Adult institutions of higher learning refer to schools that are approved to hold in accordance with national standards and examination and approval procedures, pass the national unified entrance examination for adult institutions of higher learning (adult college entrance examination), take the employees of ordinary high schools or above (secondary vocational schools) with the same academic qualifications as the main training objects, and implement adult higher education in the form of correspondence, amateur and full-time.

Including radio and TV universities, staff universities, amateur universities, staff medical colleges, management cadre colleges, education colleges, adult (continuing) education colleges in ordinary universities, etc.

The names of adult universities are mainly used to distinguish them from ordinary universities. Ordinary colleges and universities (hereinafter referred to as ordinary colleges and universities) refer to colleges and universities that are approved or put on record by the national education administrative department, mainly implement ordinary higher education, recruit high school graduates through the national unified entrance examination for ordinary colleges and universities, and provide them with full-time academic education. Students admitted to ordinary colleges and universities are also called "unified enrollment".

Some colleges and universities have also set up adult (continuing) education colleges to recruit students through the adult college entrance examination. These adult (continuing) education colleges also belong to the category of adult colleges. Adult colleges and universities recruit mostly students who have already worked. In recent years, more and more high school graduates choose to apply for adult colleges and universities after failing to take the general college entrance examination.

Adult higher education is an important part of our higher education system. It belongs to the national education series and is included in the national enrollment plan. The state recognizes academic qualifications. After the candidates take the national unified entrance examination, all provinces and autonomous regions organize the admission in a unified way and standardize the examination subjects.

Students who participate in adult higher education have completed the study and assessment of professional courses (undergraduate courses) through all theoretical courses (including practical links). After graduation appraisal meets the requirements, institutions of higher learning and the State Education Commission will issue professional courses (undergraduate courses) graduation certificates with nationally recognized academic qualifications. After graduation, they can apply for a bachelor's degree, which has the same effect as professional courses (undergraduate courses) graduation certificates recognized by other countries and is the same in use. At present, the adult college entrance examination is paid more and more attention by the society, and more and more people take the exam every year.