Will Chinese students continue to want to study abroad?

The pandemic shook up the higher education industry, particularly when it came to welcoming international students. And for universities in the United States and United Kingdom, the greatest source of opportunity comes from the country with the largest population on the planet: China.

In the past decade, China has seen a nearly 48% increase in the number of undergraduate students enrolled locally in public colleges and universities.

If Chinese students decide to study abroad, their number one choice is the United Kingdom (42%), followed closely by the United States (37%).

Over the past 10 years, the US saw an astounding 191% increase in the number of international students from China, while the UK became the number one choice for Chinese students who want to study abroad. From tuition fees and housing to visas and services, the economic benefit for these countries is too great to ignore.

But some would argue that the allure of studying abroad, particularly in the US and UK, is beginning to wane for Chinese citizens. Compared to last year’s admissions cycle, Chinese student applications decreased by 18% for the US and 21% for the UK.

Brexit, the Trump administration and pandemic-induced anti-Asian sentiments are just a few reasons why Chinese students might think twice about leaving home to study.

Meanwhile, staying in China has its own perks: tuition at local universities is significantly less expensive than going abroad, and there are more choices than ever before. In the past 20 years, China’s higher education system has nearly doubled in size.

Despite these shifts, here are four reasons why Chinese students will continue to pursue their degrees abroad.

China’s placement test is notoriously difficult

The gaokao, China’s National College Entrance Examination, is one of the most difficult exams in the world. This places immense pressure on young people, as they study for a test that will dictate their future: what quality school they can attend, and how they will ultimately build a career. This hyper-focus on testing is part and parcel of Chinese culture.

Studying abroad is one option to avoid taking the gaokao. For example, Chinese students can apply to take the US’s standardised tests (SAT and ACT) and skip the rigorous Chinese exam altogether.

Chinese parents want their kids to study abroad

Parents are key decision-makers and influencers when it comes to their children’s education. According to a recent study from the British Council about higher education in China, “almost a 10th of parents of school-age children said that they definitely wanted their child to study abroad, with more than half saying that they were at least seriously considering this option”.

And with China’s middle class exploding in recent years, more families are capable of sending their children abroad than ever before.

It’s about more than studying

University is about much more than just studying. For students, both domestic and international, university offers a chance to live away from home, meet new people from different cultures, discover new hobbies and interests and so on.

In addition to earning a degree, many Chinese students are open to new cultural experiences that are completely unique and unfamiliar to them. Studying abroad offers them a chance to learn a new language, meet people from different ethnic backgrounds and get real-life experience in a totally different part of the world.

Key influencers recommend US, UK

Students in China are also influenced by a range of sources, beyond just family. Research by Intead and Unibuddy found that 51% of students from Asia said chatting online with a student ambassador influenced their decision about whether to apply to a university.

Agents and alumni are also key influencers for students. Agents will strongly promote the UK and US universities that they work with while 70% of alumni from China will actively recommend that others study abroad.

Nicolas Chu is the founder and CEO of Sinorbis, a software company that specialises in helping higher education institutions recruit students from China through its integrated marketing platform and a professor of practice at UNSW Business School in Australia.