As a crucial indicator of global education openness, the number and quality of international students directly reflect a country's influence and attractiveness in higher education. With the development of higher education in China, the number of international students studying in China has been steadily increasing, making China one of the most popular destinations for international study.
However, scholars have varying opinions on the reasons why international students choose to study in China. Are these students pursuing high-quality education, generous scholarships, or are they attracted by China's unique culture? Following the COVID-19 pandemic, how has the reshaping of the international higher education exchange landscape affected international students' decisions to study in China?
To address these questions, our research team initiated a nationwide survey in May 2023, aiming to analyze the factors influencing international students' choices to study in China. A total of 1,411 international students from 41 universities participated in this survey.
China's Global Influence is Highly Valued
Research indicates that international students' choices to study in China are influenced by various factors, including China's global influence, the quality of higher education, social and cultural life, cost-effectiveness of studying in China, and sources of information about studying in China.
Among these factors, the influence of information sources about studying abroad received the lowest average score, at 3.33, while the perceived cost-effectiveness of studying in China received an average score of 3.72. The average scores for the quality of higher education in China, social and cultural life, and China's global influence were 3.89, 3.78, and 4.08, respectively. This suggests that international students' agreement with these factors lies between "somewhat important" and "very important" (international students' responses to the survey items ranged from "not important at all" to "very important," with values from 1 to 5).
Among the multidimensional motivations for international students choosing to study in China, they consider China's global influence to be the most important factor, followed by the quality of higher education in China, then the attractiveness of China's social and cultural life and the cost-effectiveness of studying in China. The importance of information sources about studying abroad is relatively lower. This reflects the increasing influence of Chinese higher education on the world stage and the significant potential it holds for providing high-quality education and cultural experiences to international students.
Different Student Backgrounds, Different Considerations
To further analyze the differences in factors influencing international students' choices to study in China based on different backgrounds, we categorized students based on demographic factors (gender, nationality, level of university attended, major, and study stage) and conducted group comparisons.
The results indicate significant differences in the factors considered by international students from different genders, countries of origin, levels of universities attended, majors, and study stages when choosing to study in China.
Compared to female international students, male international students place greater importance on the quality of higher education and China's global influence in their study choices, with average scores higher by 0.21 and 0.19 points, respectively.
International students from Asia, Africa, and other regions (Europe, the Americas, and Oceania) show significant differences in their perceptions of the importance of the quality of higher education, information sources about studying abroad, China's global influence, and cost-effectiveness. When choosing to study in China, the average differences in the importance of these four factors among these three groups of international students range from 0.14 to 0.38 points.
International students studying at Chinese universities ranked in the top 300 according to the QS World University Rankings show significant differences in their perceptions of the importance of the quality of higher education, China's global influence, information sources about studying abroad, and social and cultural life. Compared to international students at other universities, the former attach more importance to the quality of higher education, China's global influence, information sources about studying abroad, and social and cultural life when choosing to study in China, with average scores higher by 0.12 to 0.29 points.
International students studying disciplines such as humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, medicine, and economics and management show significant differences in their perceptions of the importance of the quality of higher education, China's global influence, information sources about studying abroad, cost-effectiveness, and social and cultural life. When choosing to study in China, the average differences in the importance of these five factors among these groups range from 0.20 to 0.35 points.
International students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in China also show significant differences in their perceptions of the importance of the quality of higher education, China's global influence, information sources about studying abroad, cost-effectiveness, and social and cultural life. Compared to international students pursuing undergraduate degrees in China, those pursuing master's and doctoral degrees score higher by 0.11 to 0.47 points on these five factors.
Refining Enrollment Policies
The above survey results can help domestic universities better understand the motivations behind international students' choices to study in China, providing empirical evidence for the formulation and improvement of policies and strategies for recruiting international students. To further attract international students to study in China, the following recommendations are proposed:
Firstly, universities should develop more refined enrollment strategies based on students' individual backgrounds. In order to enhance enrollment effectiveness and meet students' personalized needs, universities should conduct in-depth research on the main motivations of students from different countries and regions, different majors, and different study stages to study in China through methods such as market research and data analysis. Customized enrollment promotion and communication strategies should be developed according to the characteristics of different target groups, optimizing the enrollment process. For instance, universities should offer more scholarship opportunities to Asian students, while emphasizing China's global influence and higher education standards more for African students. When promoting enrollment of postgraduate students from abroad to study in China, there should be a greater emphasis on the higher education standards in China compared to recruiting undergraduate students, and more practical opportunities should be provided in the training programs for postgraduate students.
Secondly, China should continue to promote high-quality economic development and enhance its international influence in global leadership, social order, and public governance. China should play a more proactive and initiative role in international affairs, showcase the image of a responsible major country through strengthened cooperation and exchanges with countries worldwide, and continuously increase investment in technological progress and research innovation to enhance its international influence while sustaining economic growth. Strengthening the rule of law and optimizing public services will attract more international students to study in China by creating a safe and stable social environment.
Thirdly, improving the quality of higher education in China is crucial. China should further strengthen the construction of world-class universities and disciplines, enhance the teaching and research level of universities, and academic influence. Deepening the internationalization reform of higher education, encouraging universities to develop advantages and distinctive disciplines according to their own positioning, actively introducing internationally renowned professors, extensively recruiting overseas young scholars, and enriching the development of an international curriculum system and teaching content.
Fourthly, continuously enhancing the attractiveness of Chinese culture is essential. Universities should actively build a flexible and diverse system of Chinese culture and national conditions education and social practice, encouraging international students to participate in social practice activities to fully understand China. Appropriately increasing experiences of Chinese popular culture will help international students perceive the diversity and vitality of Chinese culture.
Fifthly, carrying out employment and entrepreneurship education and services for international students is important. Providing opportunities for corporate internships and career development, allowing international students to engage in paid internships in enterprises during their school years, and piloting the relaxation of employment and immigration restrictions for international students in China. Actively exploring "institutional innovation" in the management and service of international students in China, improving the professionalism and specialization of services, and providing convenient and accurate services for foreigners' entry, exit, visas, housing, etc.
(Affiliation: Xi'an Jiaotong University)
