Chinese sentiment about studying in Australia is mixed

Chinese students’ natural enthusiasm to study here could wane under the pressure of worsening bilateral relations and racism.

Chinese students increasingly have felt less welcome, says Council of International Students Australia national president Belle Lim. Aaron Francis/The Australian

Chinese students contemplating postgraduate study overseas still hold a positive view of Australia, although their willingness and choice to study abroad is influenced by bilateral relations and Covid-19-related issues, according to a recent survey.

An Australian-based course search and education platform for Chinese students, CatEight.com, polled 5029 Chinese, of whom 71 per cent were aged between 19 and 24, and 77 per cent were undergraduates.

The survey was conducted both online and offline between December last year and February this year, facilitated by CatEight partners in China in 50 Chinese universities. It also included some face-to-face interviews. Students ranked Australia the third most popular destination for studying abroad, behind Britain and Japan.

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More than half (51 per cent) said they would consider Australia as their study destination country, and students interviewed on the subject were impressed by Australia’s successful containment of Covid-19 in contrast with other countries.

Although 52 per cent said Covid-19 had dampened their intention to study abroad, more than 47 per cent would not abandon their plans, despite delays caused by the pandemic.

However, 57 per cent said the strained relationship between China and Australia would affect or cause them to cancel their study plans, and only 11 per cent said they wouldn’t be affected by diplomatic tensions.

Council of International Students Australia national president Belle Lim challenged the survey’s finding that Chinese students still viewed Australia so positively.

“Since then, the vaccination rate in the US and UK have really ramped up (and they have become more open), while Australia still doesn’t have a plan to open the borders,” Ms Lim said.

“So some of this sentiment has already shifted since then. They will certainly factor it into their decision-making that the relationship between China and Australia is worsening.”

Ms Lim said racism had been on the rise since the pandemic struck. “Chinese students increasingly have felt less welcome,” she said.

“So it’s not just that the Chinese government is issuing warnings to students, it is whether they feel welcome and safe here.” A recent CISA survey – unable to effectively canvass Chinese students because of their lack of access to Facebook – found deep concerns about the quality of online course delivery to students stranded offshore.

“Education providers, along with the government, need to invest in better offshore delivery, and while that is being scaled up, the tuition fee needs to be reduced,” Ms Lim said.

Financial issues and uncertainty were the other stressors.

“They can’t make plans for their future. They have been put on hold for more than a year now, and Australia still doesn’t have a plan for students to return. Two years wasted and on top of that, most of them are spending their family savings on education and feel responsible for that.”