Report shows key reasons for studying abroad

Undergraduate students emphasize school ranking most, while parents' priority is safety

The pursuit of higher education and better work opportunities are the main reasons that Chinese undergraduate students attend foreign universities, while the opportunity to broaden the experience of their children is what parents want most, according to a report released on Saturday.

The report by overseas consultancy EIC Education, based on client information, found that when choosing a destination for overseas study, students most value the ranking of the school or the major, the quality of education offered and career prospects, while parents are most concerned about safety.

Students worry most about too much homework and academic stress, followed by safety and the language barrier. For parents, cultural differences and racism are also concerns.

In terms of choosing universities, students as well as parents pay greatest attention to the ranking of a university and their major. While parents consider the employment rate of graduates as the third most important factor, students rank that as seventh in importance.

The report also found that from January to May, the number of consultations for overseas study increased 43 percent year-on-year, and was up 12 percent compared with the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The 10 most-favored majors in the past three years include economics, computer science, business, communication and media research, math and finance.

As a result of inflation, tuition fees are higher this year compared with 2019. For example, students going to the United Kingdom can expect to pay 170,000 to 400,000 yuan ($23,860 to $56,000) in annual fees, up from 90,000 to 360,000 yuan in 2019.

Tang Yingying, 23, got a bachelor's degree from the University of Sydney last year and is pursuing a master's degree at the same university.

She chose the university because it recognizes scores from the Chinese national college entrance exam, or gaokao, and also because Australia is more inclusive and has fewer incidents of discrimination.

Tang said her gaokao scores only qualified her to study at Shanghai University if she were to have chosen to study in China, so the University of Sydney was an easy choice.

However, while entry requirements might be lower at some foreign universities, they have stricter standards for graduation, she said, adding that she has worked very hard to perform well in her studies and is also doing internships.

"I know that a student with overseas study experience is not as popular a choice as it used to be in the domestic job market, but studying abroad has helped me to grow a lot," she said. "It has opened up my horizons and allowed me to make friends with people from different countries and regions."

Chen Xiaojing studied at the University of Toronto for her undergraduate degree and at University College London for her postgraduate degree. She now teaches English for an overseas study consultancy in Beijing.

The 24-year-old said she chose to study in Canada because it is more open to foreign students who want to work there after their studies, but still decided to come home to work to be close to her family and friends.

"The reason I didn't choose the United States was because I felt it was not safe there and wasn't suitable for students who are more introverted, like I am," she said.

"If I only consider things from the perspective of cost, it is likely that it will take a very long time for me to earn back the money I have paid over the years on studying overseas," Chen said. "But it is still a worthwhile experience, because it allowed me to meet different people, live a different life and become more understanding and inclusive."

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn