Fudan University will start next year to enroll students majoring in foreign languages other than English before the national college entrance examination, the school announced yesterday.

 

During the first year, the new policy will cover students majoring in three languages - Japanese, Korean and Russian.

 

The school will accept eight students for each language from across the country under the new policy.

 

Applicants will be required to sit a comprehensive academic test organized by Fudan on December 24, followed by an interview by an expert panel next January, school officials said.

 

Admission letters will be issued before the national college entrance exam is held on June 6 to 9, Fudan officials said.

 

"Admissions without college entrance exams are expected to help us enroll suitable students who have an actual interest in non-English foreign language learning," said Zheng Fangxian, director of Fudan's admission office.

 

The school says few students apply to major in foreign languages other than English.

 

The Ministry of Education gave approval to 19 universities last year to enroll non-English foreign language students without asking for college entrance exam scores.

 

Students enrolled under the policy won't be allowed to change their majors after their first year of study.

 

Also starting next year, Fudan will stop giving extra points on the entrance exam to students who excel in arts or sports in order to create an "unbleached and fair" system, university officials said yesterday.

 

Previously, students who excel in their academic study or those who have outstanding arts or sports skills were given up to 20 bonus points on the college entrance exam.

 

The local education commission also gives bonus points, a policy that won't change, according to the university.

 

(Shanghai Daily November 10, 2006)