Students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan studying at universities on the Chinese mainland will become the beneficiaries of a newly launched scholarship beginning next year, the Ministry of Education announced here on Tuesday.

Without disclosing the specific amount of the scholarship, the ministry said the new policy aims to attract more students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to study on the mainland, especially those who want to complete their master and doctoral degrees.

The entrance exam for graduate candidates is scheduled for next April 21 and 22. Potential candidates can get more information at on the exams at http://www.gatzs.com.cn.

China has adopted a set of new policies recently to attract Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan students to study at mainland universities.

Since September students from Hong Kong and Macao are being charged the same tuition and boarding fees as their mainland peers.

Taiwan students were offered the same favourable policies in September last year. They have also benefited from a scholarship fund that distributes 7 million yuan (around 875,000 U.S. dollars)each year.

Colleges that enrol Hong Kong and Macao students receive special subsidies of about 8,000 yuan (1,000 U.S. dollars) per student per year from the central government to cover extra educational costs.