If you are lost, like me, among the many levels the Chinese describe one’s educational level or “cultural level”, this list may be useful. Classification is based on this document, GB/T4658－1984《文化程度代码》, literally “Code for Different Cultural Levels”.
Note: Some of these are my own proposed translations, they may not be correct , depending on where you are located, “university” and “college” may mean different things to you and/or your targeted audience.
| 代码/ Code | 文化程度 | Education Level (Cultural Level) |
| 10 | 研究生 | Postgraduate |
| 11 | 研究生毕业 | Graduated from postgraduate school |
| 19 | 研究生肄业 | Studied at a postgraduate level (but not graduated) |
| 20 | 大学本科 | University degree |
| 21 | 大学毕业 | University graduate |
| 28 | 相当大学毕业 | Equivalent to a university graduate |
| 29 | 大学肄业 | Studied in a university (but not graduated) |
| 30 | 大学专科和专科学校 | Associate degrees/college diplomas |
| 31 | 专科毕业 | College graduate (associate degree) |
| 38 | 相当专科毕业 | Equivalent to a college graduate |
| 39 | 专科肄业 | Studied at a college (but not graduated) |
| 40 | 中等专业学校或中等技术学校 | Specialized secondary schools or technical secondary school |
| [含工、农、林、财、艺、体、医、师范及其他]） | [including technical, agriculture, forestry, finance, arts, sports, medicine, teaching and others] | |
| 41 | 中专毕业 | Graduated from a specialized secondary school |
| 42 | 中技毕业 | Graduated from a technical secondary school |
| 48 | 相当中专或中技毕业 | Equivalent to a technical secondary school graduate |
| 49 | 中专或中技肄业 | Studied in a technical or specialized secondary school (but not graduated) |
| 50 | 技工学校 | Technical school |
| 51 | 技工学校毕业 | Graduated from technical school |
| 59 | 技工学校肄业 | Studied in a technical school (but not graduated) |
| 60 | 高中 | Senior high school |
| 61 | 高中毕业 | Senior high school graduate |
| 62 | 职业高中毕业 | Graduated from vocational high school |
| 63 | 农业高中毕业 | Graduated from agricultural high school |
| 68 | 相当高中毕业 | Graduated from an institution equivalent to a high school |
| 69 | 高中肄业 | Studied in a high school (but not graduated) |
| 70 | 初中 | Junior high school |
| 71 | 初中毕业 | Junior high school graduate |
| 72 | 职业初中毕业 | Graduated from vocational junior high school |
| 73 | 农业初中毕业 | Graduated from agricultural junior high school |
| 78 | 相当初中毕业 | Graduated from an institution equivalent to a junior high school |
| 79 | 初中肄业 | Studied in a junior high school (but not graduated) |
| 80 | 小学 | Primary school |
| 81 | 小学毕业 | Primary school graduate |
| 88 | 相当小学毕业 | Equivalent to a primary school graduate |
| 89 | 小学肄业 | Studied in a primary school (but not graduated) |
| 90 | 文盲或半文盲 | Illiterate or semi literate |