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University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 2024 Prospectus for Doctoral Degree Program Admissions

Talent Development

The University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS) takes the positioning of "a first-class liberal arts university with Chinese characteristics." It adheres to the socialist orientation of education, persists in the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education [1], and is dedicated to cultivating "top-level research-oriented talents in the philosophy and social sciences." The university takes "the integration of research and education" as its distinguishing feature, relying fully on the resources of the "national team" of philosophy and social science research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). It is integrated with the various research institutes of CASS and vigorously implements a "research-oriented teaching" model for talent cultivation. The university’s administrative strategy is expressed as "entering the mainstream, entering the system, integration, and a single chessboard" [2]. It persists in fully integrating into the mainstream of the national education system and the CASS system, implementing integrated cultivation across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, and configuring scientific research and teaching resources as a single chessboard.

I. Enrollment Majors and Information Release In 2024, it is planned to recruit over 500 doctoral students. Specific details regarding colleges, majors, research directions, supervisors, examination subjects, and related instructions can be found in our university's 2024 Doctoral Admissions Major Catalog. Candidates can inquire about relevant information, notices, and announcements through our university's admissions website (URL: http://skdzs.ucass.edu.cn). Candidates applying for our university's 2024 "Key Talent Program for Marxist Theory" [3] should log on to the university admissions website—Doctoral Admissions column—to view the 2024 "Key Talent Program for Marxist Theory" admissions information for the prospectus and major catalog.

II. Selection Models The recruitment methods for doctoral admissions at our university in 2024 include: the "Application-Evaluation" system, the Unified Entrance Examination, the Master-Doctoral Combined Program (only for master's students of this university), and the Direct Doctoral Program for Undergraduates (already completed during the recommendation and exemption exam process). Please refer to the Admissions Major Catalog for the specific recruitment methods of each college and discipline.

III. Application Requirements (A) Candidates applying via the Unified Entrance Examination must meet the following conditions:

  1. Be a citizen of the People's Republic of China, uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, possess a correct political orientation, love the motherland, be willing to serve socialist modernization, abide by the law, and demonstrate good character and conduct.
  2. The candidate's educational background and degree must meet one of the following conditions: (1) Persons who have already obtained a master's degree. (2) Graduating master's students with an education recognized by the state (must obtain the master's degree before September 1, 2024). (3) Persons who have held a bachelor's degree for at least 6 years (from the date of obtaining the bachelor's degree to September 1, 2024) may apply with an equivalent educational level [4]. Those applying with an equivalent educational level must have published two academic papers related to the applied major as the first author in national core journals, or have received scientific research achievement awards at or above the provincial or ministerial level related to the applied discipline (ranked in the top 3). Those in special industries or positions with equivalent academic research achievements may submit an application to the university admissions office. (4) Candidates for professional master's degrees from non-degree education (single certificate, i.e., having only a degree certificate without a graduation certificate) or persons applying for a master's degree with an equivalent educational level must have obtained the master's degree before registration. (5) For candidates who obtained their education (degree) overseas, their education (degree) certificate must be certified by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange of the Ministry of Education (past graduates must submit the certification certificate during re-examination registration; graduating students must obtain the certificate before September 1, 2024, and submit it upon enrollment).
  3. Physical and mental health conditions must comply with the university's regulations.
  4. Provide written recommendation opinions from two professors (or experts with equivalent senior professional and technical titles) in the academic field of the applied discipline.
  5. The following two categories of candidates: ① Graduating master's students currently under "directed cultivation" [5]; ② In-service candidates who are currently fulfilling service obligations under agreements such as service periods or confidentiality periods with their original work units, must obtain consent from the directed cultivation unit or service unit before applying. (B) Candidates applying via the "Application-Evaluation" system must, in addition to meeting the conditions in item (A) above, also meet other application conditions proposed by the respective college. Specific requirements can be found in the "Application-Evaluation" work plan of the college. (C) Candidates applying for our university's 2024 "Key Talent Program for Marxist Theory" should log on to the university admissions website—Doctoral Admissions column—to view specific requirements. (D) In 2024, our university will recruit Master-Doctoral Combined Program students. Applicants must be second-year academic master's students currently enrolled at our university. The application majors and research directions can be found in the 2024 Doctoral Admissions Major Catalog. Application times and procedures will be notified separately.

