sanctions in chips, aviation.
• IP surge: 100+ patents at Tsinghua alone.
• Career acceleration: Graduates like Wei Lianfeng advance as product planners.

For aspiring researchers, explore research jobs in China's booming sector or higher ed jobs at pilot unis.

Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

Critics note evaluation subjectivity, industry mentor quality variability, and scalability limits (tiny vs. 97,000 annual PhDs). Risks include short-termism over foundational science. Responses: Standardized criteria, training for evaluators, hybrid models (thesis optional), and pilots confined to applied engineering.82

Full-cycle tracking, ideological education, and 'ten one' enterprise standards ensure quality. Regional adaptations (e.g., Zhejiang title linkage) address variances.SCMP Analysis

🔬 Implications for Research Publications

As 'Research Publication News' highlights, this reform disrupts publication-centric metrics. It targets 'zombie science' and 'paper generals,' reducing incentives for low-quality outputs amid paper mill scandals. Instead, value shifts to patents (China leads globally), standards, and deployed tech—elevating applied research quality.

While paper volume may dip, impact rises: Graduates produce deployable innovations, informing high-citation applied pubs. Ties to broader reforms like research misconduct crackdowns. For careers, see academic CV tips.

Global Comparisons and Lessons

Similar to US professional doctorates (e.g., EngD) or Europe's practice-based PhDs, but China's scale and enterprise integration are unique. UK/Australia emphasize industry placements; US focuses on projects. China exports standards via overseas colleges.83

Prospective students: Check scholarships for China programs or China academic jobs.

Photo by WANG Tianfang on Unsplash

Future Outlook and Expansions

Plans include AI-integrated education, undergraduate linkages, 3-5 certification pilots, and low-altitude economy majors. Predict demand-driven discipline tweaks (20% optimized since 2023). By 2030, expect thousands more 'practical PhDs,' fueling new industrialization.MOE Press Conference

Stakeholders anticipate triple-win: Talent, industry, nation. Rate professors at Rate My Professor or seek advice via higher ed career advice.