Chinese students get downgraded if they don't meet course requirements

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In 2018, Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, had 18 students downgraded from a bachelor's degree to an associate degree, since they could not reach academic standards, 11 of whom had graduated in June this year, according to Wuhan Evening Newspaper.

In most of the universities in China, students who don't achieve enough credits are given a final chance to attain the degree before graduating. But if they fail to pass the exam, the students are dropped by the school and get nothing.

Last year, the school issued new regulations to students who do not meet university standards, which is still rare among Chinese universities.

According to the regulations, undergraduate students who cannot meet the requirements will get a warning or will be transferred to an associate level professional school.

The document about the regulations carried out in 2017 by Huazhong Uniiversity of Science and Technology

"Actually, there are many students who cannot get a degree after four years studying at our university," a student at Huazhong University said to Beijing Youth.

After the Gaokao, the National College Entrance Examination, many students keep away from their parents' supervision and skip classes to play computer games or nap while in campus.

The university's decision has sparked a nationwide debate about the future of the education system in China.

A caricature talking about dropping students out of university. /VCG Photo

"It is not a bad idea. These universities give students a room to maneuver," said @Chelunzhixia.

"I hope all of the universities in our country can carry out this kind of policy," said @Xiaoxiaodezhousuibozhiliu.

"I hope this new regulation will encourage students to put more focus on study," said @LynnChan.

It is not the first time a university in China has carried out this kind of policy.

But some netizens disagreed with the new regulation.

"Four years for nothing? The school will waste these students' time," said @Bushinideren.

In 2003, Hainan University in south China's Hainan Province downgraded 23 undergraduate students from a bachelor's degree to an associate degree.