KUALA LUMPUR: Attracted by the affordable costs as well as the availability of scholarships, more students from Malaysia are choosing to further their studies in China, reports said.
The Straits Times, in a report published today, cited data from the Association of Graduates from Universities and Colleges of China in Malaysia, which showed an increase in the number of Malaysian students studying in China.
According to the data cited in the report, the number of Malaysian students studying in China has risen from 1,800 in 2007 to an estimated 10,000 last year.
Association president Lim Kok Yan told the Singapore-based English daily that the affordable study and living costs, along with the generous scholarships offered by many Chinese universities and government bodies, have contributed to the steady stream of Malaysians pursuing their education in China.
Lim also said that tuition fees and living expenses in China are generally lower than in Western countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, which remain popular study destinations for Malaysians.
Dr. Ngeow Chow-Bing, an associate professor and director of Universiti Malaya's Institute of China Studies, said that the trend of Malaysians heading to China for further studies is expected to continue.
China's universities and government entities, Dr Ngeow said, have been providing generous scholarships.
"Chinese universities commonly offer full or partial scholarships to foreign students, which further adds to their appeal."
Another contributing factor is the potential for students to build connections in China that could lead to future business or economic opportunities, Dr Ngeow added.
He was also quoted in the report as saying that top-tier universities in China are gaining recognition, which has helped boost their reputation, particularly among the ethnic Chinese community in Malaysia.
The report also referenced the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings 2024, noting that Beijing'stop-ranked Tsinghua University climbed to 12th place from 23rd in 2020.
The rankings further revealed that there are now seven mainland Chinese universities in the world's top 100, compared to just three in 2020.