1 Academic Schedule
Every academic year in Dalian University of Technology (DUT) consists of two long semesters (spring and autumn) and one short semester (summer).
The academic year and autumn semester begins in September. Spring semester generally starts in March, while summer semester in July.
Summer vacation lasts for approximately five weeks, starting from late July. Winter vacation varies from year to year as it follows the schedule of Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. It usually extends from January to February and lasts about seven weeks in total．
The Academic Calendar of DUT can be referred to for more details, and the advisers of postgraduate students may have different arrangements.
2 Length of Schooling
The normal duration of study for international postgraduate students pursuing an academic Master’s degree is 3 years. If for extenuating reasons the students cannot fulfill the qualifications for dissertation defense before the required deadline, they should submit an application for extension to the Graduate School ahead of the end of the specified study period.
The longest allowable study time (from the day of matriculation to the day of graduation) for candidates of a Master’s should not exceed 5 years (excused suspension time included).
The normal duration of study for international postgraduate students pursuing a doctoral degree is 3 to 4 years. Those whose actual length of schooling has exceeded 4 years should submit an application for extension to the Graduate School. The longest allowable study time (from the day of matriculation to the day of graduation) for candidates of a doctoral degree is 6 years (excused suspension time included).
3 Admission and Registration
I、Admission
1. New International postgraduate students admitted by DUT shall bring their Admission Notice, ID as well as other relevant documents and register in person before the deadline as specified in the Admission Notice. Those who are unable to register on time shall apply in written form with necessary credentials to both International Student Office, School of International Education and the faculty (school) where they are to pursue their studies for an extension. The application materials will be submitted to the Academic Programs Office of the Graduate School for verification and approval. The extension period should not exceed two weeks (starting from the designated registration date). Those who do not submit an application for extension as required or fail to complete the registration within the extension period without valid reasons such as force majeure will be automatically taken as having given up their admission eligibility.
2. In the first three months after the new international postgraduates’ admission, a qualification reexamination will be implemented as required by the government regulations for recruiting students. The students who pass the reexamination can proceed to register and get their status as an enrolled postgraduate student of DUT. Those who fail will be disqualified from admission. Those who are found to have practiced fraud or deception will be deprived of their admission qualifications and student status upon verification of the irregularities.
II、Registration
Registration is an indispensable step for postgraduate students to keep their status as an enrolled student of DUT. All the current international postgraduates shall return to the university before the beginning of a new semester and go through the necessary registration procedure before the designated date specified in DUT school calendar.
1. International postgraduates who are unable to register on time shall apply with necessary credentials to the International Student Office of School of International Education and the faculty (school) where they are pursuing their studies for approval of a leave or extension of up to two weeks before the registration date. If the extension period exceeds two weeks, the postgraduates should apply to the International Student Office of School of International Education for approval, and their application materials will be submitted to the Academic Programs Office of the Graduate School for verification and approval, or else the students will not be allowed to register. Full-time international postgraduates are not allowed to ask another person to register on their behalf.
2. International postgraduates who are three days (or less) late for registration without giving reasons shall offer an explanation in written form and submit it to their advisers and the administrator in charge of the postgraduates’ affairs for approval before they register. For those who fail to register within three days after the required date of registration without giving reasons, disciplinary actions will be taken according to the nature and degree of the misbehavior.
3. International postgraduates who fail to register two weeks after the required date or those who don’t register upon the end of an unexcused absence will be regarded as taking a voluntary withdrawal.
4. At the beginning of every academic year, self-funded international postgraduates shall pay the relevant fees to get the qualification to register.
5. International postgraduates in the following cases should not register.
（1）Those who are taking a temporary suspension of study for health problems or other personal reasons.
（2）New international postgraduates who fail to pass the reexamination of their qualifications.
（3）Other students who are not qualified for registration according to the designated registration requirements.
