An Analysis on Motivation of International Students Who Come to China for Higher Education

Abstract

In order to promote the internationalization of higher education in China and attract more talented international students, it is important to study which factors are highly motivational for international students. This paper analyzes the academic, employment, and cultural factors that motivate international students to come to China for higher education. Results show that academic reputation and quality are considered by many international students as one of the most critical factors influencing their choice of university, while the quest for international qualification is the basic motivation and schooling support that help them subsist in a foreign country. From the perspective of employment, international students are attracted by the fast growth of China's economy, foreign-friendly employment policy as well as the international economic cooperation with its attendant business opportunities. Culturally, China's internationalization and multicultural development, and Chinese culture's attractiveness and inclusiveness are also contributing factors that motivate international students to come to China for higher education.