Notice on the Release of the Degree Conferral Work Schedule (2026 Guide)

To All Schools and institutes,

  The graduate degree conferral work schedule (2026 Guide) of our university is hereby released. Please arrange all graduate degree-related procedures in accordance with the specified timeline, and notify graduate students in advance to strictly follow the schedule to complete the procedures of thesis proposal, mid-term evaluation, pre-review, review, thesis defense, and degree application. This is essential to ensure the quality of degree theses.

  1. The degree applications (2026) shall be processed in three batches: Spring, Summer, and Autumn.

Before submitting their theses for review and defense, graduates shall upload their thesis proposal and review forms in the system in advance. Doctoral students shall upload these required materials one year ahead, Master’s students six months. The thesis proposal shall be uploaded to: the Integrated Service Platform for Graduate Students– “Programs” – “Thesis Proposal System”.

  2. The timelines for thesis review, thesis defense, and degree application are arranged as follows:

  (1) The First Batch

  Both the doctoral dissertations and the master’s theses shall be submitted for review by January 20th (inclusive). After passing the plagiarism check, applicants shall prompt their department as soon as possible to initiate the formal review process. Once all review comments turn out to be a “Pass,” applicants shall revise and improve their thesis based on all reviewers’ feedback and complete the Thesis Review Comments Revision Feedback Form (Appendix 3).

  After obtaining the supervisor’s review and approval, the form must be uploaded to the Degree Thesis Review System before the applicant may request and schedule their thesis defense.

  From January 21st to March 10th, re-reviews of submitted theses, their re-submissions for review, and preliminary evaluation for the next batch of theses shall be conducted. Submission of new theses for review shall be suspended temporarily.

  By March 9th (inclusive), the thesis defense shall be completed. Applicants shall revise and improve the thesis based on the comments from the defense committee, and complete the Feedback Form for Thesis Defense Comments Revision (Appendix 4). After the supervisor approves the form, it must be uploaded to the Degree Application System before the formal degree application submission.

  By March 13th (inclusive), degree applicants shall submit all degree application materials to their department.

  By March 17th (inclusive), departments shall submit applicants’ degree materials to the University Degree Committee Office. If an applicant needs to withdraw a previously submitted degree application due to personal reasons, the withdrawal must be submitted before March 17th, and the applicant must provide written notice to both the department and the University Degree Committee Office. Withdrawal of the graduation application requires simultaneous withdrawal of the degree application. Requests after the due time for application withdrawal shall not be accepted.

 (2) The Second Batch

  The doctoral dissertation shall be submitted for review by April 10th (inclusive), while the mater’s theses shall be submitted by April 17th (inclusive). After passing the plagiarism check, applicants shall prompt their department to initiate the formal review process. Once all review comments turn out to be a “Pass,” applicants shall revise and improve their thesis based on all reviewers’ feedback and complete the Thesis Review Comments Revision Feedback Form (Appendix 3). Once the form is uploaded to the Degree Thesis Review System upon supervisor’s approval, the thesis defense may be arranged. From April 18th to June 30th, the re-reviews of submitted theses, their re-submissions for review, and preliminary evaluation for the next batch of theses shall be focused on. Submission of new theses for review shall be suspended temporarily.

  By May 25th (inclusive), the thesis defense shall be completed. Applicants shall revise and improve the thesis based on the comments from the defense committee, and complete the Feedback Form for Thesis Defense Comments Revision (Appendix 4). After the supervisor approves the form, it must be uploaded to the Degree Application System before the applicant may submit the formal degree application.

  By May 29th (inclusive), degree applicants shall submit all degree application materials to their department.

  By June 2nd (inclusive), departments shall submit applicants’ degree materials to the University Degree Committee Office. If an applicant needs to withdraw a previously submitted degree application due to personal reasons, the withdrawal must be submitted before June 2nd, and the applicant must provide written notice to both the department and the University Degree Committee Office. Withdrawal of the graduation application requires simultaneous withdrawal of the degree application. Requests after the due time for application withdrawal shall not be accepted.

