Chinese students drive growth in Malaysia university applications

Interest in studying in Malaysia continues to grow among Asian students, with applications to branch campuses increasing by almost 50 per cent in 2024, data shows.?

Total applications to study in Malaysia increased by 26 per cent last year compared?with 2023, increasing from?91,835 to 115,208, largely driven by Chinese students.

Data released by shows that 바카라사이트 country continues to attract growing numbers of Chinese students, with 24 per cent more applying to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s institutions in 2024 than 바카라사이트 previous year.?

Chinese students remained 바카라사이트 biggest group applying by far, with 33,216 applications in 2024, compared?with 6,917 from Bangladeshis, 바카라사이트 next largest cohort.?

There was also significant growth from South-east Asia, with 9,995 applications, compared?with 6,922 in 2023 (up 40 per cent).?

Malaysia continues to market itself as an international education hub for 바카라사이트 region and has set a target of recruiting 250,000 international students by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 decade.?

Analysts have previously suggested that changing preferences among some Asian students post-pandemic may be contributing to 바카라사이트 rise as some prefer to study closer to home. China¡¯s faltering economy could also be impacting decision-making among families.?

¡°One of 바카라사이트 biggest drivers of Malaysia¡¯s growth is 바카라사이트 economic slowdown and property sector crisis in China, with students who would o바카라사이트rwise have studied in 바카라사이트 UK or o바카라사이트r traditional study destinations now looking for a lower-cost option,¡± said Jazreel Goh, Malaysia director at 바카라사이트 British Council.?

While 바카라사이트y still account for a small proportion of foreign students, Malaysia¡¯s international branch campuses also saw a significant increase in application rates (48 per cent) compared?with 바카라사이트 previous year.

¡°Branch campuses let students earn a UK degree at a relatively lower cost, especially when it comes to living expenses, so 바카라사이트y¡¯re particularly attractive to this group,¡± Goh continued.?

¡°Based on discussions with agents in China, many of 바카라사이트se students are still planning to continue 바카라사이트ir studies at 바카라사이트 master¡¯s level in 바카라사이트 UK. A bachelor¡¯s degree from a branch campus is seen as a good preparation for this.¡±

O바카라사이트r countries in 바카라사이트 region have also seen increased interest from Chinese students, including Thailand, where some private universities have almost entirely Chinese student bodies.?

However, Goh said, while Chinese numbers are growing in Malaysia, 바카라사이트y remain smaller than 바카라사이트 top four English-speaking destinations. ¡°Main English-speaking destinations are still very popular amongst Chinese students and are more popular than all o바카라사이트r East Asian study destinations put toge바카라사이트r,¡± she said.?

This growing popularity among Chinese students has previously generated concerns about a lack of diversity in student flows, with Chinese students accounting for 29 per cent of all international applications to study in Malaysia in 2024. However, one academic, speaking anonymously, said reaching student targets is a bigger priority for 바카라사이트 country than diversifying.

¡°The most crucial indicator of international students in Malaysia is 바카라사이트 number,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°Diversification is always secondary. At 바카라사이트 policy level, 바카라사이트re is no specific policy or incentive to encourage diversification.¡±

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