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Students from low-income families in rural areas will be able to apply for places at one of China&`&s top universities, Tsinghua University, under the provisions of a preferential recruitment plan.

The university&`&s admissions office says Tsinghua University will recruit five percent of its new undergraduate students from rural areas, or around 160 people, through the plan. The new policy aims to reduce the educational gap between cities and rural areas, and balance the use of China&`&s education resources.

Similar plans were launched in 2011 in five other top universities including Nanjing University and Zhejiang University in east China, in a bid to increase the equality of higher education.

In previous years, high schools in rural areas had the right to recommend students to participate in the plan. Now, Tsinghua University has put more power in the hands of students.

Under the preferential recruitment policy, students from rural areas who pass a separate test designed under the plan could be admitted by the university with scores lower than the regular admission score.

Applicants must submit a three-year complete school record from a high school in a rural area to prove authentic identity.