PETALING JAYA: The number of students from China applying to study in Malaysian universities grew by 25% last year, driven by a shift in global student mobility. Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) said international students, including from China, are shifting away from the world’s ‘Big Four’ study destinations: the UK, US, Australia and Canada.
“More students are exploring dynamic and diverse destinations across Asia. Malaysia is one of the top destinations,” it told The Star.
EMGS, which is under the purview of the Higher Education Ministry, said its data shows that students from China continued to top the list of study applications to Malaysia, at 33,216 in 2024, compared to 26,627 applications in 2023.
Other top applications came from Bangladesh (6,917), Indonesia (5,556), India (2,591) and Pakistan (2,417).
From January to March this, application by students from China continued to grow by 2%, rising to 5,876 from 5,780 in the same period last year.
EMGS said Malaysia’s multilingual environment, political stability, safety, as well as rich cultural experiences, are motivating factors for China students to pursue their studies in the country.
“Malaysia’s geographical proximity to China also makes it easier and more affordable for students to travel back home during holidays and maintain close ties with their families.”
China Daily recently reported that more Chinese families are reconsidering higher education plans in the US due to worsening bilateral relations and growing concerns over safety abroad.
Parents, the report said, are considering countries that have a good relationship with China as political stability ensures the safety of their children abroad.
The report also indicated that data from the 2024 Open Doors Report on Inter¬national Educational Exchange showed that China was surpassed by India as the largest source of international students in the United States for the 2023-2024 academic year.
There were 277,398 students from the Chinese mainland enrolled in US higher education institutions during that period, a figure that has been dropping annually since peaking at 372,532 in the 2019-2020 academic year.
EMGS said Malaysia, under the Education Blueprint 2015-2025, is targeting 250,000 international students by 2025 with 39% contributed by China.
“The consistent rise in international student applications, along with a student-friendly visa system, reflects Malaysia’s commitment to transforming into a global classroom and strengthening its global influence and soft power,” said EMGS.
It added that Malaysia offers internationally recognized degrees, often in partnership with prestigious universities from the UK, Australia, and the US, allowing students to earn a reputable degree at a fraction of the cost.
“The qualification from Malaysia is also widely-recognised and highly regarded in China so students are able to find jobs easily after graduation.”