The first round of undergraduate admissions for 2026 has concluded, and a new study highlights which majors were most frequently left unfilled. Data from MyCOS, a higher education research firm, analyzed first-round supplemental applications across 10 provinces: Anhui, Guangxi, Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shanxi, Yunnan, and Chongqing. The study examined 13,392 program groups, including 9,372 in physical sciences and 3,971 in history.
Accounting emerged as the most commonly unfilled major, appearing 410 times in the first-round supplemental applications. It was followed by Financial Management (398 times), English (379 times), Computer Science and Technology (372 times), and Chinese Language and Literature (261 times). Other majors in the top 10 included Network and New Media (257 times), Data Science and Big Data Technology (252 times), International Economics and Trade (237 times), Civil Engineering (232 times), and E-commerce (229 times).
Supplemental applications occur when universities fail to fill their planned enrollment quotas during the standard admission rounds, allowing them to seek additional applicants with public calls. This typically indicates that these majors struggled to meet their enrollment targets during the regular application process. It's important to note that the frequency of a major appearing in supplemental rounds is influenced by factors beyond student preference, including the scale of enrollment plans, institutional tier, geographic distribution, and admission policies.
Among the top 20 majors with the most frequent supplemental applications, Accounting, Financial Management, and English held the top three spots. Ding Changfa, an associate professor of economics at Xiamen University, commented that many universities, particularly private colleges, have rapidly expanded their offerings in finance, economics, and foreign language programs over the past decade. These programs are relatively low-cost to establish. However, the rise of artificial intelligence has significantly impacted fields like foreign languages, making graduates face intense competition. Consequently, it's not surprising that some of these majors fail to attract enough students.
Interestingly, several popular engineering majors also appeared on the list of unfilled slots. Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science and Technology were prominent among the majors requiring supplemental applications. MyCOS analysis indicates that the vast majority of unfilled slots in these programs are at private universities. Meanwhile, AI programs at top-tier institutions, such as "Double First-Class" universities and specialized industry-focused schools, are experiencing growing enrollment demand. For example, the AI experimental class at Beijing University of Technology, the AI elite class at Tongji University, and the AI program at Hunan University all saw their minimum admission rankings rise this year compared to last year.
Media reports this year show that AI programs at many universities are among the highest in admission scores. At Tongji University, the AI elite class had a minimum admission score of 677 in Zhejiang Province, ranking second only to the Engineering Experimental Class (Guohao Elite Class) by just one point. Similarly, Wuhan University's AI program (Ziqiang Class) achieved a minimum score of 674 in Zhejiang, placing it among the top programs and even surpassing the prestigious Hongyi Honors College. However, MyCOS data reveals that only 55% of AI graduates from the class of 2024 work in jobs directly related to their major, well below the national average of 73% for all undergraduate programs. Among those who didn't enter the field, 32% cited "failure to meet the professional requirements of the job" as the reason.
The shifting dynamics of AI and other popular majors indicate that the competition in undergraduate programs is evolving from "whether a major exists" to "the quality of the program." Simultaneously, a growing number of students who have passed the undergraduate admission threshold are choosing to enroll in specialized vocational colleges instead. Ding Changfa noted that many students now prefer public higher vocational schools, which offer practical skills, strong employment prospects, and lower tuition fees. This trend reflects a rational decision-making process by students and families, prioritizing career readiness and value over simply obtaining a bachelor's degree.
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