Xi'an Jiaotong University, one of China's top universities in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, will for the first time enroll students from Hong Kong without admissions testing in 2017, as a State encouragement for Hong Kong high school graduates to continue their higher education in the northwestern province.

According to the university, students who want to study at the school can pre-register online from March 1 to 20 and then make on-site confirmation at the university from March 10 to 30.

The university will arrange interviews according to the candidates' information and announce admission results in late July, the university said on Wednesday. During the Hong Kong students' time at the university, the school will set up a special office for proper arrangement of their academic studies and living situation and will provide counseling and tutoring in areas they might be weak.

The Hong Kong students, as well as those from Macao and Taiwan, also will make an investigation trip on the State situation as well as participate in traditional festival parties and sports activities to allow them better understand the mainland.

At present, Xi'an Jiaotong University uses two admission methods involving testing to recruit and enroll students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Enrolling Hong Kong students without testing will mean more students can attend college there.

Xi'an Jiaotong University has cooperative agreements with 27 universities in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and has sent more than 100 students to those schools every year.

Official information shows that more than 150,000 students from Hong Kong are studying in universities and institutes in the mainland.