Thinking of pursuing your degree abroad?
You may want to consider enrolling in a university in China. Not only will you be able to gain first-hand experience in a global economic powerhouse, you will also be immersed in a country steeped in culture and history.
The higher education landscape in China is a thriving eco-system. The country already plays host to some 80,000 students from Southeast Asia in 2016. This figure is set to rise as the Chinese Ministry of Education continues to carve partnerships with more universities internationally and attract more international students to its shores.
But what exactly can one expect when pursuing higher education in China?
<h5>1. Experience life in a megacity </h5>
China’s rise to a world superpower status has a lot to do with its economic, technological and political influence.
It is currently the largest exporting country in the world. It also boasts a consumer market size that is practically unrivalled, particularly in the megacities – urban centres of 10 million people or more.
Life as a student in a megacity like Beijing can be an adventure of a lifetime. With ancient wonders like the Great Wall of China and the majestic Forbidden City juxtaposed with futuristic skyscrapers, you can definitely immerse yourself in history while deepening your understanding of the nation’s technological ambitions.
Top educational institutions in the capital city include Tsinghua University and Peking University.
There is also Shanghai, a vibrant metropolis touted as one of the world’s greatest cities. Highly regarded institutions here include Fudan University, Nanjing University, and Shanghai Jiaotong University.
<h5>2. Be inspired by a leading STEM nation</h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-66778" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/research-66365_1280-800x531.jpg" alt="SG Success Stories" width="800" height="531" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/research-66365_1280-800x531.jpg 800w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/research-66365_1280-320x213.jpg 320w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/research-66365_1280.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />
Do you know that China produces the highest number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates in the world? According to the World Economic Forum, China had 4.7 million STEM graduates in 2016. It outstripped India, which produced 2.6 million graduates, and the U.S, which produced 568,000 graduates. (<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/02/02/the-countries-with-the-most-stem-graduates-infographic/#cb2ad0a268ae" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>)
The country’s ambitions to be a global leader in science and innovation by 2050 appear to be within reach. China’s huge investments in higher education and R&amp;D has led to a proliferation of scientific research, and China’s share of global scientific papers increased from 6.4% in 2003 to 18.2% in 2013, second only to the United States (18.8%). (<a href="http://bruegel.org/2017/07/the-challenge-of-chinas-rise-as-a-science-and-technology-powerhouse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>)
<h5>3. Relatively low living costs </h5>
While the cost of living differs from city to city, China remains considerably cheaper than most Western countries, and tuition fees are affordable.
The average tuition fees in public universities range between S$4,500 and S$14,000 per year. But bear in mind that the top-ranking universities such as Peking University can be higher.
As for accommodation, the most common housing options in China are student residence halls – prices range between S$200 and S$550 per month. Renting a one-bedroom apartment can cost you between S$400 and S$1,400 per month, depending on location and facilities.
Beijing is one of most expensive cities to live in; be prepared to fork out around S$1,400 per month in living expenses. Shanghai and Shenzhen are the second most expensive cities, so you should budget between S$1,000 and S$1,200 per month.
If you patronise local restaurants and markets, food costs may be slightly cheaper than eating out at expensive malls.
Also, China offers many scholarships to international students, so be sure to apply for these.  
<h5>4. Opportunities for travel</h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-66779" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/great-wall-3675637_640.jpg" alt="SG Success Stories" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/great-wall-3675637_640.jpg 640w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/great-wall-3675637_640-320x180.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
One of the advantages of studying overseas is the opportunity for travel.
There are many neighbourhoods to explore around Beijing city itself. You can visit Houhai, one of the many hutongs in the city, and hop on a boat to admire the beautiful scenery around the lake.
China may be huge but it is also well connected by domestic flights, high-speed trains, highways and waterways, making cross-country travel relatively efficient. 
<h5> 5. Grow professionally</h5>
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-66884" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/adult-3548077_1280-800x478.jpg" alt="SG success stories" width="640" height="350" />
Living in a megacity comes with its advantages. If you value practical on-the-job experience to supplement your study experience, you can easily apply for an internship in one of China’s top-tier cities. 
