Forty-five foreign students studying at Beijing Language and Culture University graduated on schedule Wednesday.
The students come from more than 20 countries and regions, including Britain, Portugal and Canada.
Because of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in April and May, the university had set up two schedules for the foreign students' thesis defense.
By June 23, 41 foreign students had defended their theses. The other 78 are scheduled to do so on Aug. 15.
To ensure that the students graduated on time, the university professors provided thesis guidance via the telephone, the Internet and fax.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2003)