Factors Influencing Chinese Students’ Choice of an International Branch Campus: A Case Study

Abstract

With the internationalization of education, studying at international branch campuses (IBCs) is becoming a popular choice in China. Taking Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE)—Surrey International Institute as an example, this article explores the choice criteria used by Chinese students enrolled at an IBC. Based on auto-ethnography and 46 in-depth semi-structured interviews, this study found that students’ choice of this particular IBC was influenced by personal reasons, institution image, program evaluation, and city effect. The study further proposes a model of factors that may influence Chinese students’ choice of an IBC. As the IBCs are run as for-profit ventures in an increasingly competitive environment, the marketing strategies to attract Chinese students to study at IBCs based on the findings are also discussed in this article.

Who are studying at International Branch Campuses in China? A case study

“…Lee (2016) also identified through interviews at an IBC with independent legal person status that the gaokao score, which is not high enough to be admitted by elite HEIs in China, is the strongest factor for the choice of IBC. Through auto-ethnography and interviews at an IBC without independent legal person status, Li (2020) explores the choice criteria used by Chinese students enrolled at an IBC. He found that the gaokao score is considered as one of the most influential personal factors, and personal development, such as gaining international/intercultural experience, improving English language ability and future career prospect, is another personal factor that motivates the choice of IBC.…”

“…The choice of IBC is influenced by a series of institutional characteristics. The institutional factors of IBCs include lower cost compared to its home campus, location, study abroad opportunities, reputation and ranking, program and faculty quality, qualification recognition by the government and employers, and English environment (Lee, 2016; Li, 2020; Mok & Han, 2016). The choice of IBC is also influenced by national characteristics of the host country, which include inadequate higher education capacity, lack of international recognition, and perceived lower quality and development of English language proficiency (Lee, 2016).…”

Why International Students Choose to Study at Russia’s Leading Universities

“…Moreover, the infrastructure of the city, which is discussed in other studies (Li, 2020), happens to be a significant factor in choosing a place of study in Russia. Branding and recognition of the city are important aspects of the process of attracting students.…”

Whiteness as world-class education?: Internationalization as depicted by Western international branch campuses in China

“…For example, following the the reform and opening-up policy of the late 1970s, China began seeking opportunities for international cooperation in HE (Chen & Huang, 2013 ). These efforts eventually resulted in the establishment of IBCs, a form of transnational education that has rapidly expanded in the last 20 years (Li, 2020 ). Since then, much has been written on the internationalization of Chinese universities (e.g., Yang, 2014 ; Zha et al, 2019 ; Chen & Huang, 2013 ).…”