It is well known that the coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown restrictions, domestically and internationally, have wilted the number of Chinese students in British independent schools. Where fears of COVID-19 infections, combined with travel restrictions, have made studying abroad both uncertain and worrisome for many families and students.
Foreign teacher declines in China
Despite this and Chinese domestic schooling, the UK has seen an increase in Chinese students at British universities, even amid the past five years of health/travel concerns. A recent study outlines that the number of Chinese students enrolling in UK universities has increased 41% over the last five years – even through the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, in 2021/2022, 27% of all non-EU students were from China.
The number of UKiset students has also increased in the past twelve months.
Another study found that this undisrupted rise is due to the potential employability opportunities compared to graduates in other countries. The employability factor ultimately suggests that enthusiasm for higher education will continue to rise – far past expectations of a significant downturn.
