After five years of independent study, he will get a certificate in June this year equal to that issued to college graduates.

    However, he was refused the right to apply to the civil service because it accepted only regular college students, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

    Liang said he thought it was unfair because the law clearly stipulates that independent students may enjoy the same rights as college graduates if they pass a series of examinations.

    Liang's complaint came after two recruitment notices were posted.

    A notice from the Chongqing municipal government in December clearly said the applicants should be university graduates.

    And the other bulletin from the Chongqing Personnel Bureau in January has a similar requirement.

    Liang is not alone in his dilemma. Thousands of other people who have taught themselves at home are also facing discrimination.

    At a website which provides information on self-study, many netizens complain the requirement that civil servants be college graduates was unfair to those who studied independently.

    If government recruiters do not recognize self-study education certificates, how could other work units accept them, says a comment on the website.

    China started to develop an independent study higher education system in 1981. So far more than 40 million people have attended self-study examinations for the equivalent of college diploma.

    Experts say the current system that excludes independent students from civil service exams and training still has much to be desired.