Huazhong Agricultural University has a rich history of graduate education, dating back to 1953. In 1981, with the approval of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee, the university became one of the first institutions in the country authorized to confer doctoral and master's degrees. It played a significant role in cultivating the first agricultural science doctoral candidate and the first fruit tree science doctoral candidate in China.

After years of development, the university's academic disciplines have become more comprehensive. The layout of degree-granting programs has become increasingly rational. In disciplines such as science, engineering, agriculture, and management, the university is authorized to grant doctoral degrees, with 16 first-level discipline doctoral degree-granting programs and two professional doctoral degree-granting programs (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Biology and Medicine). In disciplines including economics, law, literature, science, engineering, agriculture, and management, the university is authorized to grant master's degrees, with 28 first-level discipline master's degree-granting programs. It holds qualifications to confer master's degrees in 16 specialized fields, including agriculture, veterinary medicine, landscape architecture, business administration, social work, public administration, forestry, applied statistics, translation, mechanical engineering, resources and environment, biology and medicine, law, journalism and communication, electronic information, and accounting.