Beijing, PRC, April 18, 2012 -- China Distance Education Holdings Limited (NYSE: DL) (“CDEL” or the “Company”), a leading provider of online education in China focusing on professional education, announced on April 17 that it will hold its 2012 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (“AGM”) at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, 31st Floor, AIA Central, 1 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong on May 18, 2012 at 10:00 am local time. Shareholders registered in the register of members at the close of business on April 13, 2012 are entitled to receive notice of, and vote at, the AGM or at any adjournment that may take place. Beneficial owners of the Company’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying ordinary shares must act through the depositary of the Company’s ADS program, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.

The notice of AGM, which sets forth the resolutions to be proposed and seek adoption from shareholders, the Proxy Statement and a copy of the Company’s 2010 Annual Report are available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://ir.cdeledu.com.

About China Distance Education Holdings Limited

China Distance Education Holdings Limited is a leading provider of online education in China focusing on professional education. The courses offered by the Company through its websites are designed to help professionals and other course participants obtain and maintain the skills, licenses and certifications necessary to pursue careers in China in the areas of accounting, law, healthcare, construction engineering, information technology and other industries. The Company also offers online test preparation courses to selftaught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees and to secondary school and college students preparing for various academic and entrance exams. In addition, the Company offers online foreign language courses, offline GaoKao retake courses and offline business start-up training courses. For further information please visit http://ir.cdeledu.com.

Contacts:

Company Contact: Lingling Kong, IR Manager CDEL Tel: +86-10-8231-9999 x 1805 Email: IR@cdeledu.com

Investor Relations (HK): Mahmoud Siddig, Managing Director Taylor Rafferty Tel: +852-3196-3712 Email: cdel@taylor-rafferty.com