The Mobility of Students from China to UK Amid the Geopolitics Dynamic

Since the 1980s, the transnational mobility of university students has expanded dramatically, fueled by the twin engines of neoliberalism and liberal internationalism. From the 1990s onward, China emerged as the dominant source of international students for major Western destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Yet, in the current era of geopolitical realignment and intensifying U.S.-China competition, the overseas mobility of Chinese students faces unprecedented disruption. This presentation tackles the critical questions arising from this new reality: How will the UK adapt its international student policies in response? How are Chinese students recalibrating their decisions in light of these shifts? And what new patterns will characterize the flow of Chinese students to the UK? Drawing on a rich dataset of nearly 400 interviews conducted since 2020, this research reveals how geopolitical tensions are reshaping study abroad opportunities and driving strategic destination shifts—including a notable pivot from the United States to the United Kingdom.

This webinar is part of the Ideas and Universities Dialogue Series. This webinar series provides an international platform for scholars and academics to discuss issues related to the value of higher education in the contemporary society with rapid social, economic and political changes. Universities are increasingly influenced by the growing impact of geo-politics, the call for AI and STEM in education and pressure to meet economic purposes. This webinar series critically examines diverse topics/issues related to the purposes and roles of university education, and how universities across different parts of the globe respond to the complexity of changes highlighted above.