IV. Application Procedures (A) Online Registration and Payment of Registration Fee

  1. Confirm Application Eligibility: Applicants must carefully read the documents of the Ministry of Education and the application requirements in this prospectus to confirm whether they possess the corresponding application eligibility.
  2. Online Registration: Doctoral registration at our university adopts online registration. All candidates meeting the application requirements must handle registration procedures according to our university's relevant regulations. Specific registration times, channels, and requirements will be detailed in the Doctoral Online Registration Announcement.
  3. Candidates pay the registration fee through the online payment platform of the registration system. After successful payment, they will obtain a registration number. The fee is 200 RMB. Once paid, the fee will not be refunded regardless of whether the candidate sits for the examination. (B) Submission of Application Materials:
  4. For candidates under the "Application-Evaluation" system and the "Key Talent Program for Marxist Theory," the content and method of material submission must comply with the requirements in the admissions work plan of the recruiting unit.
  5. Candidates applying via the Unified Entrance Examination must prepare the following materials (specific requirements and submission methods will be announced in the subsequent Online Registration Announcement): (1) "Registration Form for Doctoral Degree Candidates" (downloaded and printed after online registration; candidates must sign for confirmation in the corresponding column; the study or work unit must fill in the consent opinion and affix an official seal); (2) Two "Expert Recommendation Letters for Doctoral Degree Candidates," which must be provided by professors or experts with equivalent senior professional titles in the academic field of the applied discipline (see Attachment 1); (3) Original transcripts of undergraduate and master's level studies (provided and stamped by the applicant's university cultivation department) or photocopies (provided and stamped by the personnel department of the unit where the applicant's archives are located); (4) Proof of highest education and degree: provide photocopies of the highest education and degree certificates. Graduating master's students submit a certification letter from the Graduate School (department/office) of their cultivation unit; after admission and before enrollment, they must submit the graduation and degree certificates, and may only register after passing the verification. Those holding overseas degree certificates submit the certification report issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange. (5) Photocopy of Identity Card; (6) Candidates applying with an equivalent educational level must submit details of completed courses (graduate and undergraduate) and two academic papers related to the applied major published as first author in national core journals (must submit photocopies of the cover, table of contents, and main text; professional and academic status will be determined by the department) or other supporting materials.

V. Evaluation Procedures (A) Unified Entrance Examination The examination consists of two stages: the preliminary examination and the re-examination.

  1. Preliminary Examination Timing and Format: (1) The preliminary examination is conducted via written tests. (2) Scheduled for late March 2024. The specific time and location will be announced on the university admissions website 15 days in advance.
  2. Preliminary Examination Content: (1) Foreign Language (excluding listening): Languages accepted by each major are detailed in the "2024 Doctoral Admissions Major Catalog"; (2) Two Professional Subjects: The names of these subjects are detailed in the "2024 Doctoral Admissions Major Catalog"; (3) Additional Exams: Candidates applying with an equivalent educational level must take an additional exam in "Political Theory" (Exam scope: Marxism and Social Science Methodology, Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics) during the preliminary stage; during the re-examination, they must take additional written exams on two core courses of the master's degree in their major; (4) Certain colleges require candidates changing majors to take additional exams in professional basic knowledge during the preliminary phase. See the relevant requirements in the remarks of each college in the "2024 Doctoral Admissions Major Catalog."
  3. Re-examination: (1) Re-examination Timing: It is scheduled for April or May 2024. Specific times will be notified by each college. (2) Re-examination Format: It will be conducted through interviews or a combination of interviews and written tests. The re-examination will assess the candidate's ability to comprehensively apply learned knowledge, their scientific research and innovation capabilities, and their mastery of the frontiers and latest research dynamics of the discipline. It will also test the candidate's foreign language listening, speaking, and reading abilities. During the re-examination, a comprehensive evaluation will be conducted with reference to the application materials to judge whether the candidate possesses the potential and quality for doctoral cultivation. During the re-examination, candidates submit: 1. A research plan for the doctoral study period (including personal study and academic research experience, achievements, research interests, future research conceptions, etc.); 2. Publicly published academic papers (monographs), scientific research achievements, and other materials related to the major; 3. Master's thesis and review report (graduating students may provide the thesis abstract and table of contents). In the re-examination stage, the candidate's ideological and political quality and moral character will also be evaluated. The main content of this evaluation includes the candidate's political attitude, ideological expression, study (work) attitude, moral quality, and law-abiding behavior. Each college will also send letters to the candidate's unit (or dispatch personnel for external investigation) to review the candidate's personnel archives and current performance (this must be stamped by the personnel or political work department where the archives are located) to comprehensively examine their ideological and political quality and moral character. (B) "Application-Evaluation" System Candidates applying via the "Application-Evaluation" system should register and submit materials according to the requirements of the college. The college will organize a material review expert group to collectively review and evaluate the materials submitted by applicants to determine the shortlist for the comprehensive evaluation. The comprehensive evaluation includes written tests and interviews; the content and format will be determined by the college based on disciplinary characteristics and announced before the evaluation begins. For the specific timing of the evaluation procedures, material review, and comprehensive evaluation for colleges using this system, please refer to the respective college's "Application-Evaluation" Doctoral Admissions Work Plan.

