August 18, 2017//-While the U.S., U.K. and Australia draw the biggest numbers of international students, another country is coming on strong — particularly when it comes to students from Africa.
U.S. News & World Report recently reported on the surge of African students choosing China for their international studies. Here’s a closer look at the phenomenon.
Bypassing the “Big Three”
Based newly translated figures from the online archives of the Chinese Ministry of Education, the number of African students in China has skyrocketed from less than 2,000 in 2003 to nearly 50,000 in 2015. How does this measure up against perennial picks, the U.S. and the U.K.? Each host approximately 40,000 students from Africa annually, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics figures.
However, China still lags behind one country when it comes to attracting African students. France tops the list with more than 95,000 students headed there annually.
Why China?
China’s appeal isn’t limited to African students. According to U.S. News & World Report, it’s “universities are filled with international students from around the world, including Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania.” And while Asian international students still comprise a significantly larger portion of the overall student bodies, growth among the African student population is outpacing growth from all other regions.
U.S. News & World Report attributes this trend to the Chinese government priority of African development, including support for African education — both in Africa and in China. While educating Africans can be viewed as “an extension of China’s soft power,” African students also benefit in several ways. Explains U.S. News & World Report, “ Some simply go to pursue an education that is affordable, even without a scholarship, while others go for the chance to develop business connections or learn the language of a country presumed to be a rising power.”
Higher Education in China
China has more than 2,000 universities and colleges that offer bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. Institutes of higher education are concentrated in the eastern half of the country. China currently hosts more than 300,000 international students; the majority of foreign students are from Asian countries, Russia, the United States, and France.
Chinese higher education institutions have significant autonomy in choosing academic programs and organizational structure, making many schools attractive to international students.
Why Study in China?
Many people obtain a master’s degree in China for the cultural and language experiences. In addition, the cost for a masters degree is much lower than in Europe, the United States, or even most Asian countries. China has well-regarded master’s programs in disciplines such as engineering, science, economics, and business administration, as well as unique programs in areas such as Chinese language and martial arts. Although most master’s degree programs require proficiency in Chinese, many programs are now offered in English, especially for disciplines in engineering and business.
Universities
Recent government reforms and investments have moved nine Chinese schools into the top 200 as ranked by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) – Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Zhejiang University. China established the ARWU to use as a benchmark for evaluating the quality of Chinese institutes of higher education.
Master’s degrees are available in a wide range of disciplines, such as medicine, management, economics, engineering, philosophy, law, education, history, natural science and even military science. For those interested in studying primarily Chinese language and cultural studies, some institutions offer special programs for international students, such as the Beijing Language and Culture University.
Tuition and Program Duration
Tuition prices for master’s degrees in China vary greatly depending on your school of choice, as well as the location. In order to find out specific tuition costs, it is best to contact a university for the most current information and listings.
Academic Year
The academic year is based on two semesters, autumn and spring. The autumn semester starts in September and ends in late January or early February and the spring semester runs from February through June.
Post-Graduate Opportunities
There are many employment opportunities for individuals with advanced degrees to teach in China. Non-Chinese master’s degree graduates will also be highly sought after by companies around the world that do business with China.
Visa Requirements
All international students require a visa. There are two types of visas for students, the Study visa (X-visa), which is for programs lasting more than six months, and the Business visa (F-visa) for programs of less than six months. The visa application process takes 2-4 weeks. In some cases, students are allowed to arrive in China with a tourist visa and then convert it to the Study visa.
Health Insurance
The universities provide health insurance for a set cost. Students must have a current medical examination before they can begin studying, which they can obtain in their home country or after arriving in China.
Tips
Chinese currency is called Renminbi, abbreviated RMB. RMB units are in Yuan, also sometimes called Jiao and Fen. The use of foreign currency in China is prohibited, but banks and many hotels provide exchange services.
MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB card are the only credit cards currently accepted in China.
The official language in China is Standard Mandarin, which is based on the dialect of Mandarin spoken in Beijing. However, only 70 percent of the population speaks Mandarin as their first language and many distinct regional dialects exist across the country.
Prospective international students should work with the Chinese embassy in their country to ensure all immigration and other entrance requirements are met before traveling to China.
Masterstudies.com/African Eye Report
