As students from around the world submit their 2012 university applications, one country is firmly looking West in fact Far West. January was the closing month for Chinese applicants wanting to study abroad, and paramount is perfecting one’s English.
Every year Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University conducts a survey of the worlds top universities.
World Top 10 Universities 2011
Ranking in the top ten, is Cambridge University at 5th place and Oxford 10th, the rest are all American.
The USA saw 22% of international students arrive from China in 2011 and is the most popular destination for Chinese students. Although the survey pips Harvard for the number one spot, statistics from Open Door show it is the University of Southern California that has the largest take-up of places.
USC actively promotes itself annually by hosting events in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul and Hong Kong. Tuition fees start at $43,000.
Price or privilege?
Chinese students dominated the 2011 intake to UK universities
In comparison the UK is a bargain with overseas fees averaging £20,000 for top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College, London.
The number of foreign students in Britain has grown rapidly over the last five years in an industry that generates £25 billion and helps to fund British universities at a time when central government funding is being cut. Typically they will spend a further a further £15,000 in living costs, boosting the economy and contributing towards subsidized fees for British students who approximately half of an international students fee costs.
New Students from China in 2011 made up almost a third of foreign students into UK universities.
Education is a business
Chinese applicants are on the increase
The number of Chinese Students applying to study in the UK was, at one time, equal to Ireland’s. However, according to UCAS figures, the number of Irish students accepted today is now half of China’s*.
British universities have become increasingly reliant on fees paid by non-EU students, and should invest in promoting education standards in China. It has been reported that Chinese students regard US education levels to be a much higher standard than the UK. According to an interview in The Telegraph, Chinese students in Peking see a divide between the two offerings from the English speaking West. The more challenging and better equipped US institutions for China’s gifted and Britain for China’s wealthy and politically connected.
Overseas acceptance rate for China is double neighbour Irelands
Last years intake saw a small drop in Chinese applicants despite the steady increase over the last five years. As UK universities begin to operate more like a business, a little marketing abroad could go a long way.
*A Freedom of Information request to Birmingham University declined to comment on the commercial interest of recruiting Chinese students in favour of European ones.
It stated: As an exempt charity under the Charities Act 2006, the University is required to obtain “best value” for the money that it spends.
The University of Birmingham considers that release of this information would prejudice the University of Birmingham’s ability to compete in a globally competitive market for the recruitment of international students.
