Several Chinese universities are scrapping or suspending degree programs deemed replaceable by AI. The Communication University of China (CUC) eliminated or merged 16 majors including photography and translation in 2025, while 1,428 programs have been cut nationwide since 2024.
2021–2025 · China Ministry of Education
China Rewires Its Universities for the AI Era
Chinese institutions revoked or suspended roughly 12,200 undergraduate programs and launched about 10,200 new ones centered on AI and data — a state-directed overhaul touching more than 30% of all university programs nationwide.
~12,200
programs cut or suspended
~10,200
new AI & data programs added
30%+
of all programs adjusted
Out with the old, in with the AI
Removals and additions ran in parallel — a near-even swap, by program count.
~10,200
ADDED (AI & DATA)
Fields cut most often, 2020–2024
Practical majors in information management, marketing and design led the reductions.
Information management & systems 160
Information & computational science 123
Case study · Communication University of China, 2025
16 undergraduate programs scrapped or suspended — many in the arts — and replaced with AI-integrated majors.
REMOVED / MERGED
Photography · comics · visual communication design · new media art · fashion design · translation
NEW & AI-INTEGRATED
Intelligent imaging art · intelligent audiovisual engineering · intelligent engineering & creative design
Spreading nationwide: Jilin University suspended 19 programs; Sichuan University trimmed from 144 to 105 since 2019.
Support
A practical realignment for the AI era — concentrating resources in STEM and AI fields and easing employment mismatches.
Concern
Eroding prospects for creative work — translation, photography, illustration, design. New programs have little track record, and whether they will deliver AI-era talent remains unproven.
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