Students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan studying at universities on the Chinese mainland will become the beneficiaries of a new scholarship program to be launched at the beginning of next year, the Ministry of Education announced in Beijing on Tuesday.

 

Without disclosing specific scholarship amounts, the ministry said the new policy aims to attract more students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to study on the Chinese mainland, especially those who want to complete their master and doctoral degrees.

 

China recently adopted a series of new policies recently to attract more Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan students.

 

Since September, students from Hong Kong and Macao pay the same tuition and boarding fees as their Chinese mainland peers.

 

Taiwan students were offered the same favorable policies in September last year. They have also benefited from a scholarship fund that hands out grants worth a total of seven million yuan (around US$875,000) each year.

 

As a further incentive, colleges that enroll Hong Kong and Macao students receive special subsidies of about 8,000 yuan (US$1,000) per student per year from the central government to cover extra educational costs.

 

The entrance exam for graduate candidates is scheduled for next April 21 and 22. Potential candidates can get more information on the exams at http://www.gatzs.com.cn.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)