By Nadia Maunsell, Peking University student 

The Asia Society Australia Asia Agenda series has focused considerable attention on the federal government’s plan to cap international student enrolments at Australian universities, a decision mostly affecting students coming from China. This issue arises amid another interesting development in the bilateral education: the growth in Australian students enrolling at universities in China. 

Australian students are flowing back to China this month in the latest wave of international students to arrive following the full reopening of Chinese universities. Most choose to study both Mandarin and undergraduate-level university courses such as commerce or law.  

The recent influx holds the potential for fostering positive long-term connections between the two countries, in contrast to several Asia Agenda commentators who have suggested that the Australia-China relationship has reached its limits.

Why Australians are attracted to study in China  

China was the top choice for Australians studying abroad, comprising 15 per cent of total outbound students in 2019, despite strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. Just under 5000 Australian students studied in China in 2016, compared to 21,000 students from the United States in the same year. As relations continue to improve, renewed interest in China will likely boost university enrolments even further in the future. 

Students’ interest in China is influenced by rising prestige and global rankings of top Chinese universities, which offer Australian students access to high-quality education abroad. Peking University, Tsinghua University, University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong all rank as several of the best global universities in Asia. Many more Chinese universities have existing partnerships with Australian universities. Enormous gains in China’s economic development have also inspired curiosity and awe in the minds of many international students, motivating them to want to experience life in major global cities such as Beijing or Shanghai.  

Compared to the US or the United Kingdom, the cost of studying in China is greatly reduced by access to scholarships such as the Australian government-funded New Columbo Plan and Westpac-funded Asian Exchange Scholarship, which can offer up to $12,250 in additional funding. Prestigious institutions such as Peking University and Tsinghua University also provide merit-based scholarships for Australian students, including the Yenching Scholarship and Schwarzman Scholarship which both waive the full cost of tuition and accommodation, further enhancing access to a world-class education abroad. 

Language familiarity is another factor that may influence Australians who choose to study in China. Mandarin is the most widely spoken second language in Australia, with 700,000 speakers. WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging application, helps many Chinese Australians maintain strong ties with their families in China. The chance to immerse themselves in a fully Mandarin-speaking environment while studying abroad serves as a strong motivator for selecting China as their destination. As the government continues to prioritise Asian language literacy and cultural understanding, the low numbers of non-Chinese heritage Australians with Mandarin proficiency may also begin to trend upwards and influence enrolments in China. 

What Australians study in China  

Many international students in China study Mandarin, either alone or as part of their Australian undergraduate program. Undergraduate students made up 70 per cent of all study abroad experiences in 2018, and are able to study in China for free if their university has an existing partnership with a Chinese university. 

Australian students who are recipients of a Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship pursue a diverse array of university courses, with popular fields including Chinese studies, international relations, law, economics, commerce and science. Some students prefer to undertake short-term language courses at institutions like Beijing Foreign Studies University, which is ranked first in the country for language studies and research.  

What this trend could mean for Australia-China relations 

At a time when Australians’ knowledge of China is stagnating despite its clear importance to the nation’s future prosperity, the increasing presence of Australian students in Chinese universities represents a vital opportunity to foster mutual understanding and strengthen bilateral ties.  

This is important given the extent to which the Australia-China relationship declined dramatically within the past decade. That political dialogue between Australia and China was suspended during the pandemic – and only resumed in late 2023 – demonstrates the need for Australians with specialised training in dealing with China who can deploy their knowledge where necessary to achieve Australia-focused objectives while maintaining a stable relationship with the region’s largest trading partner. China’s rising importance in the international world order reinforces the need for deeper educational engagement and understanding between people of the two nations. 

The education relationship between both Australia and China will change as students’ perceptions are influenced by their study experiences abroad.  Contrary to the negative or unrealistic portrayals of China in popular culture, which can diminish students’ interest, the growth of enrolments in key fields such as arts, international relations, and languages demonstrates a clear willingness on the part of Australians to engage with and contribute to a deeper understanding of China. 

Nadia Maunsell is a Yenching Scholar and Master’s student in Economics at Peking University. 

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