BEIJING — China's Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that the doctoral exams and the second-round postgraduates exams and interviews held by universities and institutions will be postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

No mass gatherings or large-scale exams should be held during the epidemic outbreak, said a guideline issued by the MOE, adding that local authorities, universities and institutions should make timely adjustments to their admission work plan in accordance with local prevention and control situations.

The guideline also called for the timely release of relevant admission information, to ensure the safe, stable and orderly admission of postgraduate and doctoral students in 2020.