New dual-degree course for high-flying pilots

New pilots in China will soon be taking to the air a little more educated as they will be able to obtain two bachelor's degrees from both military school and university in a new dual program planned.

The program aims to churn out 87 pilots from Peking, Tsinghua and the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, along with participating military schools.

Candidates will be selected based on their performance at the National College Entrance Examination and medical checkups, said a statement jointly issued by Ministry of Education and the People's Liberation Army.

Military schools will train students to be qualified pilots, while they can also catch up with alternative studies and campus life at universities in the four-year program.

Tsinghua University will take in 32 students, Peking 25, and Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics 30.