Gone are the days when China just sent students to English-speaking countries in the West. China now ranks fourth among the most popular ‘receiving’ countries in the world, with students from South Korea, Thailand, Pakistan and India dominating the intake.
China’s zero-Covid policy left many students to languish in uncertainty for the past three years, the government’s recent policy reversal means international student numbers may bounce back.
Students’ tales from the pandemic period reveal that online study – with all its technical and time-zone issues – suspended scholarships and closed laboratories not only delayed graduation but also did immense harm to their mental health and well-being.
