Academic System
Update Pending
Some information on this page may be outdated or unverified. Contributions via GitHub are welcome.
Credit System
Qingdao University implements a credit-based academic management system. Credits serve as the basic unit for measuring and calculating student workload, with completing the required graduation credits as the primary standard for graduation.
Credit Calculation
In principle, the credit calculation for different course types is as follows:
| Course Type | Credit Calculation |
|---|---|
| Theoretical Courses | 1 credit per 16 class hours |
| Laboratory Courses | 1 credit per 32 class hours |
| Public Physical Education | 1 credit per 32 class hours |
| Intensive Practical Teaching (internships, course projects, graduation projects, etc.) | 1 credit per teaching week |
| Distributed Practical Teaching | 1 credit per 32 class hours |
Graduation Credit Requirements
| Program Duration | Minimum Graduation Credits |
|---|---|
| 4-Year Program | 160 credits |
| 5-Year Program | 220 credits |
| 7-Year Program | 300 credits |
Course Structure
The university offers four categories of courses: - General Education Courses: Including ideological and political theory, college English, physical education, computer fundamentals, and other required public courses, as well as general elective courses - Discipline Foundation Courses: Core foundational courses within the discipline - Professional Courses: Required and elective courses in the major - Special Courses: Innovation and entrepreneurship, social practice, and other specialized courses
Courses are divided into two main categories: required and elective.
Course Selection System
Course Selection Timing and Methods
- In the first semester of freshman year, you only need to select physical education courses. Notifications typically come around late military training period; other courses are arranged by the Academic Affairs Office, so no self-selection is needed
- In other semesters, use the Qingdao University Academic Affairs System for online course selection. Specific dates follow Academic Affairs Office notifications
- After the schedule is finalized, you can log in to "QDU Academic Affairs" (search "QDU Academic Affairs" on Baidu to log in) or use the WeChat official account "Qingxiao Zhu" to check
Course Selection Modules
Course selection is divided into multiple modules:
| Module | Description |
|---|---|
| Required Professional Courses | Must be selected; usually pre-arranged by the system |
| Elective Professional Courses | Self-selected based on credit requirements and interests |
| General Elective Courses (Core) | Must complete 6 credits |
| General Elective Courses (Non-core) | Must complete 4 credits |
| Aesthetic Education Courses | Must complete 2 credits |
Course Selection Advice
Among general elective courses, non-core courses are relatively easier to pass, such as popular courses like "Qingdao Tourism Geography." Freshmen have lower priority in course selection, so it is recommended to choose popular courses in sophomore or junior year. Core courses are mandatory for everyone, and typically the School of Foreign Languages requires two to three core courses.
Tuition System
Qingdao University's tuition follows a credit-based fee structure.
- Except for special programs such as Sino-foreign cooperative education, tuition for other programs is paid once per semester, with the amount related to the number of credits taken that semester
- The number of courses varies each semester, so the tuition amount also differs each semester
- Ultimately, over four years of graduation, the total tuition paid is fixed
- The "average per academic year XXXX yuan" in the admissions brochure is an averaged figure for convenience
- Generally, tuition for a four-year program is around 25,000 yuan; medical programs are slightly more expensive
Class Schedule
- University class schedules are fixed each week
- Each class is a two-hour lecture
- Classrooms are generally not fixed, arranged according to the course schedule
- Instructors may conduct unannounced roll calls, and counselors may also check attendance; attendance is linked to final exam grades
On Skipping Classes
Important Reminder
Skipping classes should at least be meaningful. Consequences of getting caught: - Being caught by the instructor will affect your exam grades - Being caught by the counselor means being called to the office for a talk - More than 10 unexcused absences result in a disciplinary warning recorded in your personal file - Absences exceeding 1/3 of total classes will result in disqualification from the final exam for that course
Evening Self-Study
- There is no fixed morning self-study
- Evening self-study is generally required in the first semester of freshman year; it is usually canceled in the second semester due to course arrangements
- If you choose not to go, just remember to submit a leave request; no one will make things difficult for you
Course Arrangement (Example: Computer Science and Other STEM Majors)
Freshman courses typically include:
| Semester | Main Courses |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Advanced Mathematics (I), Discrete Mathematics, College English, Ideological and Political Theory, C Programming, Digital Logic, Introduction to Computer Science |
| Second Semester | C++ Programming, Computer Systems Fundamentals, University Physics (III), Linear Algebra, etc. |
About Advanced Mathematics and University Physics
Advanced Mathematics and University Physics are each divided into (I), (II), and (III), with varying difficulty levels for different majors: (I) is the hardest, (III) is the easiest.
