English departments, once among the most popular programs at Chinese universities, are facing widespread closures across the country. Multiple factors including government policies, AI advancement, and market oversaturation have contributed to the decline of what was previously considered a prestigious field of study.
The trend began gaining attention in October 2023 when the University of Science and Technology of China, a top-tier “985 university,” announced plans to eliminate its English program along with five other undergraduate majors. As the first elite institution to take this step, the decision sparked significant debate about the future of English education in China.
The closures reflect broader policy shifts affecting English language education. China’s “double reduction” policy implemented in 2021 dramatically reduced after-school tutoring, leading to the closure of 95.6% of offline and 87.1% of online supplementary education institutions by September 2022. English training centers, being the most numerous, suffered the heaviest losses.
Further policy changes reduced English instruction hours in public schools. Under new curriculum standards introduced in 2022, English classes now account for only 6-8% of total class time, ranking third from bottom among all subjects, equal to moral and legal education.
Cultural attitudes are also shifting. As China’s international status rises and Chinese culture gains global influence, English is no longer viewed as an essential skill. Teachers report that students increasingly question the importance of learning English.
The job market presents additional challenges. Nearly 994 Chinese universities offer English programs, representing nearly 80% of all institutions, creating severe oversupply. With economic pressures mounting, employers prefer candidates with technical skills over language specialists.
AI technology poses perhaps the greatest threat to English majors’ career prospects. Advanced translation software and artificial intelligence tools now perform many tasks traditionally handled by English graduates, including interpretation and translation work. One teacher noted that some English majors produce work inferior to AI translations, questioning their market value.
A university instructor summed up the transformation: “English was a glorious profession over ten years ago, but the situation is completely different now.”
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), June 4, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202506040202.aspx