This graduation season, a cohort of Chinese university students is submitting real-world projects — ranging from fertilizers developed to increase crop yields, to original novels — in lieu of traditional theses.

At least 59 of the country’s top-tier universities have revised their degree requirements to allow master’s and doctoral students to submit “practical achievements” and “creative works” instead of a thesis, according to a report published Tuesday by Shanghai-based media outlet The Paper. So far, 25 universities have already granted degrees to students who submitted such projects.

The traditional thesis-centric degree evaluation system has been debated in China for years. Critics argue that an emphasis on theses can lead students to prioritize theory over practice and overlook real-world applications and social needs.

As early as 2021, certain Chinese universities had begun allowing master’s students to submit such projects in lieu of a thesis. But the recent trend of revising degree requirements dates back to Jan. 1, 2025, when China’s Degree Law took effect, legally adding new options for applicants to obtain master’s or doctoral degrees beyond submitting a thesis.

The majority of substitute projects approved over formal written theses come from science departments, including engineering, biology and medicine, and environmental studies. Students must apply to graduate under the new scheme and are still required to submit a project proposal, complete a mid-term review, and defend their work.

In May, Nanjing University in eastern Jiangsu province approved the graduation of Wang Haoran, an engineering doctoral candidate who had worked on major water conservancy projects, including the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the world’s largest water transfer scheme.

In the same month, East China Normal University in Shanghai awarded degrees to 36 humanities graduate students, each for an original novel of more than 30,000 words.

In June, five graduate students at China Agricultural University in Beijing also obtained master’s degrees for projects including the production of a wheat fertilizer that effectively increases crop yields and a model for fresh corn production.

Last year — immediately after the Degree Law took effect — 67 engineering master’s and doctoral students graduated by completing real-world projects instead of writing theses, according to Luan Zongtao, deputy director of the Department of Degree Management and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Education. Data for this year’s graduation cycle has not yet been released.

Zhang Xuping, the Nanjing University professor who supervised Wang, said she had long awaited the change. The old thesis-centered model, she said, often sidelined the goal of training engineering students to solve real industry problems.

Rejecting concerns that the new track lowers graduation standards, she said: “The process looks similar, but the assessment approach has completely changed... it is even more demanding now.”

Under the new system, proposal defenses must include experts from enterprises, not just university professors or research institute scholars. Before the final defense, candidates must also commission a third-party evaluation of their technological achievements.

At Nanjing University, Zhang said, at least one-third of the defense committee must come from industry and hold the title of professor-level senior engineer.

Calling the shift “extremely useful,” she said it helps close the gap between research produced in labs and the needs of companies. “Every engineering Ph.D and master’s student must go to enterprises to help solve real problems,” she underscored.

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: VCG)