Chinese students may have developed a reputation for being rich, but in the midst of the slow economic recovery of China, cheaper tuition fees and more affordable housing and life costs become key considerations for many students and their families.
Annual fees in prestigious American universities and third cycle programs vary from US $ 27,300 to US $ 47,770, while British diplomas can cost between US $ 13,650 to US $ 40,945.
On the other hand, tuition fees in the less known universities of Southeast Asia can be as low as US $ 5,000 per year, which is more viable financially, especially for many Chinese middle-class families in lower-level cities, said Weeks.
“They are more likely to be sensitive to prices and believe that the most economically rational thing to do is to sit on the (slow) labor market for two years (while living abroad,” he said.
“If they must decide between studying abroad in a less prestigious destination or not studying abroad at all, some will choose the least prestigious,” he added.
A survey in 2024 in the QS University classification revealed that 56% of Chinese students seeking to study in Southeast Asia have cited the affordability – including the supply of scholarships and a lower cost of living – as the most important factor.
Yang, currently in Malaysia, continuing his doctorate on cinematographic studies and feminism, was on a tight budget – covering his own rents for rent and tuition fees.
“The cost of study and life in Malaysia is very cheap compared to Western countries,” he said.
But with the exception of universities in Singapore, diplomas of the less known schools of certain Southeast Asian countries are still not recognized by Chinese employers, who could pose challenges for long-term Chinese graduates, experts said.
The concerns about “Shui Bo” diplomas, a slang term used online by Chinese Internet users describing watered down academic qualifications, also triggered an animated debate on Chinese social media.
“Chinese employers will have questions about the diplomas obtained in (less known) universities of Southeast Asia,” said Dr. Ngeow, adding that students have complained that their diplomas were not recognized or considered credible by employers in China.
The diplomas of certain universities and institutes of Southeast Asia may not have the same weight as the qualifications of the United Kingdom or the United States, said Weeks, which noted that a Malaysian diploma is unlikely to “really turn the heads” among Chinese employers unless the graduate is in the higher centile.
For Chinese students who study in these schools in the region, it can be a compromise between low costs and the level of recognition of Chinese employers, the weeks added.
