ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Higher education in China

Higher education means further education after high school or secondary school. In China, students attend elementary school for six years, middle school for three years, and high school for three years. After high school, they can choose to attend university, college or vocational school for further education.

In China, colleges and universities are both referred to as "universities". The education system is divided into two parts: undergraduate and graduate education. Undergraduate students attend four-year programs, while graduate students attend two to three years of postgraduate programs to earn a Masters or Doctorate degree.

Compared to many other countries, getting into a good university in China is highly competitive. This is because a higher education degree has become more and more important with the country's rise to global power. In addition, Chinese parents highly value education and put a lot of pressure on their children to excel academically.

Universities in China are often ranked based on their perceived prestige and academic performance. The best universities are known as the "C9 League", which includes Tsinghua University and Peking University. These universities offer some of the highest quality education in the country, but are also incredibly difficult to get into.

Once students are accepted into a university, they often live in on-campus dormitories and focus on their studies. The curriculum emphasizes math, science and engineering, but universities also offer programs in a variety of fields including humanities and social sciences.

Overall, higher education in China is highly valued and treated with great importance. Universities are highly competitive, but offer high-quality education that prepares students for successful careers.