Post-secondary education in China has experienced tremendous reform, has expanded with unparalleled growth and has developed into the world's largest tertiary education system. China has experienced decades of reform in their higher education system that has resulted in implementation of a highly successful Western-oriented university model. China's higher education system has continued to thrive and expand with the impact of a strong economic development trend that started in the late 1980's.
Colleges and universities in China admit students based on their score on the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, referred to in China as the Gao Kao (the high test). The gao kao national exam is similar to the American SAT, except it is a nine-hour test that is offered one time per year and is the only opportunity for a student to gain admission to any college or university in China. In 2009, more than 10 million Chinese students sat for the exam and only 3 out of every 5 students were admitted to a college.
China's higher education system is operated by the government with the best colleges and universities being government owned rather than private. China's private institutions are considered to be of lesser quality but still rank on the higher end of private colleges in the world. Before taking the gao kao exam students are required to select the three institutions they want to attend. Each institution has varying score requirements based on where the student lives and other factors that earn students points toward admission. For example, if the student has a parent in the military or have a parent that may have lost their life in the military the student can gain points toward admission. Students who are able to gain points toward admission consider points equal to 10's of thousands of dollars in educational value.
Institutions of higher education select the students for admission based on their scores and the order in which students select their institutions of preference. Most all students attending universities in China live on campus. Universities provide room and board for students on campus. Students typically live in dormitories where they share a room with anywhere from 1 to 7 other students. Students eat their meals in dining halls and live in very close proximity to their fellow students. Students choose the classes they will take and attend day and/or evening classes much like those in the United States.
China has more than 23 million college students attending classes in more than 1,900 institutions of higher education and before 2020, is expected to be the number one producer of research in the world. China's educational reform initiatives now focus on improving educational quality and availability of programs to meet the demands of their population. China's government has invested more than 43.8 billion dollars in 36 educational institutions in an effort to develop leading world class universities. Similar initiatives have been launched by the governments of Germany, South Korea, India and others.
China's central government establishes guidelines that provincial governments use to set tuition fees at different levels within higher education programs. Tuition fees in China are the responsibility of the student. All students attending a higher education institution must pay tuition fees. The government has established a diversified higher education financial assistance program. Students attending public or government operated institutions are eligible for financial assistance. Tuition fees vary according to the institutions, degree programs and location of the institution and sometimes the province the student lives in. Tuition fees are different for each program offered by the institution and some program fees double or triple in the 3rd and 4th years.
Students attending one of the six national normal universities that offer programs in teacher education have had their tuition fees waived since the fall of 2007 in return for their work as teachers in elementary and secondary public schools, following graduation from teaching programs. Students attending universities and colleges in China are eligible for State Grant programs that provide funding to highly qualified undergraduate students that are from low income homes. Students may also seek financial assistance through merit-based scholarship programs, work study programs, a limited number of tuition waivers and a variety of student loan programs.
Annual tuition in public institutions, which includes instructional and student living expenses, start at $2,500 and increase to more than $6,500 for a students 1st year depending on the quality of college and the degree program. Private institutions tuition rates start at approximate $3,500 and increase to more than $6,500 with variations in degree programs, location and academic standards. These tuition costs include instructional and dormitory costs and approximate costs for food and transportation.
Higher education in China still struggles with inequity in access to high quality educational programs which has been furthered by privatization issues, decentralization, and lack of educational funding. Graduates of Chinese institutions are limited by the teaching methods of rote memorization and lack the real-world experience required to be effective employees in a business and professional environment. Employers feel that a large percentage of Chinese graduates are not employable and need additional training beyond formal education.
