China will disqualify those involved in academic misconduct from receiving postgraduate national scholarships, according to a joint statement issued by the ministries of education and finance on Thursday.

The two ministries said in the statement that those confirmed to have engaged in plagiarism and falsification will be excluded from becoming candidates for national scholarships.

This is the latest move from China's education authorities to curb misconduct and corruption in academic circles after a series of scandals took the spotlight in recent years. The Ministry of Science and Technology in 2011 even stripped a professor from Xi'an Jiaotong University of a national prize because of plagiarism.

Supported by the Ministry of Finance, the Postgraduates National Scholarship scheme was set up in September 2012 to encourage scientific study and academic research among postgraduate students.

A total of 45,000 postgraduate students will be selected annually as recipients. Graduate students for a master's degree may receive 20,000 yuan (3268.8 US dollars) while those for a doctoral degree may receive 30,000 yuan.