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China Remains the Top Sender of International Students to the United States in 2020/2021
5 MINUTE READ
November 17, 2021

China Remains the Top Sender of International Students to the United States in 2020/2021

According to the Open Doors 2021 Report on International Educational Exchange released on November 15, more than 317,000 Chinese students enrolled in U.S. institutions in 2020/21, and China remains the number one source of international students in the United States.  The United States hosts the largest number of Chinese students studying outside of China.

The global pandemic affected international educational exchange and student mobility around the world, and the United States was not immune.  There has been a 15% drop in international students studying in the U.S. overall, and the number from China is lower than the global percentage drop.  Chinese students and parents still see the United States as their top destination for international study.  Mission China has responded to the interest shown by Chinese parents and students by issuing over 90,000 student visas since May 2021, demonstrating that Chinese students and scholars are welcome in the United States.

The United States is committed to international education, including student mobility to and from the United States, as reiterated in the recent Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education by the U.S. Departments of State and Education.  International student mobility is central to diplomacy, innovation, economic prosperity, and national security.  As Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has said, it is, “a foreign policy imperative.”  We are confident that a U.S. education will continue to be valued by students and their families around the world, and we look forward to emerging from the current pandemic and continuing to welcome students from around the world – including those from China – to U.S. colleges and universities.

The Open Doors Report is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute for International Education (IIE).  The report is the only long-standing, comprehensive information resource on international students and scholars in the United States and on U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit.  To read the full Open Doors 2021 Report, please visit:  https://opendoorsdata.org/.

Please visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ for information on how to apply for a visa in China.