When students think about studying abroad, countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and Singapore often come to mind first.
China, however, deserves a much more serious place in the international education conversation.
The reason is simple.
China is not just one of the world’s largest economies. It is one of the world’s most important classrooms for understanding how the modern global economy works.
A student travelling to China can experience, within one country:
China’s scale makes the learning opportunity particularly distinctive.
The country had 58.4 million students enrolled in higher education in 2024, including more than 4.09 million postgraduate students. The Ministry of Education also recorded 271,064 international students in its 2024 higher-education statistics.
At the same time, China’s investment in research and development has reached extraordinary levels.
China spent approximately RMB 3.613 trillion on R&D in 2024, equivalent to 2.68% of GDP, with basic research expenditure increasing by 10.5% that year.
For students, this creates an important question:
What can we learn by studying inside one of the world’s largest and fastest-changing innovation and business ecosystems?
That is where China becomes particularly compelling.
China Is Not Just a Destination. It Is a Case Study.
For decades, international education has often been described as:
Go abroad → attend classes → visit companies → return home.
But international immersion can be much more powerful than that.
A country itself can become part of the curriculum.
And China provides one of the strongest examples.
Consider what has happened within a few decades.
China has developed globally significant capabilities across:
Manufacturing
Technology
Artificial Intelligence
Telecommunications
Electric Vehicles
Batteries
Renewable Energy
E-commerce
Logistics
Fintech
Advanced Engineering
Biotechnology
Space technology
Consumer technology
For a student, this creates an opportunity that cannot be replicated entirely inside a classroom.
You can study:
Global supply chains
and then observe them.
You can study:
E-commerce
and experience one of the world’s largest digital consumer markets.
You can study:
Electric vehicles
and see how rapidly mobility is changing.
You can study:
Smart cities
and observe them at scale.
You can study:
International business
inside one of the world’s most important trading economies.
That is the real value of China as an immersion destination.
China has one of the world’s largest higher education systems.
According to China’s Ministry of Education, in 2024:
This scale matters.
China isn’t building international education around a handful of institutions.
It has an enormous network of universities, research institutions and specialised institutions.
And several Chinese universities now compete strongly in global rankings.
The latest QS World University Rankings place:
among mainland Chinese institutions.
This makes China increasingly relevant not only for students seeking cultural exposure, but also for students seeking high-level academic and research environments.
For Indian students, China offers an interesting comparative learning opportunity.
India and China are both:
But the development models are different.
That creates an enormous opportunity for comparative learning.
An Indian student studying China can ask:
How did China build its manufacturing ecosystem?
How did Chinese companies scale so quickly?
How did Chinese cities integrate technology into everyday life?
How did Chinese e-commerce platforms change consumer behaviour?
How did China build EV and battery capabilities?
What can India learn—and what approaches may not be transferable?
These are much more valuable questions than simply asking:
“What places will I visit?”
China and the World’s Manufacturing Ecosystem
One of the strongest reasons to consider China is its manufacturing ecosystem.
For business and engineering students, China can function as a real-world laboratory for understanding:
China’s manufacturing story is particularly relevant because global trade is increasingly shaped by questions around:
Where products are made.
Where components are sourced.
How supply chains are organised.
How technology changes manufacturing.
How products move from factories to consumers.
Students can understand these relationships much more clearly when they experience them directly.
China’s “New Trio”: EVs, Batteries and Solar Technology
One of the most important recent developments in China’s international trade has been the rise of what Chinese policymakers describe as the “new trio”:
In 2025, exports of these three categories approached RMB 1.3 trillion, according to China’s State Council Information Office. Their combined export value was approximately 3.5 times the 2020 level.
This is an extraordinary case study for students.
It raises questions such as:
How does a country build an EV ecosystem?
How do universities contribute to industrial development?
How do battery technologies scale?
How do manufacturing clusters develop?
How does innovation translate into exports?
How do companies compete in international markets?
For engineering, business and sustainability students, these questions are highly relevant.
China for Engineering Students
China can be particularly valuable for:
Students can potentially explore:
Advanced manufacturing
Robotics
EV technology
Battery technology
Renewable energy
Semiconductors
Automation
Smart infrastructure
The important point is that students aren’t merely studying individual technologies.
They can understand how technologies become industries.
China and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important across China’s technology ecosystem.
For students, the learning opportunity extends beyond computer science.
AI can be explored through:
This makes China particularly interesting for interdisciplinary programmes.
A business student can study:
AI + strategy.
An engineering student:
AI + manufacturing.
A design student:
AI + user experience.
A finance student:
AI + fintech.
A logistics student:
AI + supply chains.
That is the direction in which international education increasingly needs to move.