  3) The Third Batch

  The doctoral dissertation and master’s theses shall be submitted for review by July 20th (inclusive). After passing the plagiarism check, applicants shall prompt their department to initiate the formal review process. Once all review comments turn out to be a “Pass,” applicants shall revise and improve their thesis based on all reviewers’ feedback and complete the Thesis Review Comments Revision Feedback Form (Appendix 3). Once the form is uploaded to the Degree Thesis Review System upon supervisor’s approval, the thesis defense may be arranged. From July 21st to October 30th, the re-reviews of submitted theses, their re-submissions for review, and preliminary evaluation for the next batch of theses shall be focused on. Submission of new theses for review shall be suspended temporarily.

  By September 22nd (inclusive), the thesis defense shall be completed. Applicants shall revise and improve the thesis based on the comments from the defense committee, and complete the Feedback Form for Thesis Defense Comments Revision (Appendix 4). After the supervisor approves the form, it must be uploaded to the Degree Application System before the applicant may submit the formal degree application.

  By September 28th (inclusive), degree applicants shall submit all degree application materials to their department.

  By October 8th (inclusive), departments shall submit applicants’ degree materials to the University Degree Committee Office. If an applicant needs to withdraw a previously submitted degree application due to personal reasons, the withdrawal must be submitted before October 8th, and the applicant must provide written notice to both the department and the University Degree Committee Office. Withdrawal of the graduation application requires simultaneous withdrawal of the degree application. Requests after the due time for application withdrawal shall not be accepted.

  Schedules for the three application batches:

  3. Each department/faculty shall conduct thesis blind review according to its own procedures. Considering the blind review cycle (generally 30–40 days for expert selection + review approval) and plagiarism check duration (1–2 days), degree applicants shall plan their time appropriately and upload their theses to the system in advance.

  4. Each department shall establish a degree thesis review committee to: 1) review the thesis in terms of workload, originality, formality and discipline compliance before the formal review submission (in the pre-review stage), to ensure the thesis quality; 2) review students’ modification after the review and their feedback to the expert comments upon the defense, before the academic committee meeting. Emphasis is especially paid on some unfavorable conditions: “approaching maximum length of study years” or “degree application more than one year after the defense”, and “relatively low review scores (below 80)”. These focused pre-reviews are to be conducted and the results shall be submitted in written forms to the academic subcommittee.

  5.To optimize the review process, all institutes shall maintain and update the database of review experts (for interdisciplinary programs, minor or niche disciplines with a relatively small number of experts, the database must be pooled and expanded soon), and a list of review misconduct shall be established to ensure the quality and impartiality of the review process.

  6. According to the Supplementary Regulations on Graduate Students Applying for Degrees After Thesis Defense (Provisional) (Appendix 5), academic graduate students must submit degree application materials within 2 years after passing their thesis defense. Professional master’s students must submit their degree application materials within 2 years from the date they pass the thesis defense and within 5 years of obtaining student status. Failure to submit within the specified timeframe will be deemed as having given up the degree application eligibility.

  7. For graduate students who submit their degree applications one year after their thesis defense, the relevance of their theses and academic achievements shall be reviewed and verified by a group of at least 3 experts assigned by the school (Appendix 6). Graduate students can submit their degree applications only after uploading the forms approved and signed by experts to the Degree Application System.

  8.The thesis defense must be organized in accordance with the Procedures for Graduate Thesis Defense of the University of Science and Technology of China.

  9. Degree applications shall not be processed for students who fail to submit their graduation applications or whose graduation applications are not approved by the review deadline for the corresponding batch.

  10. Contact details for the Office of Academic Degree Committee:

    Tel: 0551-63600090, 63606165.

    Address: Room 252 & 253, Old Library, East Campus

Appendix 1 Degree Thesis Pre-Review Form 学位论文预评审表

Appendix 2 Degree Thesis Review Submission Application Form学位论文送审申请表

Appendix 3 Form of Doctoral Dissertation Revision over Review Opinions 博士学位论文评审意见修改反馈表、Form of Master’s Thesis Revision over Review Opinions 硕士学位论文评审意见修改反馈表

Appendix 4 Feedback Form for Doctoral Dissertation Revision After the Defense 博士学位论文答辩意见修改反馈表、Feedback Form for Master’s Thesis Revision After the Defense 硕士学位论文答辩意见修改反馈表

Appendix 5 Provisional Regulations for Degree Applications after Defense by Graduate Students at University of Science and Technology of China (Trial) 中国科学技术大学关于研究生答辩后申请学位的补充规定(试行）

Appendix 6 Review Form for Thesis and Academic Achievements Relevance 学位论文与学术成果相关性审核表

University Degree Committee Office

December 1st, 2025