Zhao Cheng, a first-year law graduate student at a Shandong-based university, registered to take the civil service exam several days ago.

He said that nowadays, even a master's degree could not ensure a good job after graduation. By contrast, a civil service job offers stability, social status, and good conditions.

He said that if he passed the exam, and then passed the interview too, he would quit university and go for the civil service job.

"The employment situation is not optimistic. And we can not predict what it will be like two years later," he said. "Any employment chance is precious. And besides, even after obtaining a job, we can still find opportunities to continue studies in our free time."

Other students hold a different opinion. He Shuang, a first-year graduate student at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times that a master's degree adds weight to her resume, and the extra knowledge would help to climb the ladder once she started work in the civil service two years later.

"Some civil service positions require a master's degree," she said. "With a higher degree you have more choice."

He Shuang added that she thinks those who quit their master's degrees early are wasting resources.

"On one side, it is dishonest conduct and on the other, giving up halfway is wasting an opportunity to increase your knowledge," she said.

Sun Yongsheng, an international politics teacher at Qingdao University, Shandong Province, said he too understands their dilemma. "They are just creating more choices for themselves," he said.

But Sun suggests that though a civil service job is a good choice, students should be clear that not everyone is suitable for the work. "When hunting for a job, there are many considerations including your personality, major and ideal job," he said.