Having called itself “China’s best partner in the West,” the United Kingdom has been consistent in showing its strong commitment to supporting Chinese students in the country. In 2021 alone, British universities enrolled more than 200,000 students from China despite the restrictions on travel and delays in the processing of visas.
Presently, China accounts for the largest number of international students in the country. While many Chinese families recognize the excellence of British universities, a growing number also realize the value to sending their children to preparatory and boarding schools in the United Kingdom.
Many Chinese parents of students from Grades 4 to 12 send their children to preparatory and boarding schools to help them adjust more easily to university life. Asked for advice on how to find the perfect fit, UK International Education Champion Sir Steve Smith tells parents to look beyond the capital London.
“We have four constituent nations: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England. One big point is for students to do their research. The UK has great universities but we have other institutions with their own indisputable strengths,” Smith said.
“Whether you’re talking about the big research-intensive universities, like those in the Russell Group, or the smaller specialist institutions, you’ll find them in any of the four nations of the UK. Parents should realize that the United Kingdom is a big country with different opportunities and provisions. I would encourage people to look at the quality elsewhere outside London,” he added.
