1. International Student Mobility –Factors Influencing Motivation to Study Abroad
Dr inż. Grażyna Rembielak, Ms Xiang Li,
Prof. John Wilson
Shanghai China

2. Content
Aim of the study
Context
Methodology
Findings
Conclusions

3. Aim of the study
The aim of this paper is to explore students’ motivation for studying abroad and specifically in China

4. Context
Increasing number of students making their decision to study in higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide every year, not at least to China

5. Global market share of internationally mobile students for leading study destinations, 2001 and 2016.

6. China – educational context,
1978
2015
Regular HEIs
598
2560
No. of FT academics
206,000
1,573,000
No of UG entrants in regular HEIs
402,000
7,378,495
No of students studying abroad
860
523,700
Table 1 Higher Education 1978 – 2015: Illustrative Statistics
Source: National Bureau of Statistics China 2016 Tables 21-5, 21-7, 21-10

7. 2014
2015
2016
Total Number
377,054
397,635
442,773
Increase number from previous year
20,555
20,581
45,138
Increase % from previous year
5.7
5.5
11.4
Number on long-term study seeking formal award (% of total)
164,394 (44)
184,799 (46)
209,966 (47)
Number on short-term study (% of total)
212,660 (56)
212,836 (54)
232,807 (53)
Total
377,054 (100)
397,635 (100)
442,773 (100)
Of total number on long-term study, number on Masters/PhD
47,990
(Masters = 35,876)
(PhD = 12,114)
53,572
(Masters = 39,205)
(PhD = 14,367)
63,867
(Masters = 45,816)
(PhD = 18,051)
% Increase from previous year
18.2
11.6
19.2
Number of originating countries
203
202
205

8. International students in China: top 15 countries of origin 2014 2015
2016
Rank
Country
Number 1
Republic of Korea
62,923
66,672
70,540 2
United States
24,203
21,975
23,838 3
Thailand
21,296
19,976
23,044 4
Russia
17,202
India
16,694
Pakistan
18,626 5
Japan
15,057
16,197
18,177 6
Indonesia
13,689
15,654
17,971 7
13,578
14,085
14,714 8
13,360
Kazakhstan
13,198
13,996 9
11,764
12,694
13,595 10
France
10,729
10,436
Vietnam
10,639 11
10,658
10,031
10,414 12
Germany
8,193
7,536
Laos
9,907 13
Mongolia
7,920
7,428
8,508 14
Malaysia
6,645
6,918
8,145 15
United Kingdom
5,920
6,650
6,880
Other
139,917
151,491
173,779
Total
377,054
397,635
442,773

9. 2014
2015
2016
Top 10 Chinese destination cities/provinces (% of total)
Beijing
Shanghai
Tianjin
Jiangsu
Zhejiang
Guangdong
Liaoning
Shandong
Hubei
Heilongjiang
74,342
55,911
25,270
23,209
22,190
21,298
21,010
17,896
15,839
12,056
73,779
55,218
25,658
25,489
25,411
23,015
22,784
17,903
17,670
12,085
Yunnan
77,234
59,887
32,228
30,108
26,564
25,273
24,605
19,829
19,263
14,925

10. Methodology Exploratory Study Questionnaire and Survey
Postgraduate International Students
Branch Campus in Shanghai

11. Findings

12. The Programmes of study in China

13. Nationality

14. Other countries you have studied or worked
Country
Singapore
USA
Mexico
Spain UK
New Zealand
Germany
Switzerland
South Korea
Brazil
Austria
France
Hungary
Russia
Luxemburg
Israel
Philippines
Australia
Chile
Canada

15. How is the cost of your study being financed

16. Intention to work in another country other than China or home country

17. Please evaluate the following motivations for your decision to study in China/Shanghai
Motivations for decision to study in China/Shanghai % 1 2 3 4 5
To gain status among peers/friends 19 15 39 12
To become more employable - 27 57
To experience a different place 84
To have an opportunity to live in China/Shanghai 31 46
To have an opportunity to study in China/Shanghai 38
To study with people from all over the world
To get a different study experience than in my country 54
To experience different teaching and learning methods 8 35 23
To enhance my English language skill 34
To enhance my Chinese language skill
To deepen my knowledge about Chinese culture

18. Influences on decision to study your particular Masters Programme% 1 2 3 4 5
Recommendation of someone who studied similar Programme 19 - 27 15
Programme Fee 42 12
Position of this Programme in Masters rankings 23
Accreditations of the Programme 8 35
Conversation with university agents representative
Open Day 43 38
Information materials from the website of my chosen university 50
Ease of the application process 30
Speed of response to application 31
Timetable 46
Generally attractive Programme
Balance in the syllabus between practical and theoretical issues
Programme in English 16

19. Importance of the factors in influencing your Shanghai experience – OTHER% 1 2 3 4 5
Eating places at university 19 32 15
Eating places around university 8 11 58
Making friends from the country 31 38
Making friends from all over the world 35
Making good contacts for the future - 12 42
Surroundings outside the school 26
Distance to the school 27 16
Availability of public transport to school 50
Parking facilities at university
Security/safety conditions at university 46
Facilities for religious worship
Cost of living (food, drink, transport, social)
Cost of accommodation
Programme fee
Transport links to other places
Proximity of an airport 24
Sports facilities 23
University clubs and societies 20
Social attractions offered by the city 39

20. Conclusions
The reasons why the researched international students chose to study in China:
The perceived level of personal safety in China
A relatively low cost of living in China;
Willingness to experience Chinese culture;
To investigate new opportunities in China in the future;
To visit and Asian country;
To have an opportunity to live in China/Shanghai;
To experience a different place;
To enhance their language skills.

21. Thank you