Trends in Chinese International Education: what to expect in 2019

2018 was an eventful year for international education in China. Political uncertainty in Beijing and Washington left a footprint on student mobility patterns, while domestic economic forces in China have caused the private education sector to grow rapidly but unevenly.

A decade ago, Beijing and Shanghai dominated the international schools landscape in China.2 However, second and third-tier cities such as Kunming, Zibo, and Wuxi, each with populations larger than Los Angeles, are home to a growing number of international schools. As incomes grow in these areas, we expect that students families in these cities will represent an ever-growing share of international students bound for university abroad.

Despite political unpredictability and an economic slowdown, China will still be the world’s largest sending country of international students in 2019. We expect that institutions that adapt their recruitment strategy in light of a changing landscape in China will fare the best this year.

To learn more about the new trends in Chinese international education, download our newest white paper below.