VI. Admission The university determines the preliminary admission list based on the national enrollment plan, the results of the entrance examinations (including preliminary and re-examination) or comprehensive evaluations (for "Application-Evaluation" candidates), combined with the candidate's regular academic performance, ideological and political performance, scientific research achievements, professional quality, and health status. The preliminary admission list will be publicized according to the requirements of the Ministry of Education. After the preliminary admission list is determined, the university will notify those candidates to undergo a physical examination. The standards refer to the "Guiding Opinions on Physical Examination for Enrollment in General Institutions of Higher Education" and subsequent regulations. Those who fail the physical examination will not be admitted. Integrity in the examination process will serve as an important part of the ideological and moral evaluation and a key basis for admission. Our university will not admit those who fail the ideological and moral evaluation. Admission letters are scheduled to be sent out in late June 2024.

VII. Candidate Categories The doctoral recruitment plan is categorized into "non-directed employment" and "directed employment" based on employment type. Candidates should choose their category carefully, as it cannot be changed once selected. Candidates must handle all issues with their work or study units arising from the examination and admission; the university bears no responsibility for failures to attend re-examination or admission resulting from such issues. In 2024, the "Key Talent Program for Marxist Theory" will recruit approximately 26 directed employment doctoral students; for other colleges, the number of directed employment doctoral students will, in principle, not exceed 15% of the total admission quota. (A) Non-directed Employment Students study full-time at the university during the basic length of schooling. Personnel archives must be transferred to the university according to the required timeframe and cannot be transferred out midway. Upon graduation, students choose their own jobs through a "two-way selection" process between the graduate and the employer. Those unable to transfer archives on schedule will have their admission or enrollment eligibility canceled. Hukou (household registration) may be moved to the university on a voluntary basis. (B) Directed Employment

The personnel files and household registration [6] of candidates in directed employment [7] shall not be transferred to the university. Prior to the public notification of the preliminary admission list, such candidates must sign and submit a tripartite agreement between the candidate, the employer, and the training institution. Upon graduation, employment shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. Those unable to submit the agreement on time will have their admission eligibility revoked. Candidates who are pursuing their studies while remaining in their current positions must select the directed employment category.

VIII. Length of Schooling

  1. For regular doctoral students, the standard length of schooling is 4 years, with a maximum period of study of 6 years. Those who meet the requirements for graduation ahead of schedule within the standard schooling period may apply for early graduation by one year.
  2. For Direct-to-Doctorate students (from undergraduate level) [8], the standard length of schooling is 5 years, with a maximum period of study of 7 years. These students may not apply for early graduation.
  3. For students in the Master-Doctorate consecutive program (referred to as consecutive students), the standard length of schooling is 6 years (of which the doctoral stage is 4 years), with a maximum period of study of 7 years (of which the doctoral stage is 5 years). These students may not apply for early graduation.
  4. All doctoral students recruited by our university are full-time doctoral students.
  5. During any extension of the study period, tuition fees must be paid according to the standards prescribed by the university; the university will not provide accommodation during such periods.

IX. Tuition and the Scholarship and Financial Aid System

  1. The tuition standard for doctoral students at our university is 10,000 RMB per person per academic year.
  2. The "Awards" and "Financial Aid" columns under the "Student Affairs" section of the University’s Student Affairs Department website (https://xgb.ucass.edu.cn/index.htm) provide the detailed implementation rules for National Scholarships, Academic Scholarships, grants, and the "Three-Assists" [9] (Assistant Research, Assistant Administration, and Assistant Teaching). Please refer to the relevant descriptions for details.

X. Miscellaneous (I) Master’s students currently in directed employment and candidates currently employed who are within the service period stipulated by their contracts must obtain the consent of their employing or service unit to apply. The candidate shall be personally responsible for any failure to be admitted resulting from disputes between the candidate and their unit regarding the application. (II) For candidates who engage in fraud or other violations during the registration or examination process, their application, admission, enrollment eligibility, and student status will be revoked in accordance with relevant regulations whenever such acts are verified. Simultaneously, they will be handled according to relevant national laws and regulations depending on the circumstances. Our university will promptly report the circumstances of candidates who cheat to their schools or units and record such incidents in the candidates' integrity files and personnel files as an important reference for their future further education and employment. Candidates who cheat in the current year's doctoral recruitment examination shall not be allowed to apply in the following year. (III) Should the Ministry of Education release new recruitment policies during the 2024 doctoral recruitment work, our university will make corresponding adjustments.

XI. Contact Information University Recruitment Website: https://skdzs.ucass.edu.cn/index.htm Inquiry of College Contact Information: https://skdzs.ucass.edu.cn/lxwm.htm (Please see the attached contact list. Candidates with questions regarding the examination should consult the college they are applying to.) Graduate Admissions Office Contact: Tel. 81360224

Admissions Office of the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences December 29, 2023