Academic ranks in China

Academic ranks in China are the titles, relative importance and power of professors, researchers, and administrative personnel held in academia.

Overview

Most universities in the People's Republic of China adopt a four-level academic rank system, i.e. professor, associate professor, lecturer, and assistant lecturer, while some universities (e.g. Tsinghua University) also use the American-style title of assistant professor. Most PhD graduates will be appointed at the lecturer level initially and receive the qualification to be promoted to associate professorship after two years of teaching. However, people holding a doctorate from Western universities and with some working experience overseas will occasionally be appointed at a higher level, in exceptional cases at the full professor level directly.

Principal faculty

• Professor (Chinese: 教授)
• Associate professor (Chinese: 副教授)
• Lecturer, or University Lecturer (Chinese: 讲师)
• Assistant lecturer, or Associate lecturer (Chinese: 助教)

Academic trainee

• Postdoctoral research fellow (博士后研究员) and research fellow/researcher (研究员)
• Research assistant (研究助理) and teaching assistant (教学助理/助教)
• Postgraduate student (研究生)
• Undergraduate student (本科生)

Honorary titles

• Principal Professor (Chinese: 首席教授), not a commonly used term; being present in some Chinese universities
• Emeritus Professor (Chinese: 退休教授)
• Honorary Professor (Chinese: 名誉教授), usually awarded to academics with important social contributions
• Distinguished Professor (Chinese: 特聘教授), usually awarded to academics with a recognized achievement in research
• Guest professor, or commonly visiting professor (Chinese: 客座教授), usually awarded to distinguished visiting scholars

Administrative ranks

See also: University administrator (Chinese)

• Secretary of the CPC Committee (Chinese: 黨委書記), similar to Chancellor, who usually does not take administrative responsibilities
• Associate Secretary of the CPC Committee (Chinese: 黨委副書記), similar to Vice-Chancellor; the 1st order Associate Secretary is usually appointed President, with other Associate Secretaries being the Vice-President
• President (Chinese: 校長), taking the major responsibility for academic and administrative affairs, assisted by Vice-Presidents
• Vice-president (Chinese: 副校長), usually taking the responsibility of a certain area, e.g. academic, administrative, facilities, finance, etc.
• Registrar (Chinese: 教務長)
• Dean (Chinese: 院長)
• Deputy dean or associate dean (Chinese: 副院長) of schools and faculties
• Director of research centre (Chinese: 所長/主任) and director of academic department (Chinese: 系主任)