Interest in studying in China reached a record high in July 2026, according to Studyportals data. After attracting less interest than several other Asian destinations during much of 2025, China saw student demand rise quickly since the beginning of the year.
The number of English-taught degree programmes available in the country has increased sharply in recent years.
“What stands out is how quickly interest has grown. For much of 2025, China attracted less attention than several other Asian study destinations. But throughout 2026, demand increased rapidly, helping China move into the top group of destinations in the region,” said Arunima Dey and Ameena Ali, researchers at Studyportals.
According to Studyportals data, prospective student interest in China reached a record high in July 2026. This measures how students explore study options on Studyportals rather than actual university enrolments, but it is a strong signal that China is becoming more visible when students compare international study destinations.
Malaysia remains a close competitor in Asia, but China's growth throughout 2026 shows that more prospective students are actively considering Chinese universities than they were only a year earlier.
That said, the spike in interest might be correlated with the 2024-2025 academic year statistics China announced in 2026. According to the mentioned source, around 380,000 international students from 191 countries and regions studied in China during the 2024–2025 academic year.
Some key statistics include:
- 61.1% of international students came from other Asian countries.
- 16.2% came from Africa.
- 15.6% came from Europe.
- 7.1% came from the Americas and Oceania.
- Around 8% received Chinese Government Scholarships.
- Around 205,000 international students were studying for a degree.
- Engineering was one of the most popular fields among international degree students.
These figures suggest that China has a growing number of English-taught degree programmes, since a large number of international students are coming, and the country is encouraging students with scholarship options.
English-taught degrees in China have more than tripled
One major change for international students is the rapid expansion of programmes taught in English.
According to the Mapping English-taught Programmes Worldwide Report by Studyportals and British Council, China had 750 on-campus English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in 2019. By 2024, that number had increased to 2,296.
That means the number of English-taught programmes more than tripled in five years. For you, this creates considerably more opportunities to study in China without completing your entire degree in Chinese.
However, programme language varies by university and subject, so always check the official programme page before applying.
Here are some examples of English-language degrees offered by some of China’s top universities:
University name | Location | English-taught undergraduate programmes | English-taught graduate programmes |
Beijing |
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Hangzhou |
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Shanghai |
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What should you know before studying in China?
Student experiences shared on Reddit and YouTube highlight several practical differences you should prepare for before studying in China.
- Digital life is different: You’ll need to prepare for restrictions on platforms such as Instagram and Google. Apps such as WeChat and Alipay are widely used for messaging, payments, transport, food delivery, and everyday services. Check your university's advice on internet access, payments, and useful apps before travelling.
- Learning some Mandarin can make daily life easier. You can complete many university programmes entirely in English, but students often mention that learning basic Mandarin makes daily activities such as shopping, travelling, ordering food, and speaking with local residents much easier.
- Living costs vary considerably: Students often highlight China's transport infrastructure and the relatively manageable cost of student life. Just like anywhere else, costs differ significantly between cities. Beijing and Shanghai will generally require a different budget from smaller university cities, so check accommodation and everyday expenses for your specific destination rather than relying on a national average.
- Working while studying is regulated: international students cannot automatically take unrestricted part-time employment. Rules apply to off-campus work and internships, and you may need approval from your university and the relevant immigration authorities. Check the latest conditions attached to your student residence permit before accepting any work or internship.
- Scholarships are widely available. There are government (and university) funded scholarships for international students. You can explore scholarships for both Bachelor’s degrees in China and Master’s degrees in China. Chinese Government Scholarships are one option, but universities, local authorities, and other organisations also offer their own funding schemes. Scholarship eligibility, coverage, and deadlines vary considerably, so check each opportunity individually.
What does China's rising popularity mean for you?
China's record level of interest revealed by Studyportals data does not automatically make it the right destination for every international student. But it does show that China is becoming harder to overlook when comparing study options in Asia.
Three developments stand out:
- more prospective international students are considering China;
- the country already hosts a large international student population;
- the number of English-taught degree options has expanded significantly.
For you, that means more choice than international students had only a few years ago. You can now find English-taught programmes across subjects such as Engineering, Business, Medicine, Communication, and the Sciences, including at some of China's highest-ranked universities.
At the same time, studying in China comes with practical differences. Mandarin remains useful outside the classroom, digital services work differently, and employment during your studies is regulated. These factors should be part of your decision alongside rankings, tuition fees, scholarships, and programme quality.
Browse degrees in China
As China’s popularity as a study destination grows, the number of English-taught degrees will also likely increase. On our portals, you’ll find 650+ Bachelor’s degrees and 1,300+ Master’s degrees in China, all in English, covering all sorts of subjects from Engineering to Communication.
If you're considering China for 2026-2027, compare programmes carefully, check admission and language requirements, investigate scholarships, and review the latest student visa and work rules before applying.
