More and more Malaysian students are ditching the usual study spots like the US, UK, and Australia, and heading to China instead. What’s the big appeal?
Well, China offers high-quality education at way more affordable prices. Plus, their universities are climbing the global rankings and throwing out some pretty generous scholarships.
So, for students who want a solid education without breaking the bank, China is quickly becoming the go-to option, reported Malay Mail.
Key reasons:
- Lower education costs: China offers affordable tuition fees compared to many Western countries.
- Growing reputation of Chinese universities: Universities in China are gaining international recognition.
- Generous scholarships: Many Chinese universities provide full or partial scholarships to international students.
According to Associate Professor Ngeow Chow-Bing, Director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya, this trend is expected to grow further.
He highlighted the appeal of scholarships as a major factor.
“Malaysian students are increasingly drawn to studying in China because universities there offer very generous scholarships,” he said
Chinese universities are making strides in global rankings. For example, Tsinghua University in Beijing climbed from 23rd to 12th place in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings from 2020 to 2024.
Peking University is ranked 14th, with seven Chinese universities now among the top 100, compared to just three in 2020.
Additional benefits:
- Networking opportunities: Ngeow pointed out that students studying in China have the chance to build connections that may lead to future business or economic opportunities.
- Lower cost of living: The affordability of living in China is another significant draw.
Lim Kok Yan, President of the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges in China, Malaysia, noted that the cost of tuition and living in China is much lower than in Western countries like the US, UK, and Australia.
For example, a medical course at Shanghai Jiao Tong University costs around 29,400 yuan (RM17,852) per year, while private universities in Malaysia can charge up to RM110,000 annually.
In the UK and Australia, medical school fees range from £38,000 (RM214,895) to A$60,000 (RM175,222).
Living costs in China are also significantly lower, typically ranging from 2,000 (RM1,223) to 4,000 (RM2,446) yuan per month.
In contrast, living expenses in Australia are between A$2,000 (RM5,832) and A$3,000 (RM8,749) monthly.
These factors make China an increasingly attractive destination for Malaysian students looking for quality education at a lower cost.