Graduate

To meet the needs of the university's accelerated development into a world-class comprehensive university, and to further explore and improve the doctoral selection mechanism, in accordance with the relevant documents of the Ministry of Education and based on the actual situation of the university, the School of Artificial Intelligence at Shenzhen University is recruiting outstanding graduating undergraduate students with recommendation-based admission qualifications to directly pursue doctoral degrees (hereinafter referred to as "direct-entry doctoral students"). To clarify work requirements, standardize operating procedures, and improve selection quality, this detailed rule is formulated based on the "Implementation Plan for the 2026 Direct-Entry Doctoral Student Recruitment of Shenzhen University" and the actual situation of our laboratory.

I. Basic Principles

The principle is to stimulate the intrinsic motivation for improving the quality of students through appropriate competition among supervisors and disciplines, adhering to the principles of quality first, comprehensive evaluation, merit-based admission, and ensuring quality over quantity.

II. Admission Method

The recruitment of direct-entry doctoral students in this detailed rule refers to the admission method of selecting outstanding graduating undergraduate students who have already obtained recommendation-based admission qualifications to directly obtain doctoral student admission qualifications.

Each major only recruits full-time, non-sponsored doctoral students studying on a full-time basis, with a study period of 5 years. All candidates who are provisionally admitted must transfer their personnel files to the Graduate Archives Office of our university within the specified time; otherwise, their admission will be cancelled.

III. Majors Offered and Number of Students to be Enrolled

The majors and number of students to be admitted for direct-entry doctoral programs in our college are as follows:

1. Applicants must uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, possess a correct political orientation, love the motherland, be willing to serve socialist modernization, abide by laws and regulations, and have good moral character.

2. Applicants must be graduating undergraduate students who have already obtained the qualification for admission to postgraduate programs without examination.

3. Applicants must have excellent academic performance, a strong interest in academic research, and strong innovative spirit and research capabilities. Priority will be given to those who have participated in scientific research, national academic competitions, and other activities during their studies and have demonstrated outstanding performance.

4. Applicants must possess strong language skills, a high level of foreign language proficiency, and provide corresponding English proficiency certificates (see item (6) of the application materials for specific requirements).

5. Applicants must meet the physical health requirements outlined in the "Guidelines for Physical Examination for Enrollment in Regular Institutions of Higher Learning" formulated by the Ministry of Education and other departments.

Paper Materials: Applicants must submit the following application materials via EMS or SF Express to the School of Artificial Intelligence, Shenzhen University, before October 8, 2025 (postmark date). (Address: Room 1004, Zhizhen Building, Canghai Campus, Shenzhen University, 3688 Nanhai Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Attn: Ms. Yang, Tel: 0755-26946884).

Electronic Materials: Applicants should combine all application materials (including the table of contents) into one PDF file and send it to Ms. Yang's email address (mingyinY@szu.edu.cn). Please indicate the email subject and attachment file name as "Name + Application for Direct PhD Program in XX School/Major".

Materials List:

(1) Application Form for Outstanding Fresh Undergraduate Students to Directly Pursue Doctoral Degrees at Shenzhen University

(2) Original proof of enrollment or a copy of the student ID (including the student's personal information, photo, and registration details);

(3) Original academic transcript (stamped with the official seal of the university's academic affairs department);

(4) Two or more written recommendations from associate professors (or experts with equivalent professional titles) in the applicant's field of study (the recommendation letters must use the template provided by our university);

(5) Required documents for pursuing the doctoral degree. A scientific research proposal (no less than 3000 words, see application form);

(6) Proof of English proficiency must be provided for at least one of the following:

① Passing CET-4 or CET-6 (score of 425 or above);

② TOEFL score of 75 or above (550 or above for the old TOEFL);

③ IELTS score of 6 or above;

④ PETS Level 5 certificate;

⑤ GRE score of 1200 or above (310 or above for the new standard);

⑥ Publication of an English academic paper as the first author in an international English journal. (7) Copies of award certificates, copies of publicly published academic papers, and supporting materials for patents and other original research achievements;

(8) A physical examination certificate issued by a Grade III Class A hospital;

(9) Copies of both sides of the second-generation ID card;

(10) "Political Review (Performance) Materials for Doctoral Candidates of Shenzhen University," to be filled out by the Party Committee of the applicant's college (this item may be temporarily omitted during the application process, but must be submitted according to the form requirements after passing the re-examination);

(11) Letter of commitment to transfer personnel files;

(12) Other relevant materials required by the applied major.

2. Online Application. Applicants should follow the application procedures stipulated in the "Shenzhen University 2026 Admission Regulations for Recommended Master's Degree Candidates (Including Direct Doctoral Candidates)" and submit their application for direct doctoral programs through the "Recommendation and Exemption Service System" on the China Graduate Admissions Information Network (hereinafter referred to as the Graduate Admissions Network) between September 22nd and October 20th, 2025 (specific dates are subject to the announcement on the Graduate Admissions Network).

(II) Discipline Qualification Review

After receiving the applicant's materials, the college will organize no fewer than three people to conduct a qualification review against the application requirements and will publicize the review results.

