For students studying abroad, one of the first things to do after obtaining a degree and returning home is to get it certified by the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC).

However, many students often ask:

What major will my degree be certified as?

Why does someone’s certification say “Business Administration,” but mine says “Fashion Marketing and Branding”?

What should I do if I want to add a “First-level Discipline”?

This article will explain the entire process of determining and reviewing CDGDC certifications, particularly for students in business and economics fields. Make sure to read through this!

1. Initial Certification: Usually Direct Translation

For the first certification, CDGDC typically translates the degree name and the English major directly. For example:

Master of Arts, majoring in Fashion Marketing and Branding

Master of Science, majoring in Finance and Investment

In other words, the initial certification generally does not include the domestic first-level discipline but rather translates your graduation certificate and course names directly into English.

2. Review: Add a Domestic First-Level Discipline

If you want your major to include not just the direct translation but also a domestic first-level discipline (e.g., “Business Administration,” “Finance,” “Applied Economics”), you need to apply for a free review within 12 months of receiving your certification results.

After review, the result may look like this:

Master of Arts, majoring in Business Administration (Fashion Marketing and Branding)

Master of Science, majoring in Finance (Finance and Investment)

This way, you retain your original specialized direction while also adding the domestic first-level discipline, which will be more useful for public exams, household registration, and qualification exams.

3. Review Process (Steps)

Open the Review Channel
Log in to the CDGDC official website → User Center → Click "Review". (Note: After 12 months, you can only apply by email, and there may be a fee.)

Prepare Materials

Domestic and Foreign Professional Comparison: Compare your transcript, study plan, and similar courses from 3-5 domestic universities. Highlight the similarities.

Personal Statement: Explain why you need a review (e.g., public exams, household registration, professional qualification requirements) and clarify the major correspondence.

Official Proof from Your School: Contact your graduation institution to obtain a degree and major proof with Chinese-English translation, including course descriptions.

Wait for Results
The review results will be available in approximately 15-20 working days, and your original certification remains valid during the review process.

Important: There is only one chance for a review, so make sure you are well-prepared!

4. Common Correspondences for Business & Economics Majors

One of the most common concerns students have is: What will my major be certified as?

For example, here’s how some common business and economics-related master’s programs might correspond based on past experiences:

Marketing, Human Resources, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Financial Management
→ Typically classified as Business Administration (1251)

Banking & Finance, Investment Banking, FinTech
→ Typically classified as Finance (0251)

Accounting & Finance
→ May be classified as Accounting (1253) or Finance (0251), depending on the course structure and school’s certification

Economics-related (Applied Economics, Econometrics, Digital Economics, etc.)
→ Generally classified as Applied Economics, Theoretical Economics, or Digital Economics

In short, whether your major is classified under a domestic first-level discipline mainly depends on:

The course outline and learning objectives

The similarity to corresponding domestic majors

Official proof from the graduation institution

5. Practical Tips

Prepare Early
For those who haven’t graduated yet, remember to save your course outline and English course descriptions. These will be very helpful for comparison during the review process.

Goal-Oriented
If you plan to take the civil servant/public sector exams, make sure to check the professional catalog of your target position to ensure that your review will align perfectly with the professional requirements.

Pay Attention to Timeliness
The review must be applied for within 12 months after receiving your certification result. After that, you can only apply through a paid process, with a lower success rate.

Conclusion

The first certification result is usually a "direct translation of degree + professional title."
If you want to add the domestic first-level discipline (such as Business Administration, Finance, Applied Economics), make sure to apply for the review within 12 months.
The more prepared your materials are, the smoother the review process will be.

In short:
Don’t let your professional title hold you back when applying for public exams, household registration, or qualification exams—make sure to pay attention to CDGDC certification reviews!