With many businesses open to hiring experienced individuals who can bring an international perspective, there will be ample opportunities to gain first-hand industry experience in China. Choose a field that is relevant to your course of study and that may benefit from the cross-cultural perspective that you can bring. The local experience will greatly increase your hireability when you return to your home country.
<a href="http://successtories.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singapore Success Stories</a> has been helping Singaporean students gain placement in universities and educational institutions abroad successfully. If you’re keen to find out more about pursuing further studies in China, do indicate your interest for our upcoming event on 26th October <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/6UaYTvNy2HbvOlIT2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a>. 
For more details, contact us at 6802 5216 or <a href="mailto:cs@successtories.sg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cs@successtories.sg</a> today!

This country makes an interesting education destination. Find out more here.

<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65365 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/friend-2727307_640.jpg" alt="SG success stories" width="640" height="423" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/friend-2727307_640.jpg 640w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/friend-2727307_640-320x212.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" />
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In the past few years, China has been growing increasingly popular with international students seeking undergraduate, postgraduate, and exchange courses.
In 2015, China played host to nearly 400,000 international students from all over the world, making it the third largest destination for international students worldwide, only behind America and the UK.
According to a report by student.com, its international student numbers have been growing at an average of 10% every year from 2006 to 2015. This represents a far quicker growth rate than any other popular study destination.
This has been partly driven by the Chinese government’s efforts at improving the quality of education in the country. Today, more of China’s universities have been included in global university rankings. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings included 37 of China’s universities in 2015, compared to just 6 in 2011.
With China’s increasing influence as an economic superpower, many students are also drawn by the opportunity to beef up their knowledge of and cultural links with China, believing that it will lead to better job prospects as closer economic ties with their home country are forged. Today, more people around the world are keen to learn Chinese, visit China for tourism or business, and study in China.
As 21-year-old Laotian Pingpanya Phommilath shared in an interview with <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/why-more-southeast-asian-students-are-choosing-china-for-higher-10042118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Channel NewsAsia</a>, China was his first choice when it came to getting a university degree as “China is becoming stronger and its economy is getting bigger…There are many Chinese in my country. So studying in China means better prospects (for me).”
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-65364 aligncenter" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/academic-1822682_640.jpg" alt="SG success stories" width="640" height="405" srcset="https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/academic-1822682_640.jpg 640w, https://wp.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/academic-1822682_640-320x203.jpg 320w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /> Some 80,000 students from Southeast Asia chose to enrol in Chinese universities in 2016, according to the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), China’s nationwide not-for-profit organisation conducting international educational exchanges and cooperation.
As stated in the above-mentioned Channel NewsAsia article, students from ASEAN countries now form the biggest group of foreign students studying in China’s higher educational institutes, overtaking South Koreans.
Another key reason why more students are choosing China as their host country is the availability of generous scholarships from the Chinese government awarded as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), stated the news report. BRI has been touted as the world’s “most ambitious infrastructure plan” and represents the country’s bid to strengthen trade, social and political links with Southeast Asia. 
According to student.com, China offered over 40,000 scholarships to international students in 2015, marking a near five-fold increase in the number of scholarships given out in the last 10 years.
Lucian Koh, Managing Director of <a href="http://successtories.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singapore Success Stories</a>, a consultancy that designs education programmes and pathways, explains, “Growing its international base is a strategic move for China. These talents can work on Chinese projects like those associated with the BRI even when they return to their home countries. With their familiarity with Chinese language, ethics, and culture, they also serve as effective ambassadors for China.&#8221;
“As China continues to enhance its education system and her institutions rise in reputation, we expect to see a continued growth in interest to study there in the coming years,” Mr Koh added.
<img onerror="kspReplaceCdn(this)" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-64805 alignnone" src="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/files/u133359/dir-logo-5.jpg" alt="SG success stories" width="131" height="125" /> <a href="http://successtories.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Singapore Success Stories</a> has been helping Singaporean students and all nationalities gain placement in universities and educational institutions abroad successfully. If you’re keen to find out more about pursuing further studies in China, contact us at 6802 5216 or <a href="mailto:cs@successtories.sg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cs@successtories.sg</a> today!