(III) Preliminary Review by Discipline and Determination of the Assessment List

The college will form a discipline expert group to carefully review the applicant's materials according to the relevant implementation rules formulated by the discipline, conduct a preliminary evaluation of the applicant's scientific research and innovation capabilities, and conduct screening. The laboratory, in conjunction with the applicant's preferred supervisor, will determine the list of applicants entering the re-examination (interview) assessment stage according to a certain differential re-examination ratio. The list of applicants to enter the interview assessment stage will be publicized on the website of the School of Artificial Intelligence.

(IV) Subject Assessment

The School of Artificial Intelligence will organize experts to conduct interviews. Specific details regarding the format, time, and location will be communicated to candidates in advance and made public. The specific requirements for the assessment are as follows:

1. The assessment will include four parts: foreign language proficiency, professional competence, research potential, and comprehensive ability. The focus will be on assessing the applicant's research and innovation capabilities, their potential and qualities for doctoral training in this first-level discipline, and their comprehensive abilities in analyzing, solving problems, and innovating. In addition, the applicant's ideological and political qualities, psychological well-being, and moral character will also be assessed.

2. During the assessment, each applicant must present a personal profile, academic performance, research projects, research achievements, and a research plan for their proposed doctoral studies. Supervisors may provide supplementary information, but must recuse themselves from the discussion and scoring process.

3. The assessment process will be standardized. The interview will last no less than 20 minutes, and on-site recording and score statistics will be maintained. The entire assessment process must be video-recorded for future reference. The Graduate School/Discipline Inspection Commission may send personnel to observe the process if deemed necessary.

4. The interview will generally be conducted in person. If interviews are conducted in batches, the assessment standards for different batches will be consistent, and the interview methods for the same batch will generally be the same.

(V) Review by the University's Graduate Admissions Leading Group

The University's Graduate Admissions Leading Group will review the applicant's application materials, subject assessment materials, and subject point recommendations. Within the quota limit for direct-entry doctoral students in the college's admission majors, those who pass the review must promptly accept the pre-admission notification through the "Recommendation and Exemption Service System" on the Graduate Admissions Website within the specified time.

VI. Supervision Mechanism

(I) Information Disclosure. The admission method for "direct-entry doctoral students" must adhere to the Ministry of Education's requirements for information disclosure, ensuring accurate information collection, standardized disclosure procedures, and timely content release. The Graduate School and each admitting college (department, center, laboratory) will proactively disclose admission policies, admission regulations, admission plans, admission major catalogs, applicant qualifications, application procedures, admission results, consultation and appeal channels, major violations and their handling results, according to their respective responsibilities. Admitting colleges (departments, centers, laboratories) must promptly publish relevant implementation details, the number of students admitted, and information on all applicants participating in the assessment on their respective websites. The final list of candidates to be admitted will be publicized for 10 working days in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Education. If there are any changes to the list during the publicity period, a special explanation must be given for the changes, and the changes must be publicized separately for another 10 working days. Applicants who are not included in the publicity will not be admitted.

(II) Applicants must provide truthful application materials. If any applicant is found to have submitted false materials, cheated, or engaged in other disciplinary violations, they will be dealt with seriously according to relevant national laws, regulations, and Ministry of Education provisions, depending on the severity of the offense. The applicant will be solely responsible for any resulting consequences, including non-admission or other related repercussions.

(III) Members of the subject matter expert group and the interview assessment expert group must adhere to academic and professional ethics.

(IV) The Graduate School and the University's Discipline Inspection (Supervision) Office have established the following telephone and email addresses for reporting violations related to admissions:

Supervision Telephone: 0755-22671162 (Discipline Inspection Commission), 0755-26536177 (Graduate Admissions Office)

E-mail: jiwei@szu.edu.cn (Discipline Inspection Commission), szuyz@szu.edu.cn (Graduate Admissions Office)

VII. Other Instructions

1. Doctoral supervisors recruiting "direct-entry doctoral students" must be those who have passed the doctoral supervisor recruitment qualification review for the current year. Each supervisor is generally allowed to recruit only one doctoral student per year, and the recruitment quota is included in the annual total recruitment quota for their respective major. Direct-entry doctoral students are not counted towards the cumulative quota for each supervisor's graduate students.

2. After enrollment, "direct-entry doctoral students" are subject to the management regulations and systems for doctoral students, enjoy the same treatment as doctoral students, and fulfill the relevant obligations of doctoral students.

3. During their doctoral studies, "direct-entry doctoral students" who are unable to continue their doctoral studies may, according to the university's doctoral student diversion mechanism and relevant regulations for "direct-entry doctoral student" training, voluntarily request diversion or be transferred to master's student training as stipulated.

4. Matters not covered in this plan shall be handled in accordance with the doctoral admission regulations for the current year.

5. This detailed rule is organized and implemented by the School of Artificial Intelligence. For any questions, please contact Ms. Yang: mingyinY@szu.edu.cn; 0755-26946884. School of Artificial Intelligence, Shenzhen University

September 4, 2025