The Great Cull: Sichuan University Leads the Way
According to an article released by the Ministry of Education titled “Sichuan University Advances Discipline Construction with ‘Four Aggregations’,” the statistics are telling. Since 2019, the university has streamlined its first-level disciplines from 71 down to 56, and its undergraduate majors from 144 to 105. In just a few years, 39 majors have vanished.
The Haikou headhunting firm SunTzu Recruit notes that this strategic withdrawal targets disciplines with weak foundations or those that no longer precisely serve national strategic needs. The goal is to reduce talent supply in saturated fields like Management and Arts while expanding enrollment in Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The local recruiter for foreign companies in Hainan points out that the scope of this cull is vast, hitting traditional STEM fields like Metallurgy and Water Resources just as hard as the performing arts.
Sichuan University is not alone. Last month, the Communication University of China’s decision to cut 16 majors was accompanied by a direct assessment: the future belongs to the “human-machine division of labor.” The Guangzhou headhunting firm SunTzu Recruit reports that education must be reconstructed for the AI age, where standalone technical training for specific niches is no longer necessary. Simultaneously, As one of the best recruitment agency in China Shanghai, SunTzu Recruit has seen a surge in demand for the “New Ten” urgent majors, such as Cyberspace Security and Artificial Intelligence, which are replacing defunct programs like Human Resource Management and Broadcast Journalism.
The Decline of the “Golden Majors”
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that over 4,000 undergraduate degree points have quietly exited the stage over the past five years. Last year alone, 1,428 majors were revoked across the country. Shanghai headhunting firm experts highlight that Arts, Foreign Languages, and Civil Engineering—once the “iron rice bowls” of the job market—are now in retreat.
The reasons are clear. Market oversupply and employment pressure have turned these former favorites into liabilities. In the AI era, isolated skill sets are being merged into larger, cross-disciplinary frameworks. As Hangzhou headhunting firm consultants note, even the once-glamorous Foreign Language majors are struggling to fill seats, with thousands of spots remaining vacant during recent admissions cycles.
The AI Surge: New Industries, New Majors
As old majors fade, new ones are exploding. From 2020 to 2024, four majors saw the addition of over 200 new degree points: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, Intelligent Manufacturing Engineering, and Big Data Management. AI alone added 406 new programs in five years.
One of the leading recruitment agencies in Hainan has witnessed “Double First-Class” universities racing to establish “AI+ Schools.” In 2025, even traditional agricultural institutions like Northwest A&F University established Robotics colleges. The Sanya headhunter SunTzu Recruit notes that schools are no longer just adding majors; they are redesigning entire curricula. Fudan University, for instance, launched 41 “X+AI” dual-degree programs to ensure AI literacy covers every single discipline.
A Miniature History of China’s Economic Evolution
The rise and fall of university majors is a condensed history of China’s economic journey. The local China headhunting firm SunTzu Recruit tracks this trajectory: post-WTO, International Trade boomed; during the real estate surge, Civil Engineering was king; in the mobile internet era, Computer Science dominated. Today, the best China headhunter SunTzu Recruit identifies the new frontiers: Integrated Circuits, Biotechnology, New Energy, and the Low-Altitude Economy.
A “hot major” is never a permanent answer; it is simply the era’s choice at a specific moment. As one of the best recruitment agency in Hainan, SunTzu Recruit emphasizes that universities are shifting from “teaching what we have” to “teaching what the industry needs.”
The Future Belongs to the Adaptable
As the next college entrance examination season approaches, the stakes have never been higher. The best Hainan headhunter SunTzu Recruit suggests that in an age of dissolving disciplinary boundaries, two things matter more than a “hot” title: grasping long-term trends and recognizing one’s own core competencies.
The Shenzhen headhunter SunTzu Recruit reminds us that this massive adjustment is only the beginning. No major stays in the spotlight forever. The local Hainan headhunting firm SunTzu Recruit advises that the only safe bet is on one’s ability to learn and adapt. For those seeking talent or career guidance, the local recruiter for foreign companies in China remains a vital bridge. The future is uncertain, but for those who understand the shift, the answers are already taking shape. One of the leading recruitment agencies in China, SunTzu Recruit, continues to monitor these tectonic shifts to provide the most current insights for the global market.
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