Students from Taiwan keen to study and work on Chinese mainland

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A growing trend in students from Taiwan has been to study on the Chinese mainland. As officials from both sides continue to expand cross-strait economic and social cooperation, students from Taiwan are keen to try their luck in big cities like Beijing.

The number of students from Taiwan studying on the Chinese mainland leaped from 7,346 in 2011 to 10,870 in 2015, according to statistics from Chinese Ministry of Education.

"Many students are keen to study on the mainland. They want to live here and really make it their home as well. This is very positive for youth exchanges across the Taiwan Strait," said Luo Dingjun, a student studying in Tsinghua University.

Students from Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Macau discussing together. /Xinhua Photo

In 2010, China's Education Ministry began to allow students to use their test scores in Taiwan to apply for universities on the mainland. And in 2013, students from Taiwan were included in the basic medical insurance system for mainland urban residents.

Fast forward to Oct. 1 last year and Chinese universities lowered entrance requirements for students from Taiwan - more than 200 such universities approved students with lower scores than previous years in Taiwan's college entrance exam.

"I hope the government can provide more internships and job opportunities specifically for graduates from Taiwan. For us, who have been studying here, nearly 80 percent are preparing to stay on the mainland for our career development," said Ze Hao, a student from Peking University.

Despite the promising economic prospects they are eyeing on the mainland, some students from Taiwan are hoping the service industry on the mainland can catch up.

Universities from Chinese mainland and Taiwan co-founded EMBA project‍. /Sohu Photo

"I think the service industry in Taiwan is better, but I see the mainland is slowly catching up, and I believe someday it will overtake Taiwan," said Huang Jinhong, a Peking University student.

During the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress held in October 2017, Chinese officials said that the people of Taiwan will be treated the same as those from the mainland in terms of pursuing their studies, seeking jobs or living on the mainland.