Last academic year China attracted 380,000 international students

According to China Daily, the statistics show that recipients of Chinese government scholarships accounted for approximately 8 percent of the total enrollment. In terms of regional distribution, Asian students made up the largest share at 61.1 percent, followed by Africa at 16.2 percent, Europe at 15.6 percent, and the Americas and Oceania combined at 7.1 percent.

Among the international student body, the number of degree-seeking students reached 205,000, of whom 35 percent were postgraduate students. Engineering became the most popular field of study among all degree programs, ranking first with 27.8 percent of degree-seeking students.

According to Si, the data show that China’s international education sector is still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is already demonstrating noticeable progress. He stated that the diversity of nationalities among students has expanded, the academic structure has become more balanced with a higher proportion of postgraduate students, and the choice of academic disciplines has become more aligned with market needs.

Since 2004, the China Study Abroad Forum (CSAF) has been held annually as a key platform to facilitate high-level dialogue and practical cooperation in international education between China and other countries.