Major Moves: China’s University Students Clash Over Coveted Disciplines Amid Job Market Concerns

Chinese university students intensely compete for majors that promise the best career opportunities. A lot of them depend on old advice from parents who experienced fewer challenges in switching to their desired majors after enrollment.

John Fan, a student at Changan University in Xian, central China, was delighted when he successfully switched his major from mechanical engineering to his preferred field of computer science.

Fan represents just one of the numerous students across China who switch their majors during their freshman year at university, motivated either by the desire for better career opportunities post-graduation or due to disinterest in their initial field of study.

"Fan mentioned that his decision to attend Changan University was influenced by the availability of a transfer option into the computer science program," he explained, noting his fascination with the field and the promising career opportunities it offers.

The battle to secure a spot in computer science and other sought-after fields of study has intensified lately. This comes as more university seats are made available, even as economic expansion slows and the job market remains lackluster.

Fan mentioned that among his peers in the first-year mechanical engineering program, numerous students were looking to switch majors, yet only those with top grades managed to do so successfully.