Higher education in China centers on a system of 2,000 universities and colleges, with more than six million students. The system includes Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees, as well as non-degree programs, and is also open to foreign students.
The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China (MOE) is the government authority for all matters pertaining to education and language. The MOE notes that higher education in China has played a significant part in economic growth, scientific progress and social development in the country "by bringing up large scale of advanced talents and experts for the construction of socialist modernization."
China is also a major destination for international students, being the most popular country in Asia for international students, and the third most popular in the world. China is on track to overtake the United Kingdom as the second most popular country for international students by 2020.