Source: Office of Admissions and Career Services
Recently, our university released the Annual Employment Quality Report for the Class of 2025. According to the report, the overall postgraduate advancement rate of undergraduates exceeded 21%, with 1,272 students successfully pursuing further studies, marking a record high in both number and proportion.
Among these students, 505 were admitted to postgraduate programs at universities in China, including 165 who enrolled in “Double First-Class” universities such as Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xiamen University, and Beihang University, accounting for 32.11% of all students continuing their studies.
International progression has also shown strong momentum. A total of 767 students chose to pursue studies abroad, bringing the overall overseas study rate to 12.58%. More than half were admitted to universities ranked within the QS World Top 100, including University College London and University of Sydney. Among them, 70 students from the College of Foreign Languages received offers from overseas universities, with 58.82% entering top 100 institutions worldwide. The Faculty of Sino-German Branding recorded an international progression rate of 76.65%, with 44% admitted to QS Top 100 universities.
Since the beginning of this year, 49 students from the Faculty of Sino-German College Branding have been admitted to postgraduate programs, receiving a total of 106 offers from prestigious universities. Compared with last year, the number of students admitted to postgraduate study has increased by 28.9%, while the total number of offers has continued to rise.
These achievements are closely linked to the university’s strong international orientation. In the International Competitiveness Ranking of Chinese Public Universities, ZWU has ranked first among universities in Ningbo for five consecutive years and third among universities in Zhejiang Province. In 2025, it placed 52nd nationwide, with its best historical ranking reaching 37th in China.
Behind these outstanding results lies a comprehensive and continuous support system for postgraduate advancement. From thoughtful assistance during the entrance examination stage to long-term cultivation of academic ability, multiple departments work together to support students. The Office of Admissions and Career Services has, for many years, arranged transportation services and volunteer teacher escorts for postgraduate entrance exam candidates. The Academic Affairs Office has developed a distinctive curriculum cluster covering key subjects such as English, politics, and mathematics. Meanwhile, the Library and Information Center has established dedicated study areas for postgraduate entrance exam preparation, providing an optimized learning environment.
Schools and departments across the university have also integrated postgraduate support throughout the entire talent cultivation process. By strengthening research platforms and faculty mentorship, they actively stimulate students’ academic potential. In 2025, the College of Biological and Environmental Sciences achieved a postgraduate examination qualification rate of nearly 69% and an overall advancement rate exceeding 33%.
One notable example is Du Haofei, a graduate of the school who is now pursuing a doctoral degree at Hainan University. During her undergraduate studies, she had already published several high-level SCI papers, exemplifying the success of this cultivation model. Another graduate, Chen Yifei, who majored in Art and Technology, was admitted to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. According to her advisor Xu Ningning, her success resulted from both her personal dedication and ZWU’s interdisciplinary and internationally oriented training model.
The all-round development of students’ comprehensive abilities has also strengthened their prospects for further study. Xu Andi, Zhong Keqin, Bi Xianghui, Qiu Jiayun, He Yubei, and Li Weihao—six student leaders from different classes in the School of Law—formed a study group known as the “learning partners”. This year, all six successfully secured postgraduate opportunities: five were admitted to domestic universities, while one gained admission to an overseas institution, demonstrating that student leadership and academic advancement can mutually reinforce one another.
In addition, the continuous improvement of ZWU’s graduate education system has created more convenient pathways for undergraduates to pursue advanced degrees. Since launching master’s programs in 2011, ZWU has established 14 master’s degree authorization programs and two jointly operated international master’s programs, forming a well-integrated talent cultivation system linking undergraduate and postgraduate education.
From targeted academic guidance to supportive human-centered care, ZWU is building a comprehensive pathway of support for postgraduate advancement, empowering students to pursue further study and opening up diverse possibilities for their future development.