URUMQI - Over 20,000 students in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Northwest China, who identify as ethnic minorities, will be accepted onto courses at inland schools and universities this year.

A total of 9,880 students from Xinjiang will go to study in inland high schools, 3,300 will attend inland vocational schools and 8,600 will study at inland universities, according to the Xinjiang inland student program office under the regional education department.

Ethnic minority students have been awarded places at schools and universities in inland regions since 1989, in a program designed to offer gifted students a better quality education and, subsequently, greater opportunities.

Statistics from the office show that more than 60,000 high school graduates in Xinjiang have been admitted by inland universities while more than 90,000 students from Xinjiang have been taught at inland high schools so far. Most of these students return to work in Xinjiang after graduation.