Chinese students might have developed a reputation for being rich, but amid China’s slow economic recovery, cheaper tuition fees and more affordable lodging and living costs are becoming key considerations for many students and their families.
Annual fees at prestigious American universities and postgraduate programs range from US$27,300 to US$47,770, while UK degrees can cost between US$13,650 to US$40,945.
In contrast, tuition fees at lesser-known Southeast Asian universities can be as low as US$5,000 per year, proving more financially viable especially for many Chinese middle-class families in lower-tier cities, said Weeks.
“They are more likely to be price sensitive and feel that the most economically rational thing to do is sit out the (sluggish) job market for two years (while) living overseas,” he said.
“If they have to decide between studying abroad in a less prestigious destination or not studying abroad at all, some will choose the less prestigious one,” he added.
A 2024 survey by QS University Rankings found that 56 per cent of Chinese students looking to study in Southeast Asia cited affordability – including the offering of scholarships and a lower cost of living – as the most important factor.
Yang, currently in Malaysia pursuing his PhD on film studies and feminism, has been on a tight budget – covering his own rent and tuition fees.
“The cost of study and living in Malaysia is very cheap compared to Western countries,” he said.
But with the exception of universities in Singapore, degrees from lesser-known schools in some Southeast Asian countries are still unrecognised by Chinese employers, which could pose challenges for Chinese graduates in the long term, experts said.
Concerns over “shui bo” degrees, a slang term used online by Chinese netizens describing watered-down academic qualifications, have also sparked heated debate on Chinese social media.
“Chinese employers will have questions about degrees obtained from (lesser-known) Southeast Asian universities,” said Dr Ngeow, adding that students have complained about their degrees not being recognised or seen as credible by employers back in China.
Degrees from certain Southeast Asian universities and institutes may not carry the same weight as qualifications from the UK or US, said Weeks, who noted that a Malaysian degree is unlikely to “really turn heads” among Chinese employers unless the graduate is in the top percentile.
For Chinese students studying at these schools in the region, it can be a trade-off between low costs and the level of recognition among Chinese employers, Weeks added.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/chinese-students-southeast-asia-boost-beijing-soft-power-5066591
