OPINION

Opinion: Getting China’s Higher Education Reforms Right

By Caixin

Published: Aug. 25, 2025 5:39 p.m. GMT+8

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Students hold signs to welcome new students to Tsinghua University. Photo: Xinhua

As another academic year dawns, China’s class of 2025 is preparing to enter university and begin their chosen fields of study. But what awaits them is a higher education landscape in dramatic flux. Recently, universities across the country have announced lists of newly added and, more significantly, eliminated degree programs for the coming year. The scale of this overhaul is startling.

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China is undergoing a major overhaul of university programs, with 1,428 eliminated and 1,839 new ones approved in 2024; over 2,220 admissions were also suspended.
The reforms aim to realign higher education with economic, technological, and societal needs, targeting about 20% of majors for adjustment by 2025.
Concerns include the loss of long-term value disciplines like foreign languages and liberal arts, and the need to balance modernization with foundational education.

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What Happened When

2012：: A ministry regulation took effect requiring universities to adapt academic offerings to national and regional economic needs, scientific progress, and public demand.

2014：: Only 57 undergraduate programs were eliminated nationally.

2023：: China's Ministry of Education and four other departments issued a reform plan targeting university programs and majors.

2024：: In its review, the Ministry of Education approved the addition of 1,839 new undergraduate programs, canceled 1,428 programs, and suspended admissions for another 2,220.

By 2025：: The reform plan sets the goal to optimize and adjust around 20% of university majors and programs, adding new disciplines for emerging industries and eliminating outdated ones.