MORE than 200 universities on the Chinese mainland are enrolling students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan this year, up from 159 universities last year, according to the Guangdong Examinations Center.

"To strengthen the relationship between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, more universities would like to enroll overseas Chinese students," an official of the center told the Shenzhen Daily on Friday (June 9).

Jinan University, which accommodates more Taiwan students than any other mainland university, has set no ceiling for the number of Taiwanese freshmen in the academic year beginning September 2006, Zhuang Youming, head of the enrollment office of the university, said yesterday.

More than 600 Taiwan students are studying on its campus. The university will enroll 1,900 students from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs) this year, the same as last year. "But we have received more applications from overseas Chinese students than last year," said director Lu of its publicity department.

Jinan University will collaborate with Huaqiao University in Fujian Province to hold examinations for overseas Chinese students from today to Wendesday in Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Macao.

Shenzhen University will also recruit more than 100 overseas Chinese students this year, said the university's recruitment office.

Even universities in Inner Mongolia are luring overseas students with an annual allowance of 8,000 yuan (US$1,000). Tuition fees for overseas Chinese students will be the same as mainland students.

The national examinations for overseas Chinese students will be held from June 23 to June 25. Students who take Jinan and Huaqiao University examinations can also take national examinations if they also apply for other universities.

National examinations will be held in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Macao.

Overseas Chinese students who have finished middle school are eligible to appear for the national examinations. Candidates were required to sign up via the Web site www. ecogd.edu.cn or mail applications to the College of Chinese Language and Culture of Jinan University.

Editor: Wing