During the Reportage in Shanghai, The Postech Times interviewed two students currently studying in China regarding the academic life of a Chinese student.
In Korea, the primary instrument for university admissions is the College Scholastic Ability Test, widely known as Suneung. What characterizes the equivalent entrance exam in China?
Upon graduating from secondary education, students who are not specialized in arts or physical education must sit for the National College Entrance Examination, more commonly called the Gaokao. Unlike the Suneung exam, the Gaokao is not a uniform national exam. The test serves as the primary metric for admissions, but it’s not just the numeric score that gets taken into account. Examination content varies by region: some provinces share question sets while others create their own exams tailored to local educational standards. As a result, applicants are ranked provincially rather than nationally. This regionalized structure reflects significant disparities in higher education quality and resource distribution across China’s provinces.
Which professional paths and academic majors are most popular for students in China, and how is the state of the current labor market?
A large portion of students prioritizes high income and job stability. Consequently, traditionally prestigious fields such as medicine, law, and engineering remain extremely competitive. In addition, expectations surrounding the near-future societal impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have driven a surge of interest in Computer Science programs. The overall preference for science and technology fields is largely based on the belief that these professions offer more stable and future-oriented careers.
The Chinese labor market is currently highly saturated, particularly with well-educated individuals such as recent graduates. This has produced a major population of unemployed but highly educated youths. However, I feel that this issue is not unique to China; it reflects a broader global trend in which increasingly competitive labor markets demand ever higher qualifications.
Below are two common questions we asked the interviewees, and a summation of their responses.
What are the defining features of the campus life and collegiate experience for students in China?
Chinese universities—especially institutions under the “Double First-Class” initiative, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, and Fudan University—often feature vastly spanning campuses. The pedestrian commute between dormitories and academic buildings frequently exceeds 20 minutes. As a result, many students rely on bicycles or electric motorcycles for transportation, the latter being especially common in large cities such as Shanghai.
Although extracurricular organizations and student societies exist, the university experience is generally regarded as a continuation of rigorous academic training. Students typically maintain a strong focus on scholarship , often prioritizing academic performance over recreational activities or leisure.
Finally, what do you think are the greatest strengths of Chinese institutions?
Beyond their competitive academic environment, a major structural advantage of Chinese higher education lies in its centralized adaptability. Consistent government support allows universities to rapidly adjust curricula to align with national priorities—most notably the swift integration of AI into standard degree programs. Combined with substantial research funding and relatively low tuition supplemented by financial aid, the system enables institutions to maintain advanced academic resources while remaining accessible to a broad and diverse student population.