4 Academic Performance Assessment and Record of Grades
International postgraduates shall take part in the assessment of all the required courses and the related academic activities according to the regulations of the university on postgraduates’ training as well as the requirements stipulated in the curriculum for specific disciplines and majors. The results of their academic performance assessment will be recorded in their Postgraduate Students’ Defense Form and will enter their archives.
I、Training Programs and Courses
1. The curriculum for every discipline and every major is the basis for every international postgraduate to make their individual training program, which in turn will serve as the basis for their course selection. All the compulsory courses selected and written into the training program should be completed, and no change is allowed to make. The selective courses in the training program can be adjusted if necessary by the students’ advisers in the Postgraduate Information Management system.
2. For international postgraduates, “Public Education Course” and “Foreign Language Course” in General Compulsory Courses are replaced by “A Survey of China” and “Fundamental Chinese”.
3. International postgraduates can only select courses written into their training program. Current postgraduates can select online the courses for the new semester when the course selection system is open. Adjustments can be made to the selected course list on the course selection system in the first two weeks of a semester, including adding a new course or quitting a course.
4. International postgraduates shall take the courses selected as required after the online course selection. After completing all the necessary procedures required by the courses and pass the assessment, they can obtain the relevant credits and grades. The academic performance assessment for a course that is not selected will be considered invalid. If postgraduates don’t take a course and take part in the relevant assessment as required after selecting the course but fail to quit it within prescribed limit of time, the grade of this course will be recorded as an F (fail) with a zero.
II、Course Retaking
1. International postgraduates who fail a compulsory course can apply to retake it. The application should be made by the postgraduates in person and be submitted to the Academic Programs Office of the Graduate School for approval. After paying necessary fees, the postgraduates can retake the course twice in total. The course retaking can be applied during the course selection period at the end of every semester.
2. International postgraduates who fail a selective course can choose to retake the course or take other selective courses on their training program to get necessary credits.
3. International postgraduates who cannot sit a course exam due to health problems or for other valid reasons shall apply for an excused absence (together with the diagnosis provided by hospitals of Class A, Grade B or above for students with health problems) to their advisers, the administrator in charge of the postgraduates’ affairs, and the Graduate School for approval. With the approval, the postgraduates can retake the course for free with the students of the next year, or re-sit the exam for free.
III、Exemptions from Courses
International postgraduates can apply for an exemption from taking a certain course according to their training program as well as the courses they have taken or have taught themselves before admission. Those who have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s from a Chinese University are eligible to apply for an exemption from taking “A Survey of China” and “Fundamental Chinese”. The application should be submitted to the Graduate School together with relevant documents or certificates.
IV、Academic Performance Assessment
Postgraduate courses serve as a significant criterion for the quality of postgraduate training. International postgraduates should be assessed on the basis of their academic performance before they obtain the relevant credits. Academic performance assessment can be conducted either with or without a final exam. For the postgraduate compulsory courses and disciplinary courses, an open book exam or close book exam can be given. For subordinate subject courses and other selective courses, the assessment can take the forms of term paper, or a combination of term paper and a written exam. Assessment for all the courses uses a percentage grading system. Postgraduates whose grade is below 60 fails the course.
International postgraduates who breach the rules for examination or cheat will get a zero for the test. The university will take necessary disciplinary actions according to the nature and degree of the misbehavior.
5 Excused Absences, Temporary Suspension of Study, Resumption of Study, and Discontinuing Study
I、Excused Absences
International postgraduates shall take part in the required academic activities and other activities as stipulated in their training curriculum. Those who cannot take part in the required activities for valid reasons shall go through necessary procedures to ask for a leave.
1. International postgraduates who wish to take a sick leave should observe the following procedures:
Postgraduates who wish to take a sick leave for more than three days but within two weeks should fill in the Excused Leave Application Form (together with the diagnosis provided by the university hospital or hospitals of Class A, Grade B or above) and report to the advisers for approval. The application materials will be submitted to the International Student Office, School of International Education to put on file.
