Why is China an attractive study destination？

By Richard Coward

According to the Ministry of Education, the number of international students studying in China has risen by an average of 13% each year. In 2005, there were 141,087 foreign students studying in China, 238,184 in 2009, and in 2016 that number is 442,431. Now China is the third most popular study destination in the world, after UK and US. 

China has set the target of attracting 500,000 foreign students by 2020, and is currently on track to exceed this number.

Foreign students make dumplings in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 28, 2017. Shanghai University held activities for foreign students to experience Chinese Lunar New Year culture. [Photo: Xinhua]

There are three main reasons that China is becoming an increasingly attractive study destination:

 - Cost

 - Quality

 - Experience

While living costs vary according to each student and their living habits, studying in China can be relatively cheap compared to other study destinations and to students’ home countries.

The tuition fees can range from as low as 7000 RMB (1000 USD) per semester for a Chinese language program and 18,000 RMB (2700 USD) per year for Degree Programs in English or Chinese.

University accommodation can also be quite affordable as it is often subsidized. There are some Universities in China where the cost is 900 RMB (135 USD) for the whole year. This annual accommodation cost can be less than the cost of accommodation in other countries per week!

Living costs are also low, especially in second and third tier cities which are seeing the majority of foreign student growth. 

Many cities in China have fantastic transport systems which are fairly cheap. In Beijing for example, Buses cost 2 RMB (0.30 USD) at most and the subway will cost students anywhere from 6 RMB - 10 RMB (~1 USD) depending on the distance.  

There are also a large number of scholarships available. China recently announced over 10,000 new scholarships for students from the One Belt One Road countries and there are similar opportunities for students from USA and Africa. In 2016 there were more than 49,000 foreign students with scholarships. The scholarships can include tuition, accommodation, and a monthly living stipend of more than 2500 RMB (377 USD) per month. 

Quality

While the cost can be low, the quality of the education and the student experience is improving very rapidly. There are a lot of misperceptions about Chinese education internationally and also within China. 

In terms of rankings, China has been constantly rising in the rankings, with Peking and Tsinghua University (30th from 35th) and Peking (27th from 29th) being in the top 30 for the first time. 

“The rise of China in this year’s table is remarkable and demonstrates the way the global higher education landscape is changing,” Phil Baty, editorial director for global rankings at Times Higher Education, said in a statement. 

Other Chinese universities have also made big gains owing to the country’s commitment to invest in universities. China recently announced plans to create world class higher education institutions by 2050 and has chosen 42 Universities to be transformed. 

The quality of facilities  are improving very rapidly, with a large amount of new facilities being built, and they are rapidly attracting foreign professors and overseas Chinese who have experience in top Universities abroad. 

Experience in China

The third main reason is the experience of living in China. China is developing very quickly and transforming from a low-cost manufacturing economy to a high-tech economy.  With new apps such as Wechat, Bikesharing and easy online shopping, life in China is very easy.  It is also very safe, which can be an important factor especially for younger students, and girls who may be travelling abroad for the first time.

The experience of understanding Chinese and Chinese culture can also be very transformative for students. Learning a new language, and all the cultural concepts and ideas that are connected to the language gives students an added confidence. It opens them up to new opportunities. 

There is a famous saying that the only thing constant is change and this is true of China. China is constantly changing and that’s what makes it such an interesting place to live. 

With continued fast development of China’s economy, continued investment in Universities, and large capacity, low cost, and attractive study environment these trends are only set to continue in the future as China hits the goal of 500,000 foreign students by 2020. 

I look forward to playing a small part in helping this to happen and helping to see students lives and perspective change in the process as they experience this fascinating country, just as I experienced when I first came to China. 

(Richard Coward is a British consultant specializing in international education)