BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- High-school graduates from Taiwan will be able to apply to universities in the mainland with fewer academic requirements in 2019, the Ministry of Education said Wednesday.

They will have to achieve at least an average grade on the island's college entry exam in one of three subjects -- Chinese, math or English -- before applying to mainland universities, according to the ministry statement.

Before 2019, students were required to make a passing grade in all the subjects included in the island's college entrance exam.

Mainland colleges will assess candidates' performances on four subjects at most but have the autonomy to decide which four and by what grades, according to the ministry.

The policy aims to create more opportunities for young people in Taiwan to study in the mainland, the statement said.

Students in Taiwan can access more information on the website, www.gatzs.com.cn, and official websites of universities.

In 2010, the mainland allowed high-school graduates from Taiwan to use their grades in addition to the island's college entry exam as an academic reference for college applications but set the standard at the top grade. In 2011, it was lowered to the secondary level and to the average in 2017.