BEIJING -- A former admissions officer at a top Chinese university admitted in court Thursday that he accepted millions of dollars in bribes from people seeking favours for applicants, the court said.

The Nanjing Intermediate People's Court did not immediately announce a verdict following the trial of Cai Rongsheng, the former head of admissions at Renmin University in Beijing.

Prosecutors said Cai received $3.6 million between 2005 and 2013 in exchange for helping 44 students gain admission or have their majors adjusted. State media said one beneficiary was the daughter of a Hong Kong businessman.

The trial was held in the neutral venue of Nanjing in eastern China to avoid possible interference. In a statement, the court said Cai had showed contrition.

The case is part of a crackdown by authorities on corruption in higher education and a broader campaign to fight graft in all public sectors.

Earlier this week, the Education Ministry announced the removal of Wang Cizhao as head of the Central Conservatory of Music after he was accused of using his position to obtain discounted services for his daughter's lavish wedding.

Yang Fangchun, vice-president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, was earlier fired after some university employees siphoned $440,000 from public funds into a secret stash.

Liu Yadang, vice-president of the University of International Business and Economics, was dismissed after he failed to report $200,000 in income from serving on the boards of six companies.

Last week, the president and a vice-president of the Communication University of China were removed over several mismanagement issues.

More university administrators have been reprimanded.

Education Minister Yuan Guiren said Tuesday that the education sector should be free of corruption.