The Chinese capital of Beijing could double its university student enrollment in the next three to five years, educators said in Beijing December 16.

The experts from various educational institutions and government departments noted in a study report that the city has the potential to expand its university enrollment from the present 480,000 to 900,000 students.

Beijing is the country's largest higher education center, with 68 colleges and universities and a total of 250,000 students.

The city also has 73 colleges and universities for adult education with a total of 227,000 students.

Post-graduate students studying in Beijing account for one-fifth of the country's total, and Ph.D. candidates for one-third of the total.

The city also boasts a legion of first-class university teachers.

Despite these advantages, the educational potential of the city has not been fully tapped, the educators noted.

For instance, the student-teacher ratio at Beijing universities stands at an averages of 10 to one, while at most foreign universities, the rate is 20 to one.

This situation makes it possible for the city to double its university enrollment within the next three to five years, the experts said.