A recent report on Chinese students' overseas study trends indicates that undergraduate students exhibit the strongest intention to study abroad, forming the core demographic of prospective international students. The findings also highlight a more pragmatic approach to studying overseas, with "cost-effectiveness" becoming a crucial factor in selecting institutions.
The report, focusing on China's study abroad market, is based on extensive questionnaire surveys covering 33 provincial-level administrative regions in China and select overseas areas and countries. The survey gathered valid responses from 6,904 participants, including students and parents with study abroad intentions, students with prior overseas study experience, and professionals involved in corporate recruitment.
The data reveals distinct characteristics dominated by higher education pursuits. Among respondents, 63% of current undergraduate students expressed intentions to study abroad, marking the highest proportion in 12 years and establishing them as the primary group. When combined with the demand from master's and doctoral students, the total intention for higher education stage study abroad reaches 77%. Engineering students lead in intended majors at 22%, maintaining the top position for a decade. The proportion of economics majors has shown a consistent upward trend over the past three years, rising to 12% this year. Additionally, liberal arts (8%) and medical fields (6%) have also demonstrated steady growth.
The ranking of preferred study destinations has shifted. The United Kingdom maintains its leading position for the seventh consecutive year, while the United States drops to third place. Hong Kong, China, has shown a continuous rise over the past 12 years, entering the second position for the first time this year, with its geographical proximity, safe environment, and language convenience serving as core attractions. Other destinations like Australia, Japan, and Singapore maintain stable popularity.
In 2026, the average study abroad budget among respondents reached 605,000 RMB, a 12-year high. Since 2020, study abroad budgets have consistently increased, with the recent significant rise primarily driven by global inflation factors, compounded by natural growth in fixed costs such as tuition and living expenses.
Concurrently, prospective students demonstrate more rational decision-making in school selection. Tuition fees have become the second most important factor, with scholarship policies also emerging as a key consideration, making "cost-effectiveness" a defining characteristic of current institution selection. School rankings, suitable academic programs, and post-graduation employment rates remain the three most significant factors, reflecting families' dual focus on securing quality educational resources while emphasizing cost control and employment returns.
Student motivations for studying abroad have become more practical. Data from the past eight years indicates that employment prospects are a key driver for study abroad decisions, with "enhancing employment competitiveness" being a central objective. Career planning after graduation also shows increased pragmatism, with 42% of respondents this year preferring to gain work experience in their study destination before returning to China for employment, establishing "gaining experience abroad before developing domestically" as a mainstream career strategy.