Postgraduates who wish to take a sick leave for more than two weeks should apply to the International Student Office, School of International Education for verification and approval, and the application materials will be submitted to the Educational Administration Office of the Graduate School to put on record.
2. International postgraduates usually are not allowed to take a personal leave.
Students who for special valid reasons need to take a personal leave shall go through the excused absence application procedure in advance for approval. Applications ex post facto will not be accepted as valid. Personal leave for one to three days should be approved by the students’ advisers. If the students need to take a personal leave for more than three days, they should report to their advisers and apply to the International Student Office, School of International Education for approval. The application materials will be submitted to the Educational Administration Office of the Graduate School to put on record.
3. The sick leave and personal leave one international postgraduate takes should not exceed one month accumulatively, or else a temporary suspension of study should be applied.
4. International postgraduates who find it necessary to go back to their home countries or go to other countries to do field research or collect materials for their thesis or dissertation shall report to their advisers and the International Student Office, School of International Education for approval in advance. Those who leave the country without permission will receive disciplinary penalties according to the degree of the misbehavior. Postgraduates who leave the country for two consecutive weeks will be regarded as taking a voluntary withdrawal.
Upon the end of the excused absence, international postgraduates shall report back from leave to the relevant offices. Those who cannot return to the university on time should apply for an extension in advance.
II、Temporary Suspension of Study
International postgraduate students who suffer from health problems that require a suspension of study or who have other extenuating reasons can take a temporary suspension of Study.
1. One semester of temporary suspension is allowed once for international postgraduate students. Upon the end of the suspension if the students still are not able to resume study, they can apply for an extension of suspension. The accumulative suspension time should not exceed one year. The suspension period will not be accounted in the regular duration of study.
2. International postgraduate students are eligible to take a Temporary Suspension of Study under any of the following circumstances.
（1）Postgraduate students who are diagnosed with the illness that will take over one month or more for medical treatment.
（2）Postgraduate students who are diagnosed by hospitals of Class A, Grade two or above with infectious diseases and are still in infectious period shall go through the suspension procedure immediately and receive the necessary medical treatment as is suggested by doctors.
（3）Postgraduate students who for certain reasons cannot attend regular classes or continue their study for over one month.
（4）Postgraduate students who need a temporary suspension of study for other extenuating reasons.
3. International postgraduate students who request a temporary suspension of study with extenuating reasons shall make an application in written form (together with the diagnosis and other relevant document provided by hospitals for students with health problems) with their advisers’ approval and signature. The application materials will be submitted to the International Student Office of School of International Education for verification and approval, and then handed in to the Academic Programs Office of the Graduate School to put on file. After all the above procedures are completed the suspension will take effect. Postgraduate students who take a suspension without going through the required procedures will be regarded as taking a voluntary withdrawal.
III、Resumption of Study
International postgraduate students who request resumption of study shall take the following procedures.
1. Postgraduate students who take a suspension of study due to health problems shall provide the certificates from specified hospitals to confirm their recovery when applying for resumption of study. After the reexamination and verification of the university, they can resume their study.
2. After the end of the suspension, postgraduate students can make application for the resumption of study one month before the new semester begins. They shall submit their application form for the resumption of study to the International Student Office, School of International Education for verification and approval. Two weeks after the required deadline, students who fail to go through the resumption procedure will be regarded as taking a voluntary withdrawal.
IV、Discontinuing Study
International postgraduate students in the following cases should apply to discontinue their study.
1. Candidates for a Master’s who fail two compulsory degree courses in total and cannot pass after retaking the courses.
Candidates for a doctoral degree who fail one compulsory degree course and cannot pass after retaking the course.
2. Postgraduate students who for personal reasons cannot complete the research work related to their thesis or dissertation, but who after being warned three times by their advisers still fail follow the advisers suggestions should discontinue their study if there are no other advisers for them to be transferred to.
