More than 570,000 Chinese students pursued their higher education overseas in 2025, while the number of those who came back after completing their studies abroad also increased, according to data released at the 2026 China Study Abroad Forum, which opened on Friday in Beijing. The figures signal a sustained "return to China" trend, said officials and experts.

Wang Daquan, head of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, noted that 570,600 Chinese students studied abroad last year, while 535,600 returned to China after completing their studies. Data shows the number of returnees increased by 40,600 compared with 2024 and by 120,000 compared with 2023. "We have noticed that although domestic and international environments are changing, Chinese students' willingness to study abroad remains strong," Wang said.

Statistics show that from 1978 to 2024, a total of 8.88 million Chinese students studied overseas, with 7.43 million completing their programs and 6.44 million choosing to return to China after graduation.

A report on employment trends among returnees, which was also released at the forum, indicates that the return of high-level talent is accelerating, with more than 50 percent of overseas graduates expressing a stronger intention of seeking jobs in China.

The concentration of returnees remains high in traditional talent hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, new first-tier cities, including Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Chengdu in Sichuan province, Suzhou in Jiangsu province, and Chongqing — are gaining ground as attractive destinations, driven by favorable policies and industrial upgrading. In terms of sectors, finance, information technology and education are the top three career choices, the report said.

Jo Johnson, former UK minister of state for universities, science, research and innovation, emphasized the importance of two-way academic mobility. "For a long time, the conversation focused on students traveling abroad, East to West, but the future of global learning must naturally be circular, reciprocal, and rich in both directions," he said. "One thing remains constant, and that's the fact that education is the most durable bridge between countries."

Johnson said three essential things happen when students move across borders: academic growth through exposure to different teaching styles, research cultures and intellectual traditions; cultural understanding; and the formation of lasting networks.

Ren Youqun, China's vice-minister of education, said that Chinese education is becoming a more important global force, with its higher quality, greater openness and stronger inculcation of responsibility. "Pursuing studies abroad serves as an important bridge for mutual learning among civilizations, and it is a key link for talent exchanges," Ren said, calling on countries to enhance communication, deepen cooperation, and create a more friendly and inclusive environment for overseas students.

Li Peng, president of Zhengzhou University, said she is a beneficiary of China's national study-abroad policies.

In the autumn of 1988, Li went from Beijing to the United States for her first overseas study experience on a government scholarship. After earning her master's degree and doctorate in the US, and working in Singapore and Hong Kong, she returned to Tsinghua University in 2005.

"My study and work experiences overseas have been invaluable assets, expanding not only my knowledge but also my mindset, allowing me to understand and see the world from a broader perspective," she said.