A total of 87 student pilots from military colleges will be able to study in public universities in China, the first of its kind in the country.

According to an official military news website, chinamil.com.cn, the new practice, which starts from 2013, will enable Peking University, Tsinghua University and The Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to enroll 25, 32, and 30 student pilots respectively this year.

The website says Peking and Tsinghua Universities, the two most prestigious ones in China, will lower entry requirements for the young pilots.

Under the joint education program, the public universities will be responsible for the student pilots' cultural and rudimentary courses while the military colleges for professional training and flight-related practice.

The student pilots will get diplomas from the two partner institutions upon their graduation after 4-year study.