The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the ministry of education plans to recruit some 150,000 college graduates this year.
The age limit has also been extended to 24 years for those with a bachelor degree. The PLA usually recruits men aged between 18 and 20 and women aged 18 or 19.
Last year, China announced a series of policies to encourage more young people with higher education to serve in the army, including a payment of up to $3,500 for the student-turned soldiers.
It was reported in Times of India that 30,000 college graduates applied to join the army in 2009 and more than 100,000 were recruited.