1. Affordable Study Costs
– Compared to some European countries, America, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries, the cost of studying in China is much more reasonable. The tuition for English taught MBBS, Business and Engineering course etc. is only about 2000 to 4000 US dollars a year.
You can live a content life with a small budget in China. In cities like Beijing or Shanghai, a rent for a small apartment will be at least 200 to 300 US dollars per month. In small cities and towns, housing prices are much lower, for example, a rent for an apartment with two beds could be 100 US dollars per month in the city of Qingdao, Dalian, Nanjing, Changsha, Weifang and so on. A meal at a local restaurant for one person could only cost 2-5 US dollars. A good pair of shoes might be about 20-30 US dollars at a local market. Taking a bus is usually about 15 cents, and a subway ticket in Shanghai and Beijing is about 30 cents.
2. There are more options than ever
-Over the past 10 years, international visitors and students have been going “deeper” into China, choosing to travel to a wider range of cities than before.
In the past, Shanghai and Beijing were the only cities where it was common to see international students.
In 2006, nearly 50 per cent of international students were in Beijing or Shanghai, but this has fallen to 32 per cent.
Today, there are 13 cities across China with more than 10,000 international students, with seven cities having more than 20,000 students.
Popular cities include Guangdong in the south of China and Liaoning, north of Beijing.
3. Chinese universities have a growing reputation
–Whether you intend to secure a graduate job or continue studying at postgraduate level, the reputation of your university is important for your future prospects.
Chinese universities are increasingly well respected; the number included in major global university rankings has risen significantly over the past five years, particularly compared with the UK, which has fallen in many rankings.
In 2011, there were only six Chinese universities in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, whereas in 2015-2016 there were 37, more than either Canada or Australia.
4. The government is investing heavily in international students
– Financial support is an important factor in the decision to study abroad and the Chinese government is offering a wide range of funding opportunities to attract international students, including more than 40,000 scholarships at 277 institutions.
In 2015, 40 per cent of all international students new to China received government sponsorship. The number of scholarships available has increased fivefold since 2006.
5. It could be great for your career
– Knowledge and experience of China is an increasingly valuable asset in many industries.
As the fourth most popular destination for international travel, with nearly 12 million business trips to China in 2015, the country is growing in economic and cultural significance.
Experience of China and Chinese, which is the third most popular language to learn in the world, could give you a great career boost.