The doctoral qualification examination is a comprehensive disciplinary assessment conducted before the dissertation proposal. It aims to evaluate whether doctoral students have mastered the solid and broad fundamental theories, systematic and in-depth specialized knowledge, as well as the necessary related interdisciplinary knowledge required for their dissertation research. The examination also assesses their ability to apply this knowledge to analyze and solve problems.
According to the Training Program for Academic Graduate Students of Beijing Institute of Technology, doctoral students must take the qualification examination after completing their coursework. Only those who pass the examination are eligible to proceed with the dissertation proposal and begin their dissertation research.
In accordance with the requirements for graduate training procedures and completion milestones, and following discussions among various disciplines, the School has scheduled the first academic doctoral qualification examination for the 2025–2026 academic year to be held from November to December 2025. Relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:
Eligible Candidates
Academic doctoral students (including international students) admitted in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with a master’s degree as the starting point, and those admitted in 2021, 2022, and 2023 with a bachelor’s degree as the starting point, are required to take the examination. Students who have already passed the qualification examination are exempt (see the attached list).
Examination Schedule and Venue
Comprehensive Written Examination: Scheduled for November 30, 2025, from 9:00 to 12:00. The examination will be organized by the School and held in Teaching Building 8 (Information Building).
Department of Vehicles: Room 8-2003
Department of Manufacturing and Basic Division: Room 8-2005
Department of Energy Power: Room 8-2007
Comprehensive Oral Examination: To be completed between December 1 and December 15, 2025. Each department will organize the interview independently. The specific locations will be announced later.
Examination Format and Content
1. Comprehensive Written Examination
The comprehensive written examination assesses both fundamental and specialized knowledge within the discipline. It is structured into modular sections based on the characteristics of each field and consists of three parts:
Disciplinary Fundamental Knowledge Module (40 points)
Specialized Knowledge Module (40 points)
Comprehensive Ability Assessment Module (20 points)
Candidates will select and answer questions according to their primary and secondary discipline directions. The total score for the written examination is 100 points.
2. Comprehensive Oral Examination
The comprehensive oral examination focuses on assessing the doctoral candidate’s understanding of the latest domestic and international research trends, advancements, frontier topics, major research methods, and techniques in their discipline and research field. The examination will be conducted in the form of a PPT presentation followed by expert questioning. Candidates are required to give a 10-minute literature review or research progress report based on the topic assigned by their supervisor and related to their research area. Experts will then ask questions on relevant disciplinary knowledge, research methods, and experimental techniques. The total duration of the interview will be no less than 25 minutes, and the maximum score is 100 points.
Examination Organization
Based on the actual situation of the school’s disciplines, the examination will be organized into three major disciplinary categories:
1. Mechanical Engineering – Vehicle Direction (including doctoral candidates from the Department of Vehicle Engineering);
2. Mechanical Engineering – Manufacturing and Design Direction (including doctoral candidates from the Department of Manufacturing Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Science and Fundamentals, and the sub-discipline of Opto-Mechatronic Micro/Nano Manufacturing);
3. Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics (including doctoral candidates from the Department of Energy and Power Engineering).
The examinations will be organized primarily by discipline coordinators, professors responsible for the disciplines, and doctoral supervisors.
Schedule
By November 15, 2025:Eligible academic doctoral students (including international students) must submit their applications through the Graduate Education Management System and have them reviewed by their supervisors.
By November 22, 2025:Doctoral students should check the review results in the system.
By November 30, 2025:Approved doctoral students take the comprehensive written examination.
By December 18, 2025:Each major disciplinary group completes the comprehensive interview and submits the examination information in the Graduate Education Management System for supervisor review.(During the interview, students are required to download and print the “Doctoral Qualification Examination Form” from the system and bring it to the examination venue.)
Attachments
Attachment 1: Students to Take the Doctoral Qualification Examination
Attachment 2: Guidance on Academic Doctoral Qualification Examination in the System
School of Mechanical Engineering
Beijing Institute of Technology
November 10, 2025