In a bold move to elevate research quality and curb academic misconduct, China has introduced 'practical PhDs' for engineering students, allowing them to graduate without a traditional written thesis. Instead, candidates demonstrate mastery through tangible prototypes, products, or industrial solutions that address real-world challenges. This reform, enabled by a 2024 revision to China's Degree Law effective January 2025, targets the pervasive issues of paper mills and plagiarism that have plagued the nation's higher education system.
China's doctoral output exceeds 97,000 graduates annually, positioning it as the global leader in research publications. However, this volume has been marred by scandals involving fabricated data, ghostwritten papers, and authorship-for-sale schemes from underground paper mills. The practical PhD model shifts evaluation from publication metrics to practical impact, aiming to foster genuine innovation in strategic sectors like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
🔬 The Roots of China's Research Integrity Crisis
The 'publish or perish' culture in Chinese universities, fueled by promotion criteria tied to Science Citation Index papers and cash bonuses, created perverse incentives. This led to a boom in paper mills—clandestine operations producing fake manuscripts for fees—resulting in record global retractions in 2023, many linked to Chinese authors. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has intensified crackdowns, punishing universities for failing to address misconduct, with the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) sanctioning dozens of researchers for plagiarism and image manipulation in 2025 alone.
High-profile cases, such as delayed handling of plagiarism at Peking University, underscored institutional lapses. Critics coined the term 'paper generals' for scholars boasting citations but lacking practical contributions. These issues not only erode trust but hinder China's push for technological self-reliance amid international tensions.
The 2024 Degree Law: A Game-Changer for Doctoral Education
The cornerstone of the reform is the amended Degree Law, which empowers universities to award engineering PhDs based on 'practical achievements' rather than dissertations. Piloted since 2022 through 50 new graduate engineering colleges partnering with industry giants, the program aligns with national strategies like the National Excellence Engineer Training Plan.
Over 60 universities, including Tsinghua and Southeast University, collaborate with more than 100 enterprises across 18 key fields. Tsinghua alone has enrolled 1,430 students, yielding over 100 patents and solutions to industrial bottlenecks. While limited to engineering, the model signals a broader reevaluation of how doctoral rigor is measured.
Step-by-Step: Earning a Practical PhD
The process emphasizes applied research from inception:
- Dual Supervision: Each candidate pairs an academic mentor with an industry expert to bridge theory and practice.
- Project Focus: Tackle 'choke point' problems in priority industries, such as defense or semiconductors.
- Output Creation: Develop prototypes, techniques, or installations proven at scale in real environments.
- Oral Defense: Present before a panel of scholars and engineers, validating functionality and innovation.
- Evaluation Criteria: Assessed on real-world viability, patents, and industrial adoption, not word count or citations.
This structure ensures outputs like new manufacturing processes directly benefit China's economy.
Real-World Innovations: Spotlight on Graduates
The first wave of at least 11 practical PhDs since September 2025 showcases transformative work:
- Zheng Hehui at Southeast University engineered Lego-like reinforced steel blocks, now integral to the pylons of the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge—a cable-stayed structure spanning rail and road.
- Wei Lianfeng from Harbin Institute of Technology advanced vacuum laser welding equipment, streamlining nuclear power manufacturing after years of on-site refinement.
- Another graduate devised a fire-suppression system for large seaplanes, enhancing aviation safety.
These projects, defended without manuscripts, highlight the model's potential for immediate societal value.
Photo by Frederic Köberl on Unsplash
Direct Assault on Paper Mills and Plagiarism
By decoupling degrees from publications, the reform dismantles the economic model of paper mills, which thrive on quota-driven demands. No longer must students churn out papers prone to fabrication; instead, they build verifiable products. This aligns with MOST's institutional punishments and NSFC's researcher bans, fostering a culture of integrity.Nature reports on the shift, noting it demonetizes fraudulent outputs.
For those navigating China's academic landscape, resources like academic CV tips remain vital, even as evaluation paradigms evolve.
Voices from the Field: Expert Insights
Guo Tong, a civil engineer at Southeast University, praises the approach: "It can guide students to carry out real research that can solve real-life problems in those industries that carry strategic importance." Li Jiang from Nanjing University highlights the academia-industry divide: "There is a big gap between the theoretical knowledge they learn from books and the hands-on ability our society needs."
Sun Yutao at Dalian University of Technology cautions on assessment: "It is relatively easy to judge whether a thesis is good, but much harder to evaluate a real-life product." Government official Zhu Xiumei emphasizes talent-building for key sectors.
Internationally, parallels exist in professional doctorates, but China's scale and defense focus set it apart.
Shifting Research Paradigms: From Quantity to Quality
Traditionally, Chinese PhDs emphasized SCI papers, contributing to volume leadership but quality concerns. The practical model prioritizes patents and applications—Tsinghua's cohort alone secured over 100. This reduces plagiarism risks, as prototypes can't be easily faked, and promotes hybrid outputs blending theory with practice.
- Benefits: Enhanced innovation, industry ties, national security.
- Risks: Potential underemphasis on foundational research.
Explore research positions to contribute to such advancements.
India Today analysis draws lessons for South Asia.Challenges Ahead and Safeguards
Critics worry about subjective evaluations and ensuring mentor quality. Zong Yingying at Harbin IT notes many engineering issues defy publication. Solutions include rigorous panels and industry validation. While not expanding to humanities, hybrids could emerge in applied fields.
For career navigators, postdoc opportunities in China offer entry into this ecosystem.
Global Echoes and Future Trajectory
India grapples with similar predatory publishing woes, prompting calls for practical models in tech. Western professional doctorates (e.g., EngD in UK) retain theses, but China's prototype focus innovates amid US-China tech rivalry.
Prospects: Expansion to more fields if pilots succeed, reinforcing China's research dominance through quality. Universities like those in China lead the charge.
Outlook: A New Era for Doctoral Excellence
China's no-thesis PhD reforms herald a pragmatic pivot, prioritizing impact over ink. By tackling paper mills head-on, they pave the way for authentic scholarship. Aspiring academics, rate your professors at Rate My Professor, seek higher ed jobs, or advance via career advice. For openings, visit university jobs or post a job.
This evolution promises a brighter, more innovative future for global research.
