Rising numbers of Asian and African PhD students choose to study in China

Fatma Satyani, an Indonesian PhD student in China, enjoys her studies at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, where she is researching big data and business intelligence. She is part of a growing number of students from low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, who are pursuing postgraduate education in China. The number of international students in China has increased since the country eased COVID-19 restrictions, with 380,000 international students in the 2024–25 academic year. Many are drawn by scholarships, the chance to learn Mandarin, and China’s advancements in technology. However, challenges include mastering Mandarin and limited post-graduation opportunities. Despite these hurdles, students like Satyani believe China is becoming a global leader in science and education. QUESTION: How might the increasing number of international students in China influence global perceptions of Chinese education?