Chinese universities are cutting language majors as they shift resources toward artificial‑intelligence programs, a move that reflects both domestic policy directives and global trends in higher education.
Curriculum changes hit Japanese, German and translation studies
A survey released in May examined 70 institutions and found that eight schools dropped Japanese programs, five eliminated German courses and five cut translation studies. The data came from MyCOS, a Chinese educational consulting firm that tracks university offerings.
MyCOS noted that foreign‑language majors had been among the fastest‑growing fields for years. “Changing global trends and the rapid rise of AI translation tools are forcing these disciplines to rethink how they train students,” the report said.
New majors focus on AI and emerging technologies
Chinese universities have launched new majors in “embodied intelligence” and “low‑altitude economy.”
International perspective on language majors
Shaohua Fang, a postdoctoral fellow in applied linguistics at Purdue University, told Rest of World that AI’s rapid development has affected students’ willingness to pursue language degrees. Traditional career paths such as translation and language teaching are being challenged, she said.
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Fang, who will join Montclair State University as an assistant professor, remains optimistic that language courses will retain a role. “For students who are highly motivated to specialize in a language, or are looking to go into a career where the language would be a main pillar, it is clear that AI will not be able to replace them,” he noted.
Case study: adapting a Swahili translation course
Ao Manyun, who teaches a six‑decade‑old Swahili translation class at the Communication University of China, reported that students now ask whether human translation remains worthwhile when AI tools can translate instantly. The course has been redesigned to focus on directing AI translators, managing complex tasks and evaluating translation quality, according to an interview with People’s Daily.
The shift mirrors changes at the same university’s arts departments, where five majors—including photography, comics and visual communication design—were cut, while new AI‑infused programs such as “Intelligent Imaging Art” were introduced.
Broader trends in AI education
In the United States, AI master’s programs nearly doubled between 2022 and 2026, according to Programmes.com, with 304 institutions now offering AI degrees, including 193 bachelor’s programs. Industry leaders like Nvidia’s Jensen Huang have praised English majors as “the programming language of AI,” while BlackRock’s COO Robert Goldstein highlighted the value of humanities graduates.
These statements suggest a subtle view: AI may increase demand for analytical skills found in humanities, even as technical programs expand.
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Potential risks of rapid realignment
The current restructuring follows earlier waves of curriculum adjustment tied to government development goals. Between 2020 and 2024, e‑commerce‑related disciplines were heavily reduced as China’s internet economy cooled, and in 2025, marketing programs saw the largest number of cuts across the surveyed universities.
Analysts caution that such swift changes could leave gaps in fields that later prove essential, especially if policy shifts outpace industry needs.
Balancing AI and human expertise
Human oversight remains essential.
While AI tools can automate many translation tasks, experts argue that human oversight remains key for subtle contexts, cultural sensitivity and ethical considerations. The restructured courses aim to equip students with both language proficiency and the ability to manage AI systems.
As universities worldwide grapple with similar pressures, the Chinese experience illustrates how centralized planning can accelerate the adoption of AI‑focused curricula, for better or worse.