Asian and African students flock to China for STEM degrees

New figures showing there were 380,000 international students in China last year highlight the success of the country’s diplomatic efforts in Asia and Africa but analysts predict it may be several more years before the country returns to pre-pandemic levels. 

Officials in the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) recently reported that 380,000 international students from 191 countries and regions were studying in China during the 2024-25 academic year. 

Of these, 205,000 were studying at degree level, 35 per cent of whom were postgraduates. Engineering courses, including applied technology and computer-related fields, were the most popular, making up 28 per cent of degree-level students. 

While a government official reportedly said the latest numbers mark the country’s growing appeal as a leading global study destination, the figures remain below China’s pre-pandemic peak. 

The MoE reported in 2018 that there were 492,185 international students enrolled in China’s higher education institutions. 

Richard Coward, founder and CEO of international student platform Global Admissions, noted that China had only reopened its border in 2023, predicting it would take another four years for the country to return to pre-pandemic levels. 

The latest data reflects China’s geopolitical spheres of influence, with Asian students making up 61 per cent of the cohort, followed by African students at 16 per cent.

The figures show “a strategic shift in student origins, with significant growth from Africa and Belt and Road countries, aligning with China’s broader diplomatic and economic outreach”, said Wen Wen, deputy director of the higher education research division at Tsinghua University. 

“Strained relations, particularly with Western nations, and associated travel warnings – like the US State Department’s advisory – have significantly deterred students from those regions,” she continued, referring to a warning released by the US government in 2024 that citizens travelling to China should “exercise increased caution”.

“American student numbers, for example, have dropped dramatically from over 11,000 to under 1,000,” she continued. 

Graze Zhu, China branch manager at consultancy Bonard, said the popularity of engineering-related courses indicates “a shift from the past focus on language and culture to a new reality where strong industrial capabilities have directly transformed into a core competitive advantage in educational appeal”. 

Coward added that STEM courses in China are attractive “because of the affordable tuition fees, the demand from all over the world, and high quality and resources in China”.

Wen said that while China has “growing international appeal”, there is more that can be done to attract international students. 

This includes increasing the number of English-medium programmes and encouraging more international academic collaboration, such as joint degrees, while simultaneously improving the international student experience through areas like simplifying visa processes and clarifying the rules around part-time work. 

China recently introduced a standardised admissions exam for international students, set to become mandatory in 2028, in a sign the country is increasingly focusing on the quality of incoming students. 

“Overall, China should cultivate a more internationalised environment that fosters a more open, liveable and culturally vibrant environment for all,” Wen said. 

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com