Understanding What a “Diploma” Really Means – and What the Equivalent Is in China

What is "diploma" in Chinese? A certified translator explains Diploma 在中国叫什么？是学位证还是毕业证？

“Diploma” 在中国叫什么？到底是学位证还是毕业证？

Understanding What a “Diploma” Really Means – and What the Equivalent Is in China

If you’ve ever tried to translate the word diploma into Chinese, you’ve probably run into this problem:

“Is it 学位证？Or 毕业证？”

Or… both?

Well, you’re not alone. In fact, according to my website stats, a lot of people have been googling this exact question — so let’s clear it up once and for all.

As a certified translator who has handled over 1,400 academic certificates, I’m here to walk you through what a “diploma” means in English-speaking countries like the UK, US, Australia, and Canada – and what the closest equivalents are in China.

What does “diploma” mean in English?

The tricky part is that diploma means different things depending on where you are. Let’s break it down by country:

🇺🇸 In the United States:

• A high school diploma = 毕业证 (from secondary school)

• A college diploma often refers to the certificate of graduation — so also 毕业证

• The actual degree you earn (like Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.) is usually called a degree, not a diploma — and that would be your 学位证.

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So, in the U.S., “diploma” generally refers to the physical certificate showing you’ve completed your course – not the degree qualification itself.

🇬🇧 In the United Kingdom:

• The term diploma is rarely used for university degrees.

• You might hear of things like a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), which is a qualification lower than a Master’s degree but higher than a Bachelor’s.

• Most students receive a degree certificate when they graduate — and this corresponds to 学位证.

There’s also something called the Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) or Foundation Diploma, which are shorter university-level courses – so again, it depends on context!

🇦🇺 In Australia & 🇨🇦 In Canada:

• Similar to the UK, diploma can refer to shorter tertiary qualifications.

• A full Bachelor’s degree leads to both a degree (学位证) and often a graduation certificate (毕业证).

• Again, diploma alone is more likely to refer to a sub-degree qualification.

So, “Diploma” 在中国叫什么？What's a "diploma" called in China?

Here’s where things get confusing – and interesting (depending on your perspective).

In Mainland China, university graduates typically receive two separate documents upon graduation:

1. 毕业证书 (Certificate of Graduation) – confirms you have completed your studies and met the academic requirements of your programme.
   

2. 学位证书 (Degree Certificate) – confirms that a specific academic degree (e.g. Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral) has been awarded to you.
   

This is known as China’s dual-credential system – and it’s unique compared to many Western countries where one certificate usually serves both purposes.

The system reflects two different aspects of your academic achievement:

• The 毕业证 is issued by the university’s administration and proves that you’ve finished your course.

• The 学位证 is issued by the Academic Degrees Committee and recognises your academic level or qualification — which may require meeting additional criteria like passing a thesis defence.
  

So when someone says “diploma” in English, it’s really important to ask: Which part of the Chinese system are they referring to?

• If they mean proof of course completion → they likely mean the 毕业证

• If they mean the academic degree level (Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD) → that would be the 学位证
  

In other words, “diploma” is not a one-size-fits-all word — and that’s why accurate translation really matters.

How I Translate 毕业证书 & 学位证书 (as a Certified Translator)

Since I specialise in Chinese-to-English translation, this is something I handle all the time – especially for clients applying for further study, immigration, or credential verification.

Here’s how I translate the two documents most commonly confused with “diploma”:

• 毕业证书 → Graduation Certificate/ Certificate of Graduation
  

• 学士学位证书 → Bachelor’s Degree Certificate (or Master’s/Doctoral Degree Certificate, depending on the level)
  

These are direct, word-for-word translations, and in my experience, they are the safest and most accurate choices for official use.

They fully meet the requirements of organisations like ECFMG, UK ENIC, and countless universities and government bodies. I’ve never had a translation rejected when using these terms – which is why I stand by them as my go-to approach.

Final Thoughts

As someone who regularly translates Chinese education documents into English (and vice versa), I’ve learned that context is everything. Two people can use the word diploma to mean two completely different things.

If you’re preparing your documents for overseas study, immigration, or job applications, it’s so important to get your terminology right – especially if you’re applying in the UK, US, or another English-speaking country where the word diploma could cause confusion.

That’s where certified translation comes in. You don’t want your application delayed because someone thinks you only did a short course when you actually hold a full Bachelor’s degree!

Need a certified translation of your 毕业证 or 学位证?

I’m a certified member of the CIOL (Chartered Institute of Linguists), and I specialise in translating education documents for official use in the UK, US, Canada and beyond. Feel free to get in touch for a quote!