350,000 Chinese students to study abroad in 2011

By Zhao Enuo. According to the Investigation Report on Trends of Studying Abroad in 2011 released by China Education Online, the number of Chinese students going abroad for study will exceed 350,000 in 2011. The growth in this area has been beyond 24 percent for three consecutive years.

The report indicated that the number of Chinese students going abroad to study was 179,800, 229,300, and 284,700, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, showing a year-on-year growth of 24.43 percent, 27.53 percent and 24.16 percent. According to the figures, the number is expected to exceed 350,000 in 2011 based on the lowest growth rate of 24 percent.
As shown in the report, the large amount of students going abroad will continue to drive the study abroad economy.
The report showed two increasingly obvious features concerning overseas studies: rapid growth and lower age. In recent years, in addition to a double-digit growth maintained in the number of students sitting TOEFL and IELTS tests, the proportion of such groups under 18 years of age is increasing rapidly.
What's more, the list of best candidates for overseas studies is becoming more diversified. Besides the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada, some other European and Asian countries are also increasingly popular among Chinese students.