Four women in Beijing have shaved their heads in protest over alleged gender discrimination in university admission ratios.

The women, who shaved their heads from Friday to Sunday, were spurred into action after another four women publicly shaved their hair off in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province Thursday, to raise public attention to the issue. They believe the Ministry of Education has failed to give a proper response to the matter.  

"It's unfair that in certain majors universities can set different requirements to recruit male and female  students," said Xiong Jing, one of the four activists on Sunday. 

The alleged discrimination mostly occurs in certain universities in China which are entitled to issue their offers in advance of other universities. Some male candidates can be accepted onto a course with a lower number of points from the national college entrance examinations, or gaokao, than can female students.

For example, in 2012, to study certain languages at Renmin University of China, males needed 601 points, but girls needed 614, the Beijing Times reported on July 8.

Other subjects this occurs in include artistic majors, or national defense-related studies.

In July, Xiong and her colleagues in the non-government organization Media Monitor for Women Network, joined by Beijing-based lawyer Huang Yizhi, sent an application to the ministry to clarify which universities are permitted to set different standards for recruiting students, and for what majors. They also asked for the reasoning behind the policy.

The ministry responded on August 23, stating "the police obey the laws on women's rights protection; and based on the national interest, certain majors and positions of specialty can adjust their admission ratios between male and female students," according to Huang.

"It was an arrogant response," said Xiong, "how could majors such as drama relate to national interests?" 

On August 27, Xiong and Huang sent another application urging the ministry to clarify the policy.

Others have joined in the campaign. Ouyang Le, a student who was rejected by the University of International Relations, said the policy will decrease women's confidence.

"My score is above 609, the requirement for boys, but lower than 621, the requirement for girls, so I was passed over," said Ouyang, who posted of her experience online.

Meanwhile, 20 lawyers in 12 cities said they would like to provide legal consultations to students who believe their equal rights for higher education have been violated.

The Ministry of Education could not be reached Sunday.