Study abroad agents advised to steer students away from US

Rising United States-China tensions over technology restrictions, US trade tariffs and US regulations affecting universities are set to further dampen enthusiasm for US study among Chinese students, as education agents in China have been advised by their industry organisation to steer students towards alternative destinations, according to the latest insights from the biggest industry association of study abroad service agencies in China.

Concern about geopolitical risks was aired openly at the annual study abroad forum held late last month by the Beijing Overseas Study Service Association (BOSSA), the Chinese government-sponsored umbrella organisation representing and advising about 300 study agencies in China, which jointly account for around 60% of all Chinese students studying abroad.

Speaking to member agencies and foreign education officials from the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in Beijing on study abroad trends in 2025, BOSSA President Sang Mingze said strained US-China ties were already shifting student choices and could lead to more “decoupling” from the US.

Alternative study destinations

Sang warned that expecting rapid growth in the study abroad market may be “unrealistic” due to ongoing political and economic uncertainties. At its 22 April forum, BOSSA encouraged agents to diversify beyond traditional hot spots and to steer prospective students towards alternative regions.

“More investment can be directed toward ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations], the Middle East, and other areas involved in the Belt and Road Initiative,” Sang said.

Changes were already apparent. “We have learnt from our member institutions that many students who originally intended to study in the United States have begun to choose the United Kingdom and Australia as alternatives for applications,” said Sang.

“In addition, if [US-China] tensions persist, it is possible that the [Chinese] government will further discourage students from studying in the United States through early warnings, publicity, and guidance,” Sang said.

On 9 April, China’s Ministry of Education issued its first study abroad alert of the year, urging students and families to assess risks before choosing to pursue US-based studies. It followed the passing of a higher education bill in the US state of Ohio, which allegedly contained negative clauses related to China and imposed restrictions on educational exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

The US House of Representatives passed a bill this week that could severely restrict US universities receiving Department of Homeland Security funding if they “have a relationship” with certain Chinese universities, including those under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The bill now advances to the US Senate.

Shift away from US favours UK

The shift away from the US already appears to be favouring other countries. For example, the UK has overtaken the US as the most desired study destination for prospective Chinese students since 2020, according to the British Council, which also attended the forum.

The British Council cited the results of the QS International Student Survey 2024, with responses from over 14,000 students from China. In answer to “where are you considering studying in the future?” 49% of respondents said the UK, representing the largest cohort.

The survey results showed only 19% picked the US, which also trails behind Hong Kong and Australia. The latter was in fourth place among major destinations.

The British Council also highlighted concerns about the economic downturn in China, rising food prices, and job security among families in China as issues driving family choices on study abroad, noting that economic uncertainty disrupts decisions.

Sang also noted that economic pressures and rising living costs in destination countries prompted more “prudent” spending decisions by Chinese families.

Compared to the year before, in 2024, students expected to pay on average an extra CNY35,000 (US$4,844) annually in tuition and living expenses in the US, CNY28,000 (US$3,875) more in the UK and CNY18,000 (US$2,491) in Australia, BOSSA research found.

BOSSA highlighted comparative data on student visas granted by six major destination countries – the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Malaysia. In 2024, these countries together issued a total of 396,944 new student visas to Chinese citizens, reflecting an 86% recovery from 2019 levels before the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it also represents a slight 0.5% decline from 2023, a sign of a sluggish rebound in the study abroad market, according to Sang, who noted a pre-pandemic annual growth rate of “8-10%”.

Southeast Asia growth area

As affordability becomes a top concern, many are looking closer to home. Among the six countries studied by BOSSA, Malaysia saw the biggest growth in Chinese student numbers in 2024, having issued 33,216 new visas – a 25% rise from 2023. Since 2020, this figure has nearly doubled.

Southeast Asia’s rising appeal was also highlighted in the 2024 Blue Paper for Chinese Overseas Students Returning to China for Employment, released by the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education.

The centre evaluated the study environment in 28 countries based on key metrics including safety, affordability, academic quality, and career prospects.

Notably, Singapore surpassed the US for the first time to become the second most preferred destination. Singapore was also highlighted for cost-effectiveness, among other strengths such as global outlook and low crime rate.

In addition, the Blue Paper also revealed a regional shift in trends for returning graduates. From 2020 to 2023, the proportion of Chinese graduates returning home from Asia rose from 21.61% to 31.35%, while those returning from North America fell from 25.62% to 18.73%.

Sino-foreign joint universities

Whilst geopolitical uncertainties spark safety concerns, BOSSA observed a growing interest in Sino-foreign joint programmes, which allow students to begin higher education in China before transferring abroad.

According to Sang, it makes for a good transition period, and with slightly lower costs. “However, there are many types of joint programmes, and the quality varies, which also causes some confusion for parents,” he told University World News.

Some joint universities – especially those involving US partners – face mounting scrutiny. In January, the University of Michigan announced that the UM-SJTU Joint Institute, a long-standing partnership between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of Michigan, would close.

However, others like Duke Kunshan University and NYU Shanghai continue to thrive despite the political and economic headwinds.