China has overhauled its higher education system by eliminating thousands of undergraduate degree programmes and introducing new technology-focused courses to better align universities with the country’s economic and industrial priorities.
According to data from the Ministry of Education, Chinese universities revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate programmes and launched 10,200 new ones between 2021 and 2025. The changes affected more than 30% of all university programmes nationwide.
Most of the cuts targeted arts, humanities, foreign languages, and management disciplines, which officials increasingly view as oversaturated amid a challenging job market and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
At the same time, universities expanded programmes linked to emerging industries. Several institutions introduced majors in embodied intelligence and other AI-related fields to support Beijing’s goal of becoming a global leader in advanced technologies.
The reforms come as China faces mounting pressure to improve graduate employment outcomes. Record numbers of students are entering the workforce each year, while many struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications.
Education experts say the restructuring reflects China’s efforts to build a workforce equipped for future industries.
However, some researchers argue that universities should adopt more flexible learning models that allow students to tailor their studies to evolving career opportunities rather than relying solely on frequent programme changes.
Industry professionals also note that the traditional path of studying a specific major and remaining in a matching career for life is becoming increasingly rare in a fast-changing, technology-driven economy.
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