Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad (2024-2025)

Publisher:Social Sciences Academic Press

Author:WRSA, CCG

Release Date:2025-04

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Abstract

At present, globalization is at a new crossroad. Rapid changes in the international situation have made the world full of uncertainty, which has led to changes in the global landscape of study abroad. Nevertheless, the number of international students worldwide still maintains its growth momentum, and study abroad remains an important way of people-based globalization. In order to reflect the latest situation of study abroad in China in the new era, to understand the latest trends in the development of returnees, and to explore new paths for the development of study abroad, we have organized and compiled the Report on the Development of Study Abroad in China (2024-2025). The book consists of five parts: general report, reports on studying abroad, reports on Chinese returnees, reports on special research and appendices.

Based on the context of the new era, this report provides an in-depth analysis of the continued expansion of the global international student population, the diversification of source and destination countries, the pragmatism orientation and the promotion of economic and social development. It focuses on the development trend of study abroad in China, and concludes that the primary driving force of China’s study abroad has changed, the number of students studying in traditional study destination countries will stabilize, and the destinations and specialties of study abroad will be further diversified. At the same time, study abroad students have become a force to be reckoned with in the process of China’s modernization, and study abroad is still an important channel for the cultivation of high-level international talents in China. In the context of the new era, as the fever of returnees continues to rise, the employment pressure of returnees is also increasing. Finally, in view of the new problems encountered in the context of the new era, the report puts forward relevant suggestions to further promote the development of study abroad in China.

The report points out that the scale of Chinese students studying abroad has basically recovered to the level before the new pneumonia epidemic, and the main study destination countries are still concentrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea and other developed countries. The number of students going to the United States and Canada has declined significantly, while the number of students going to Europe, developed countries and regions in Asia, and the “Belt and Road” countries has increased significantly. At the same time, Chinese students are focusing on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), business administration and social sciences. These trends will serve as a reference for international students to choose their destination countries and specialties accordingly.

Based on the research data of the Study Abroad Service Center of the Ministry of Education and the survey data on the development of the 2014 – 2018 undergraduates after five years of studying abroad, the report concludes that the number of returnees in China is increasing rapidly, and the percentage of those studying science and engineering is on the rise, while the percentage of those studying management and economics is on the decline. After returning to China, they settled mainly in municipalities directly under the central government and sub-provincial cities, and their employment fields are mainly concentrated in information transmission/ software and information technology services, finance and education. Through the analysis of the returnees in Beijing, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Hubei, it is found that the new generation of returnees plays an important role in empowering local new quality productivity, promoting the development of emerging industries, leading breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovations, and facilitating the development of education and cultural exchanges, etc., and the localities have introduced corresponding measures to attract the returnees.

The report also analyzes the changes that have occurred in the study abroad industry in the past decade, especially the changes in the purpose of study abroad, study abroad planning, and the mentality and decision-making choices of the study abroad population. The report investigates the study experiences of Chinese graduate students studying in the U.S. and the factors influencing their choice of destination after graduation, and finds that more and more Chinese graduate students in the U.S. are choosing to go back to their home country for development. The report also analyzes the factors influencing their decision of whether to stay in the U.S. or go back to their home country, as well as the cultural and social barriers they face in the U.S. The report also analyzes the challenges faced by Chinese students studying in UK higher education institutions in four areas, including language, social clustering, digital ecosystem and employment pressure, and puts forward a number of recommendations to help Chinese students better integrate into and thrive in the UK.