Statistics released by China's Ministry of Education show that 2018 saw an expansion of undergraduate education in the country. The net entrance rate to undergraduate education increased by 2.4 percentage points to 48.1 per cent, with the total number of entrants increasing by 3.9 per cent - the fastest increase since 2009 - despite a decline in student-age population.

A large part of this growth is due to an expansion in higher vocational education. Almost half of Chinese undergraduate HE entrants are on three-year diploma courses, and China's current education policy calls for an increased focus on this type of education. According to the MoE statistics, the growth in entrants at higher vocational level was almost twice as fast as among those joining bachelor's degree programmes.

Other highlights from the recently-released statistics include:

• Continuing strong growth in postgraduate education, with the number of new students at the master's and PhD level increasing to 858,000.
• An increase in the entrance rate to upper secondary education (ages 15-18), with 88.8 per cent of students now staying in school for this level of education, although the total number of students fell due to a drop in the relevant student-age population
• A shift from vocational to academic courses at the upper secondary level, with academic senior high school entrants falling by only 0.9 per cent compared to a 4.4 per cent drop in new students in the less-prestigious vocational stream.
• Continued progress in enrolment at the pre-school level, with 81.7 per cent of children now entering pre-school education - although again the absolute number of new entrants has fallen for demographic reasons
• A continuing shift towards private education - for example, private academic senior high schools saw a 5.9 per cent increase in new students compared to an 0.9 per cent overall decline at this level

Analysis by Kevin Prest, Senior Analyst, British Council International Education Services

Although most students and their families still see higher vocational education as a less-prestigious option compared to bachelor's degree study, the Chinese government is placing increasing focus on this type of education and working both to increase the quality and expand student numbers. This trend is likely to continue, driven by factors such as a significant increase in the number of higher vocational colleges opened in 2019 as reported in a previous British Council IES news article. Meanwhile government policy at the bachelor's degree level still continues to focus on quality rather than quantity.

The continued expansion in postgraduate places is also due to government policy. In the longer term this may undermine demand for overseas postgraduate study, but at the moment the increase is outpaced by even faster growth in the number of students attempting China's postgraduate entrance exam which suggests continued opportunities for UK universities' recruitment in China.

The growth in private education reflects China's increasing affluence, and is likely one of the factors which led to the recent announcement of stricter control over private school curriculums at the compulsory education level. There is more flexibility at the upper secondary level which can lead to opportunities for international schools at this level.

Sources

Ministry of Education - 2018 National Education Statistics Bulletin (in Chinese): http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_sjzl/sjzl_fztjgb/201907/t20190724_392041.html

British Council IES - Significant expansion in higher vocational colleges in inland Chinese provinces (June 2019): https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/significant-expansion-higher-vocational-colleges-inland-chinese-provinces

British Council IES - Government report shows increasing competition for domestic postgraduate study in China (August 2018): https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/government-report-shows-increasing-competition-domestic-postgraduate-study-china

British Council IES - China issues reform plans for compulsory and high-school education, tightens rules on the use of overseas materials at the compulsory education level (July 2019): https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/china-issues-reform-plans-compulsory-and-high-school-education-tightens-rules-use