China's education system is composed of 4 components, i.e. basic education, occupational / polytechnic education, common higher education and adult education   

Basic Education

Basic education comprises of pre-school education, primary (6 years) and junior (3 years) and senior (3 years) middle schooling. Some argue that basic education should mean the K9 compulsory education covering primary and junior middle schooling duration. Since the issuing of the Compulsory Education Law of the PRC in 1986, governments at all levels have actively promoted nine-year compulsory education, and made remarkable achievements.

Medium-level Occupational and Polytechnic Education

Mainly composed of medium-level professional schools, polytechnic schools, occupational middle schools as well as short-term occupational and technical training programs of various forms.

China has been actively engaged in the international cooperation and exchanges in the field of vocational education. China has also made more and more contact with the UNESCO, UNDP, world Labor Organization, UNPF, APEC and other international organizations while the bilateral cooperation and exchanges between China and other countries has been increasingly expanded.

Common Higher Education

Common higher education comprises of junior college, bachelor, master and doctoral degree programs. Junior college program usually last 2~3 years; bachelor program 4 years (medical and some engineering and technical programs, 5 years); master program 2~3 years; doctoral program 3 years.

China's higher education is characterized by various forms, which encompasses basically all branches of learning, combines both degree-education and non-degree education and integrates college education, undergraduate education and graduate education.

Chinese government attaches great importance to the international cooperation and exchanges of higher education.Chinese government adopted the policy of "supporting overseas studies, encouraging overseas students to come back after they complete their studies.

Adult Education

Adult education comprises of schooling education, anti-illiteracy education and other programs oriented to adult groups.

Adult schools usually consist of the following: education radio and television universities, institutions of higher learning for workers and peasants, colleges for management personnel, education institutes, independent correspondence colleges, adult education offered by regular institutions higher education (departments of correspondence, evening universities, advanced training for teachers), TV education via satellite as well as the system of examinations for self-taught students at higher level.