Students from Ming Chuan University in southeast China's Taiwan pose for group photos at the former residence of Liu Mingchuan in Feixi County, east China's Anhui Province, July 11, 2017. (File photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese education official on Wednesday said the number of Taiwan students studying at the Chinese mainland's colleges and universities has exceeded 12,000.

Wang Zhiwei, an official with the Ministry of Education, said at a press conference held by the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing that the ministry welcomes Taiwan students and has continuously worked to formulate favorable policies for them to study on the mainland.

The ministry will allow more mainland schools to enroll Taiwan students and adjust majors to better meet the demands of Taiwan students coming to study on the mainland, Wang said.

Wang said the mainland has offered more scholarships to Taiwan students, covering full-time junior college students, undergraduates, postgraduates and doctoral students.

More than 7,000 Taiwan students obtained scholarships in the past three years, he added.

In addition, preferential policies have been drawn up to encourage Taiwan students to work on the mainland after graduating from mainland universities, Wang said, adding that support will also be given to Taiwan teachers who work on the mainland.