University Students In China: A Population Overview

China has one of the largest education systems in the world, with over 3000 universities and colleges, and a higher education sector only comparable to the US. As of 2023, there were 2822 public colleges and universities in China, including 1242 universities and 1547 higher vocational colleges. In the same year, around 37.75 million undergraduate students were enrolled in public colleges and universities in China, with 20.67 million studying for bachelor's degrees and 17.08 million enrolled in short-cycle degree programs.

China's higher education system has undergone an unprecedented expansion and modernisation. It's now the world's largest education system, with the number of tertiary students surging sixfold from 7.4 million in 2000 to nearly 45 million in 2018.

How many Chinese students study abroad?

Wealthier Chinese families are more likely to send their children abroad to receive a higher education. In 2018, China became the second-largest host of international students, with 492,185 international students, after the USA. The UK, the USA, Canada, and Australia are the most popular destinations for Chinese students, with the UK taking the top spot.

In 2023, the Chinese state education ministry estimated that 2.5 million Chinese students studied abroad. A survey of 350 Chinese students found that 45% would consider studying in the UK, with Canada in second place at 39%, and the US and Australia tied for fourth place at 36%. The US has seen a decline in Chinese students, while the UK's popularity continues to increase.

The number of Chinese students pursuing higher education abroad has returned to pre-pandemic levels. The UK is the most popular destination for Chinese students, according to market intelligence firm BONARD. This is followed by Canada, Australia, and the US.

There are many scholarships available for Chinese students who want to study abroad. The China Scholarship Council, for example, has partnered with many universities around the world to offer financial support to Chinese students. Most of the scholarships cover the full cost of tuition fees, a yearly stipend, and international flights.

There are several reasons why Chinese students might want to study abroad. One reason could be the stiff competition for admission to elite universities in China. Another reason could be the desire to improve their career prospects and enhance their competitiveness in the tight Chinese job market. Studying abroad can also provide students with the opportunity to experience a different education system and way of life. Additionally, students may want to take advantage of the cross-disciplinary fields and development of critical thinking that Western education offers.

How many international students study in China?

China is a major destination for international students, being the most popular country in Asia for international students, and the second most popular in the world. In 2018, China hosted 492,185 international students, overtaking the UK to reach second place globally. These students came from 196 countries and enrolled in over 1,004 higher education institutions across 31 provinces. This number of international students represented a 35% increase from 2012, and a 0.62% increase from 2017.

The number of international students seeking higher education degrees in China has grown by 13% over the past 10 years, jumping from almost 55,000 students in 2006 to nearly 210,000 in 2016. In 2016, 33% of foreign students pursued undergraduate degrees, 14% pursued master's or doctorate degrees, and 30% were enrolled in primary or secondary schools.

The majority of international students in China come from neighbouring countries such as South Korea, Thailand, and Russia. Students from South Korea alone accounted for almost 16% of all foreign students in 2016. In the same year, the number of students from Pakistan had surged from about 9,500 in 2012 to almost 19,000, making Pakistan the fifth-largest source of international students. China is also the second-most popular international destination for African students, hosting 61,594 in 2016.

In recent years, the Chinese government has made a push to appeal to overseas students by offering a greater range of scholarships. The number of Chinese government-funded international students witnessed an almost six-fold increase over the past ten years. In 2016, 40% of all new international students received sponsorship from the Chinese government.

How many universities are there in China?

As of 2023, there were 3,074 governmental colleges and universities in China, including 252 adult higher education institutes. The total number of colleges and universities in China has increased significantly in recent decades.

In 2023, the number of public colleges and universities in China was 2,822, including 1,242 universities and 1,547 higher vocational colleges. There are over 1,500 public universities in China, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University.

In addition to public universities, there are over 300 private universities in China. Private schools are not administered by the government but are instead managed by people or non-governmental organisations.

In 2023, the university enrolment rate in China was 60.2%, representing 47 million mainland Chinese students enrolled in 4-year university and college degree programs. This is a significant increase from the late 1990s, when the enrolment rate in tertiary education was less than 10%.

As of 2024, China had the world's highest number of top universities, with 396 universities included in the 2024-2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities. More than 2,500 universities in China are included in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.

China's higher education system includes a range of university types, such as regular higher education institutions, independent colleges, and higher vocational colleges. The Chinese government has implemented various initiatives to improve the standards of Chinese universities and create more world-class universities, such as the Double First-Class University Plan.

How many Chinese students are enrolled in degree programs?

China has one of the largest education systems in the world, with over 3000 universities and colleges as of 2022. In 2023, around 37.75 million undergraduate students were enrolled in degree programs at public colleges and universities in China. This number includes 20.67 million students studying for bachelor's degrees and 17.08 million enrolled in more practically oriented short-cycle degree programs.

The number of students enrolled in degree programs at all different levels of public tertiary education in China reached more than 47.6 million in 2023. In addition to public institutions, there is also a growing number of students enrolled at private colleges and universities.

In 2021, student enrollment data from the Chinese Ministry of Education stated there were 35 million undergraduate students and 3.3 million postgraduate students across the country. Of that number, 255,720 were full-time international students, representing less than 1% of total enrollments nationally.

In 2023, the university enrollment rate was 60.2% according to the Ministry of Education, representing 47 million mainland Chinese students enrolled in 4-year university and college degree programs in some 3,074 Chinese tertiary institutions.

China's higher education system has undergone an unprecedented expansion and modernization. It's now the world's largest education system, with the number of tertiary students surging sixfold from just 7.4 million in 2000 to nearly 45 million in 2018.

As of September 2021, there were over 40 million students enrolled in mainland China, with more than 40 million Chinese students graduating from university between 2016 and 2020.

How many Chinese students graduated from university between 2016 and 2020?

As of September 2021, there were over 40 million students enrolled in mainland China's 3,012 colleges and universities. This number has risen from 20 million in 2006, with the rapid expansion of the private sector since the 1990s. China's higher education is internationally recognised, with educational cooperation and exchanges established with 188 countries and regions, as well as 46 major international organisations.

More than 40 million Chinese students graduated from university between 2016 and 2020. This number is especially significant when compared to the United States, where the number of degrees earned at all levels of higher education in the same period was less than half of China's graduates.

The high number of graduates from Chinese universities is a result of increasing enrolment numbers across the country. In 2023, the university enrolment rate in China was 60.2%, representing 47 million mainland Chinese students enrolled in 4-year university and college degree programs. This is a notable increase from 1990, when the gross enrolment rate in tertiary education was only 3.4%.

The rapid growth in student numbers is due to a thorough governmental plan to increase the number of specialists China needed for its economic development. Entry into Chinese universities is meritocratic, based solely on the results of the Gaokao entrance examination.

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