Geopolitical factors are also at play, said Wang, with students from Europe and the US becoming more cautious about studying in China – following measures by President Donald Trump’s administration which include visa processing delays, travel restrictions placed on several Asian countries and the revocation of more than 6,000 student visas for alleged violations in 2025.
Benjamin Mulvey, a lecturer in equitable education systems and policy at the University of Glasgow noted that the “rise in geopolitical tensions between Western countries and China” has made academic collaboration more difficult.
It also affects “student exchanges and study abroad programmes,” Mulvey told CNA.
LOWER FEES A MAJOR DRAW
Cost is often the most important factor for students choosing where to study – and in China’s case, its relative affordability is a major draw, said Wang, the education consultant.
China offers a growing number of reputable universities at a fraction of the cost of traditional destinations such as the US, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Tuition fees are comparatively low, especially for self-funded students, he added.
He also noted that China’s STEM programmes are particularly strong, with many universities offering “excellent courses” in fields such as economics, law and medicine at competitive prices.
For example, international students studying clinical medicine at a top Chinese school like Tsinghua University pay between 40,000 and 70,000 yuan (around US$10,236) per year – significantly lower than tuition at institutions such as Harvard Medical School, where fees start at US$76,828 annually.
“Even the more expensive programmes in China are still cheaper for many international students,” Wang said.
For some foreign students, the cost difference is stark.
Jojo Hwang, a South Korean student at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, said her annual tuition is roughly equivalent to what her younger brother pays for just one semester back home.
“International students do pay more than local students in China, but it’s still much cheaper than studying in South Korea,” she told CNA, adding that she pays about 26,000 yuan a year, compared with around 6,000 yuan for local students.