The number of Chinese students heading overseas to study is estimated to reach a new record of 200,000 this year, state media reports. Citing official sources, China Daily says that this figure is set to significantly outpace the “average of 130,000 Chinese who have been going abroad for studies every year over the past few years.”
The growing demand for overseas study reflects the increasingly gloomy
job situation for graduates in China. While the country is expecting to
produce 5.5 million college graduates this year (up from five million
in 2007), one-fifth of 2007 college graduates had failed to find a job
by the end of the year, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE).
The domestic job bottleneck means conditions are now perceived to
favour overseas study. Indeed, China Daily quotes a senior official as
saying: "The grim job situation at home, a strong and rising yuan and a
favourable visa and scholarship environment will together prompt more
students to study abroad.”
According to the Ministry of Education, the United States, UK, Australia
and Canada are the top choices for Chinese students keen to study
abroad. The easing of U.S. visa rules last year has pushed the United
States to the top of the list, the report says. U.S. embassies and
consulates in China issued around 52,000 for students, from late 2006
to late 2007.
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