Major Transfer
Basic Requirements
- Students must have an exam course average GPA ranking in the top 20% of their major during the first academic year
- No disciplinary records
- You may list two preferences
Restrictions
- Students admitted to a lower batch of majors cannot transfer to a higher batch
- Cross-admission-category transfers are not permitted
- Students in Sino-foreign cooperative programs or university-enterprise cooperative programs cannot transfer to programs with a different cooperative model
- Students in the Normal (Teacher Education) School can only transfer within normal education programs; students from other schools are not accepted
- Non-medical students transferring to medical programs must repeat a year
- Starting from 2023, the target major's admission ranking must not be higher than the original major's, though this has since become more relaxed
Admission Rules
Receiving departments admit transfer students based on the percentile ranking of their exam course average GPA in their original major. Those not admitted to their first preference may participate in the second preference selection. If neither preference is successful, students remain in their original major.
Minor / Second Major
Enrollment Requirements
- After the completion of the first semester of freshman year
- Exam course average GPA of at least 75
- No course retakes required
- Each person may apply for only one major
Study and Certification
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Study Duration | Typically two years during sophomore and junior years |
| Minor Certificate | Awarded upon completing the required credits for the minor program (not an academic degree certificate) |
| Second Degree | Awarded to those who meet dual degree requirements (if the same as the primary degree, only one degree certificate is issued) |
The Academic Affairs Office announces the list of minor programs offered each spring semester, and each department admits students based on GPA ranking and merit.
Second Classroom
Second Classroom refers to a separate educational system complementing the first classroom (in-class course instruction), encompassing various extracurricular activities students participate in outside of class — ideological guidance, labor practice, cultural and sports activities, innovation and entrepreneurship training, physical exercise, growth portfolios, and more. It is not just about "activities" — it is a mandatory requirement linked to graduation: since the fall semester of 2024, Qingdao University has implemented the "Second Classroom Transcript" system, requiring undergraduates to complete 6 Second Classroom credits (of which 3 are innovation practice credits), failing to meet this requirement means not meeting graduation requirements.
- It is an upgraded version of the "College Student Quality Development Plan," making various extracurricular activities recordable, assessable, measurable, and presentable
- Participation hours are divided into participation hours (registering for activities, on-site check-in) and exchange hours (earned through certificates and honors)
- The transcript serves as an important reference for scholarship evaluation, postgraduate recommendation, party membership, and employment recommendations
Detailed rules (how hours are calculated, how credits are awarded, how to operate the platform) have all been compiled:
Related Column
Click here to view the Second Classroom Column.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Credits (Innovation Practice Credits)
Hello student, I'm a school administrator. Your essay criticizing current issues was deeply moving, and we feel quite ashamed. To reward you, please tell me your student ID and name, and I'll add innovation practice credits for you right away. (Just kidding, don't take it seriously)
Innovation practice credits are the 3 credits under the "Innovation and Entrepreneurship" category of the Second Classroom, and also a standalone required course ("Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice," 3 credits). Undergraduates earn credits through achieving results in academic competitions, innovation and entrepreneurship training projects, publishing papers, patents and software copyrights, professional qualification exams, and entrepreneurial practice, which are reviewed and recognized as credits, ultimately converted into course grades. Students who do not earn at least 3 points will not meet graduation requirements — there's no way around it.
- The higher the points, the higher the course grade (maximum conversion of 100 points)
- Applied for and recognized through the "Second Classroom" online platform
Specific scoring standards and calculation methods are compiled here:
!!! note "Related Column"
Click here to view the Innovation Practice Credits Column.
Use it as a reference to accumulate your points. Good luck!