高等学历教育应当符合下列学业标准：

　　（一）专科教育应当使学生掌握本专业必备的基础理论、专门知识，具有从事本专业实际工作的基本技能和初步能力；

　　（二）本科教育应当使学生比较系统地掌握本学科、专业必需的基础理论、基本知识，掌握本专业必要的基本技能、方法和相关知识，具有从事本专业实际工作和研究工作的初步能力；

The following academic levels shall be attained through higher education for academic qualifications:

(1) Special course education shall enable students to grasp the basic theories and special knowledge, which the course must offer and to acquire the basic skills and the preliminary ability of practical work in the fields of their specialized subjects.

(2) Regular course education shall enable students to grasp more systematically the basic theories and knowledge required by the branches of learning or specialized subjects offered, to grasp the basic skills, methods and relevant knowledge necessitated by their specialized subjects, and to acquire the preliminary ability of practical work and research in the fields of their specialized subjects.

　　（三）硕士研究生教育应当使学生掌握本学科坚实的基础理论、系统的专业知识，掌握相应的技能、方法和相关知识，具有从事本专业实际工作和科学研究工作的能力。博士研究生教育应当使学生掌握本学科坚实宽广的基础理论、系统深入的专业知识、相应的技能和方法，具有独立从事本学科创造性科学研究工作和实际工作的能力。

　　第十七条 专科教育的基本修业年限为二至三年，本科教育的基本修业年限为四至五年，硕士研究生教育的基本修业年限为二至三年，博士研究生教育的基本修业年限为三至四年。非全日制高等学历教育的修业年限应当适当延长。高等学校根据实际需要，报主管的教育行政部门批准，可以对本学校的修业年限作出调整。

(3) The graduate program for candidates working for an MA degree shall enable candidates to grasp firmly the basic theories in their branches of learning and grasp the systematic knowledge of their specialized subjects, to grasp the skills and methods and relevant knowledge required, and to acquire the ability of practical work and research in the fields of their specialized subjects. The graduate program for candidates working for a Ph.D shall enable candidates to grasp firmly the breadth of the basic theories and the systematic and profound knowledge of the specialized subjects and grasp the skills and methods required by their branches of learning, and to acquire the ability of creative research on their own and of practical work in the fields of their specific branches of learning.

Article 17 The basic length of schooling for special course education is from two to three years; for regular course education it is from four to five years; for graduate programs for candidates working for an MA it is from two to three years, and for graduate programs for candidates working for a Ph.D it is from three to four years. The length of schooling for non-full-time higher education for academic qualifications shall be prolonged properly. Higher education institutions may, in light of actual needs and with the approval of the qualified administrative department for education, readjust the length of schooling of their institutions.

　　第十八条 高等教育由高等学校和其他高等教育机构实施。

　　大学、独立设置的学院主要实施本科及本科以上教育。高等专科学校实施专科教育。经国务院教育行政部门批准，科学研究机构可以承担研究生教育的任务。

　　其他高等教育机构实施非学历高等教育。

Article 18 Higher education shall be conducted by higher education institutions and other higher education organizations.

Universities and independent colleges shall mainly conduct regular course education and education at a still higher level. Specialized higher education schools shall conduct special course education. With the approval of the administrative department for education under the State Council, research institutes may undertake graduate programs.

Other higher education organizations shall conduct higher education for non-academic qualifications.