Tu is regarded as the "Three-Without Scientist" – no postgraduate degree (there was no postgraduate education then in China), no study or research experience abroad, and not a member of either the Chinese national academies, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering.
屠呦呦被认为是“三无科学家”——无研究生学位（中国当时没有研究生教育），无海外学习或研究经历，也不是任何一家中国国家科学院即中国科学院和中国工程院的院士。