BEIJING - The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China plans to enlist more college students during this fall's military recruitment drive, according to a national teleconference held on Friday.

More college students and graduates will be enlisted after the nationwide recruitment campaign starts from November 1, according to a statement of the conscription office of the Ministry of National Defence.

Young people with better educational background will enjoy preferential treatment during the recruitment, the statement said, without specifying the policy.

For the first time, online applications is available this year, the statement said.

The military started enlisting college graduates in 2001. By the end of 2009, college graduates accounted for 130,000 of the PLA's soldiers.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee, the country's top legislature, reviewed draft amendments to the Military Service Law in June. The draft amendments were created to help the military recruit more college students.

The draft amendments removed a stipulation that stated that full-time students can defer their military service. They also raised the maximum age for recruits to 24, allowing more qualified candidates to be recruited.