Number of foreign students studying in China 2018, by country of origin
In 2018, students from 196 different countries and regions were studying in China. The highest number of students came from South Korea amounting to 50,600, while only 20,996 students came from the United States.
International students in China
The total number of foreign students in China increased steadily over recent years and reached more than 490,000 in 2018. That was roughly double as much as ten years ago and made China one of the leading host destinations for international students. Looking at their origins in terms of global regions reveals that by far the largest share of students come from Asia, while the Americas and Europe together accounted for only slightly more than 22 percent of all students in 2018. While the share of students from Western countries has been shrinking steadily in recent years, more and more students from Asia and Africa were attracted to study in China. Regarding the United States, the figures interestingly not only decreased in relation to other regions, but also in total numbers. In contrast, students particularly from Africa are increasingly able and willing to study in China, and numbers from countries participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative displayed the highest growth rates over recent years.
Student situation
Regarding the financial situation of international students in China, most of them were either self-funded or receiving a scholarship from foreign institutions. However, the number of students supported by the Chinese government increased considerably over the last ten years, with a growing number of scholarships granted to students from developing countries. Preferred universities for study were either located in the two most developed cities Beijing and Shanghai, or in the eastern and southern coastal regions of China.
International students in China
The total number of foreign students in China increased steadily over recent years and reached more than 490,000 in 2018. That was roughly double as much as ten years ago and made China one of the leading host destinations for international students. Looking at their origins in terms of global regions reveals that by far the largest share of students come from Asia, while the Americas and Europe together accounted for only slightly more than 22 percent of all students in 2018. While the share of students from Western countries has been shrinking steadily in recent years, more and more students from Asia and Africa were attracted to study in China. Regarding the United States, the figures interestingly not only decreased in relation to other regions, but also in total numbers. In contrast, students particularly from Africa are increasingly able and willing to study in China, and numbers from countries participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative displayed the highest growth rates over recent years.
Student situation
Regarding the financial situation of international students in China, most of them were either self-funded or receiving a scholarship from foreign institutions. However, the number of students supported by the Chinese government increased considerably over the last ten years, with a growing number of scholarships granted to students from developing countries. Preferred universities for study were either located in the two most developed cities Beijing and Shanghai, or in the eastern and southern coastal regions of China.
