UK overtakes US as top choice for Chinese students: survey

The US and the UK remain the top choices for Chinese students seeking to study abroad, with the UK overtaking the US as the most popular destination for the first time since 2020, thanks to its shorter academic programs and relatively stable political environment, according to a recent report.

The 2025 Report on Chinese Students' Overseas Study also shows that following the UK and the US, the most favored destinations for prospective overseas students in 2025 are China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Australia, Japan and Singapore.

Meanwhile, Canada, once a popular choice, has seen its appeal waning over the past three years, while Ireland has gained significant attention, rising to the seventh spot this year.

The report, the eleventh in a series, was released by New Oriental Education and Technology Group in late May.

It is based on a survey conducted among 8,014 respondents, including students who had studied overseas or intended to do so and their parents in China and worldwide, as well as professionals from various employers.

According to the report, among the students at the undergraduate level and above who wish to study overseas, engineering students represent the largest group at 22 percent, followed by management (16 percent) and economics (11 percent), due to the promising employment prospects and high salaries these majors offer.

Reflecting the country's increasing demand for innovative and interdisciplinary talents, a majority of those intending to study overseas are considering or have already applied for interdisciplinary studies, citing good employment prospects, personal interest and alignment with previous educational background as main reasons.

Additionally, there is a potential correlation between parents' job positions and education levels and their willingness to send their children to study overseas. Among the parents that plan to send their children to study overseas, the share of them taking up leadership or executive roles has grown annually, from 20 percent in 2022 to 31 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, the proportion of parents in middle management or general employee positions has declined.

Parents with higher education levels are more inclined to send their children overseas for studies. Over half of the parents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These parents tend to have a more open-minded and progressive approach to their children's education, the report says.

Notably, the percentage of parents with an overseas education background has risen for 11 straight years, reaching 25 percent in 2025.

Moreover, in 2025, the average annual income of families intending to send their kids overseas for education was 483,000 yuan (about $67,247), while their budget for studying overseas was 544,000 yuan, according to the report.

Professionals within the overseas?study services industry have also observed a trend where the demographics of individuals interested in studying overseas are becoming more diverse, particularly in terms of age and professional background.

"In addition to young people aged 15 to 25, working professionals aged 25 to 40 are also seeking opportunities to expand their horizons and enhance their skills through overseas study in the form of distance learning. Furthermore, an increasing number of retirees are opting to study overseas," said Sun Tao, vice-president of New Oriental Education & Technology Group and president of Vision Overseas, a subsidiary of the group that offers services to students who plan to study overseas.