Beijing will increase financial benefits from this year for its new army recruits who have a higher education degree or were studying at a university or college before joining the military, by some 20,000 yuan ($3,210) over their two years of service, according to the city's recruitment office.

China army wants more college students

The increased benefits include family allowance, employment compensation and endowment insurance. Recruits with a bachelor degree will earn at least 159,000 yuan for their two years of service, while those graduating from junior colleges will earn 153,000 yuan.

The families of new recruits will receive annual allowances of at least 25,000 yuan, 3,000 yuan higher than last year. Recruits who are still studying at higher education institutions will receive coverage for tuition or student loans from the government, of a maximum 6,000 yuan annually for undergraduates, 8,000 yuan for postgraduate students and 10,000 yuan for doctoral students.

The city has also created other preferential policies to encourage highly educated young people to join the army. Those who suspend their higher education to join the army can resume their studies upon retirement from the military. Those with a higher education degree will be given 10 extra points in the national postgraduate admission test after retirement.