Adult academic education, also known as "adult formal education", is a general term for systematic primary education, secondary education and higher education for adults. All courses are completed according to the teaching plan stipulated by the state, and those who pass the examination are awarded corresponding academic certificates. Generally through classroom teaching, correspondence learning, radio and television teaching, self-study exams and other forms.

Students who participate in adult education should participate in the national unified adult college entrance examination. Adult college entrance examination is the abbreviation of adult education entrance examination, which is a national examination. It is the same as the general college entrance examination. Candidates need to take the national unified entrance examination, reach the unified admission line, and obtain admission qualifications. Only after graduation can you get the nationally recognized diploma of junior college and undergraduate course. The enrollment targets of adult higher education are mainly on-the-job workers, graduates from previous high schools (technical secondary schools) and graduates from previous junior colleges. Most colleges and universities have adult education colleges, which undertake the task of adult education. According to the requirements of national higher education, students study full-time or in their spare time.

Academic education and training can be carried out in imperial education and self-taught training courses of imperial education. Teachers can guide students to learn various subjects and systematically train weak subjects, so that students can pass the self-taught examination faster and improve their academic qualifications.