3. Postgraduate students who have not completed their programs’ required studies after the prescribed duration of study.
4. Postgraduate students who are off campus for more than two weeks without asking for a leave or official approval.
5. Postgraduate students who fail to register within two weeks after the specified registration date without valid reasons.
6. Postgraduate students who fail to apply for the resumption of study within two weeks after the end of a temporary suspension.
7. Postgraduate students who are diagnosed by hospitals of Class A, Grade two or above with the diseases, injuries or disabilities that will prevent them from continuing their studies in DUT.
8. Postgraduate students who voluntarily withdraw from their study.
9. Postgraduate students who for other special reasons need to discontinue their study.
For the international postgraduates who need to discontinue their study for the above reasons, the relevant faculty (school) should fill in the Application Form for Discontinuing Study and submit it together with relevant documents to the advisers concerned and the deputy dean who is in charge of academic affairs for a signature. After the verification of the International Student Office, School of International Education, all the application materials will be handed in to the Graduate School for verification. The Graduate School will hereby terminate the students’ status as an enrolled postgraduate. Postgraduates who go through the above procedures to discontinue their study will not be regarded as being penalized.
International postgraduates who have discontinued their study and whose status as as an enrolled student will not be allowed to resume their study.
6 Program Transfer and Change of Adviser
1. After admission, international postgraduates who for extenuating reasons wish to change their programs can apply for a program transfer. A Program Transfer Application Form should be filled in by the postgraduates in person and be signed by their advisers as well as the administrator in charge of the postgraduate academic affairs. The application will be verified by the International Student Office, School of International Education and will be submitted to the Academic Programs Office of the Graduate School for approval.
2. International postgraduates shall make an official application at the end of the first semester of their study. Government Scholarship students who wish to transfer into other programs at DUT shall apply to the embassy of their countries in China for a consent, which will be submitted to the China Scholarship Council and the university for approval.
3. International postgraduates whose application of program transfer is approved shall adjust their training program according to the requirements specified in the curriculum of the new major.
4. After admission, international postgraduates who need to change their advisers for an incompatibility of research areas can apply for change of adviser. In this case the following procedure should be followed:
International postgraduates should make an application in written form according to their studies and research interests and fill in an Application Form for Change of Adviser which should be signed by their original advisers as well as the administrator in charge of the postgraduate academic affairs. The application will be verified by the International Student Office, School of International Education and will be submitted to the Academic Programs Office of the Graduate School for approval.
7 Graduation, Completion, and Incompletion of Study
1. International postgraduate students who complete the required courses with necessary credits, finish their graduation thesis, and pass the thesis defense within the longest allowable study time will be verified by the university as being able to graduate. A Certificate of Graduation and a Bachelor Degree Certificate will be issued.
2. After the discussion and approval of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee of DUT, a Master’s or doctoral degree will be conferred to the corresponding international postgraduate students who meet the requirements of the Implementation Ordinance of DUT on Master’s and Doctoral Degree Conferral.
3. International postgraduate students who complete the required courses with necessary credits and finish their graduation thesis but fail to pass the thesis defense within the prescribed duration of study can apply for a Certificate of Completion. If the application is approved and the relevant procedure is completed, the students’ status as an enrolled postgraduate at DUT will be ended, and the students will NOT be able to further apply for a Certificate of Graduation.
4. For the international postgraduate students who withdraw after one academic year’s study but who have completed the required courses and obtained relevant the credits, the university will issue a Certificate of Incompletion.
5. In case the Certificate of Graduation or the Degree Certificate is lost or damaged, the university will not reissue a new certificate. However, students
can apply in person to the International Student Office of School of International Education for corresponding testimonials. The university, after verification by the Archives Management Office, will issue corresponding testimonials which have the same effect as the original certificates.
8 Code of Punishment for Disciplinary Offence
The international students who violate Chinese laws or breach the rules and regulations of the University will receive penalties according to Rules of DUT on the Treatment of Student Disciplinary Violations and DUT Code of Punishment for Disciplinary Offence of International Students.
