CUHK’s New Graduation Policy Throws 24Fall Students into Pre-Enrollment Career Rush

发布时间：Date: 2024-06-05 返回新鲜资讯Back to News

The Chinese University of Hong Kong announced that starting from the 2024-25 academic year, students who meet graduation requirements will uniformly receive their degrees on July 31 of that year, eliminating the previous flexible graduation options of March, July, or October. This change significantly impacts 24Fall and subsequent taught master’s students, who will no longer be able to delay graduation to ease job-hunting pressure. With only one autumn recruitment opportunity instead of two, they face the urgent need to secure jobs upon enrollment. The policy directly affects their status as fresh graduates, impacting mainland campus recruitment, civil service exams, and public institution applications. Since the July 31 graduation date delays degree authentication, students may miss deadlines at top companies like Tencent, or be disqualified from state-owned enterprises and public institutions with strict graduation date requirements. CheersYou（清柚教育） reminds international students to plan ahead and pay close attention to recruitment and authentication deadlines to avoid missing the best job-hunting window.

Before the 24Fall students even start classes, CUHK has officially announced "bad news": Starting from the 2024-25 academic year, once a student meets all graduation requirements, the university will award degrees on the nearest degree conferral date in the calendar year after Senate approval.

In plain terms, from 24Fall onward, once students complete their credits and meet graduation requirements, they will all graduate on July 31 of the same year!

Source: CUHK official website

It's important to know that prior to this, CUHK students could choose their graduation date from March 31, July 31, or October 15.

Some might think of delaying graduation by completing credits slowly to "drag it out" until October. But as taught master's students know, without special reasons, it's basically impossible to stretch it to October.

So this policy change is a heavy blow to CUHK students studying abroad...

Policy Shift Turns Graduates into Non-Fresh Graduates

Many may still be confused about why CUHK’s move is called "bad news."

Simply put, the graduation date determines whether students can participate in campus recruitment and civil service exams as fresh graduates. And July 31 falls at a very awkward time, even causing many students to lose their fresh graduate status right after graduation.

Impact on Autumn Recruitment

First, the number of autumn recruitment opportunities decreases. 24Fall and later students will only have one autumn recruitment chance.

Using the incoming 24Fall freshmen as an example, this cohort will graduate on July 31, 2025, so they can only participate in the 2024 autumn recruitment.

Previously, students could choose July or October graduation, giving them two autumn recruitment opportunities and the flexibility to submit resumes in either the enrollment year or graduation year.

Historically, most students chose October graduation, participating in the autumn recruitment of the graduation year, which provided a buffer and ample preparation time.

But with the policy change, especially for one-year master’s students, they face a "deadly start" with autumn recruitment upon enrollment, where written exams, interviews, and other exams may clash.

Second, finding campus jobs in mainland China will become harder. We know that major mainland companies have strict timing definitions for fresh graduate status; if your graduation date doesn't match, you may not be able to submit your resume.

For example, at Tencent, the latest graduation date requirement for campus recruitment is August 31 of the same year.

Source: Tencent official website

For 24Fall and later students, graduating on July 31 means getting the diploma in early August, and completing degree authentication possibly by late August or even September—time is extremely tight.

Impact on Landing a Job

We all know that for those targeting state-owned enterprises or civil service exams, fresh graduate status is crucial.

State-owned enterprises and civil service exams have strict graduation date requirements. Even if you graduate in the same year, if the date on your diploma doesn't match the requirement, you lose eligibility.

For example, a public institution recruitment in Beijing in 2024 required fresh graduates to obtain degree authentication before July 31, otherwise forfeiting their application.

Source: Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau official website

If this graduation timeline persists, for 24Fall and later CUHK graduates, it's a direct disqualification—truly "graduate and become previous graduates."

Forced to Graduate Early, What Can Students Do?

Learn from HKU Students, Try Appealing to the University

Previously, the University of Hong Kong had optional graduation dates of July or November, but after persistent student efforts, they successfully argued for a June graduation option.

That way, whether it's campus recruitment or civil service exams, and even degree authentication, there's enough time.

Many CUHK students have already appealed to the university, hoping to restore the previous flexible graduation date choices or add a June graduation option.

Source: Xiaohongshu

Regardless of the outcome, at least you tried and left no regrets.

Cast a Wide Net, Send More Applications

Pay close attention to the 2024 autumn recruitment trends, learn about the 2025 autumn and spring recruitment in advance, identify your target regions and positions, cherish every recruitment opportunity—effort will pay off!

Prepare Early, Seize Time

Research the recruitment conditions of your desired employers early, screen eligible units, prepare the materials needed for degree authentication in advance, and apply as soon as possible.

The CUHK policy was announced suddenly. No matter the final outcome, we hope all students have smooth studies, smooth job hunting, and good luck!

For more admission case studies and questions about study-abroad applications, you can also add the contact info of the CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor below for details.