Why Astonishing Numbers of Chinese Students Are Flocking to the West

Chinese young people are leaving their home country in droves to study abroad in the West.

08:47 19 April 2018

Chinese young people are leaving their home country in droves to study abroad in the West. While this is not a new phenomenon, the most recent reports from numerous sources indicate that the numbers of Chinese students traveling to the West has been trending dramatically upwards in the past decade.

 

Chinese Students in Australia

ABC News is reporting that Australia is now welcoming unprecedented numbers of Chinese and other international students to their shores. The latest reports indicate a total 12 percent increase in foreign student enrollment in Australian academic institutions, with 31 percent of these international students being Chinese nationals.

 

Chinese Students in the UK

Chinese students comprise close to one third of the numbers of non-EU students studying in the UK. There are currently more Chinese students studying in the UK than there are non-UK-based European students.

 

Chinese Students in the USA

About a year ago, the New York Times reported that there were 329,000 Chinese students studying in the USA. US News has reported that more than a third of the total Chinese students abroad choose to pursue academic degree programs in the USA.

 

Why Are Chinese Students Leaving Their Own Country to Study Internationally?

 

International students currently enjoy increasing numbers of opportunities to study online at respected academic institutions like the University of Oxford in the UK and RMIT University in Australia, without having to leave their home countries. So it's clear that there are factors beyond just the academics that are drawing these students to study abroad. 

 

The Journal of International Students conducted a recent study to determine Chinese students' motivations for studying in the United States. Indeed, the researchers determined that non-academic motivations are at the heart of the influx of Chinese students studying in the West. Chinese young people desire to break away from the Chinese system of learning. They're convinced that a better quality of education exists outside of China, and they're traveling abroad to seek it out in foreign countries. 

 

These students are also significantly influenced by their parents' advice; and many of their parents are tired of the Chinese education system's relentless emphasis on academic scores while it neglects students' growth and development in other important areas. The western education system offers these students opportunities to join clubs, participate in extracurricular activities and discover course material that would not be available to them in their home country.

 

Many Chinese students have also expressed a desire to learn English or improve their knowledge of the English language. They feel that immersion in the educational system of an English-speaking country is the best way to advance their language skills. 

What Subjects Are Chinese Students Traveling Abroad to Study?

In the USA, 26.5% percent of Chinese international students are majoring in business and management related disciplines. Some Chinese students feel strongly that opportunities to excel at learning these subjects are best outside their home country, since many Chinese universities tend to place more emphasis on the importance of math and science subjects. Finance, languages and STEM majors are also popular with Chinese students.

After Graduation

After graduating from college, most Chinese students return home to China, where they are likely to act as informal ambassadors for the country in which they studied. They return home with skills and international business connections that can prove to be invaluable to them in their future businesses and careers.