Open colleges are all self-taught, and most of them have to attend full-time classes. It is difficult to graduate from the self-taught examination, but the gold content of the diploma is higher than that of the joint examination; Strictly pass the exam and be lenient with others. (such as Guangxin Campus of Open College of Shantou University)

Open College is to realize the strategic goal of strengthening Guangdong province through education and prospering Guangdong through science and education put forward by Guangdong provincial party committee and government. 1999, Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and Guangdong Provincial Self-taught Examination Committee approved the establishment of five ordinary universities in Guangdong Province (South China Normal University, South China University of Technology, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Shantou University and Zhanjiang Normal University), which is to improve the educational functions of ordinary universities in Guangdong Province under the new situation. Make full use of the teaching resources of famous universities, expand the scale of higher education self-study exams, give full play to the role of self-study exam examiners, and improve the quality of higher education self-study exams and the graduation rate of candidates.

The so-called continuing education college is a college-level unit that organizes self-study exams, adult education, online education and undertakes other training in universities. Its status is the same as that of law school and school of economics and management, and it is a branch of university. Continuing education is an educational activity for all members of society, especially adults, after school education, and it is an important part of lifelong learning system. Because the world economy and society are interested in continuing education.