China’s R&D Investment Is a Major Story
Perhaps one of the strongest reasons to consider China academically is its investment in research.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that R&D expenditure reached RMB 3.613 trillion in 2024, up 8.3% year-on-year. R&D intensity reached 2.68% of GDP. Basic research expenditure increased by 10.5% to RMB 249.7 billion.
The OECD has also reported that, on a purchasing-power-parity basis, China’s R&D expenditure reached roughly US$0.86 trillion in 2024, placing China alongside the United States at the very top of global R&D spending.
This matters for universities.
A strong research ecosystem creates opportunities for:
For Indian universities thinking about internationalisation, China therefore shouldn’t be viewed only as a destination for student mobility.
It can also be viewed as a research and institutional partnership ecosystem.
China for Business Students
China is one of the world’s most important environments for studying business.
Students can explore:
Globalisation
How Chinese companies expand internationally.
Entrepreneurship
How startups develop in a massive domestic market.
Consumer behaviour
How hundreds of millions of consumers interact with digital platforms.
Supply chains
How manufacturing networks operate.
E-commerce
How online commerce has transformed retail.
International trade
How companies operate across borders.
Innovation
How technology is commercialised.
Branding
How Chinese brands are increasingly building international recognition.
China and E-Commerce
China provides one of the world’s most interesting e-commerce case studies.
Platforms such as Alibaba and JD.com transformed the relationship between:
consumer → platform → seller → warehouse → logistics → delivery.
Students can examine:
This is particularly relevant for students studying:
Marketing + Business + E-commerce + Data Science + Logistics + Entrepreneurship.
China and Digital Payments
China’s digital economy provides another interesting area of study.
Students can explore how mobile technology has transformed everyday transactions and consumer behaviour.
This creates an interesting comparative question for Indian students:
How does China’s digital ecosystem compare with India’s UPI-led digital economy?
Rather than simply learning about digital payments from a textbook, students can observe how digital platforms become embedded in everyday life.
China’s importance extends far beyond its domestic market.
According to China’s 2025 trade data, the country was a major trading partner for more than 160 countries and regions. High-tech product imports and exports have also grown strongly, while cross-border e-commerce has expanded substantially.
This gives students a chance to understand:
Global trade at scale.
A business programme in China can therefore include questions around:
These are increasingly important skills for future business leaders.
China for Entrepreneurship
China’s enormous domestic market creates a unique entrepreneurial environment.
For a startup founder, China raises an interesting question:
Students can explore:
The learning isn’t necessarily about copying the Chinese model.
It is about understanding how scale changes business strategy.
This is one area where China can be exceptionally powerful.
China’s manufacturing and export ecosystem creates opportunities to study:
For logistics students, visiting a major Chinese commercial or manufacturing hub can turn a theoretical supply-chain diagram into a real-world system.
Shanghai: A Global Classroom
If Singapore can be described as a global business hub, Shanghai can be described as a global business city operating at enormous scale.
Shanghai provides exposure to:
It also hosts major universities including Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, both highly ranked internationally.
For short-term immersion, Shanghai can therefore support multidisciplinary programmes covering:
Business + technology + culture + urban development.
Beijing: Where Education, Research and Policy Meet
Beijing offers a different experience.
It is home to:
Peking and Tsinghua are currently ranked among the world’s top universities in the QS rankings.
For students, Beijing can therefore provide opportunities to explore:
Education + research + technology + policy + culture.
Shenzhen: China’s Innovation Laboratory
If a university wants a programme focused heavily on:
technology + entrepreneurship + manufacturing + innovation,
Shenzhen deserves serious consideration.
The city has developed from a relatively young economic zone into one of China’s most important technology and manufacturing ecosystems.
Students can explore themes such as:
The Shenzhen learning model is particularly useful for engineering and entrepreneurship programmes.
Guangzhou offers another distinct proposition.
It is particularly relevant to:
For students from India, Guangzhou can be an especially interesting destination for understanding China’s manufacturing and commercial ecosystem.
And this is particularly relevant to UnTechEd’s own international programme experience, including our Guangzhou International Immersion Programme, where students can experience Chinese university learning alongside business, industry and cultural exposure.
China for Architecture Students
China’s urban transformation is itself a case study.
Students can explore:
The scale of China’s urban development provides students with a different perspective on how cities evolve.
The question becomes:
That is not a theoretical question in China.
It is a lived reality.
China for Design Students
China’s consumer market has also created significant opportunities in:
Students can explore the connection between:
Design → Manufacturing → Consumer → Scale.
That connection is particularly interesting because China has historically been known as a manufacturing centre but is increasingly important in product development and innovation as well.
China for Sustainability Students
China is also an important case study for sustainability.
The country is deeply involved in:
Its large-scale production of EVs, batteries and photovoltaic products makes it particularly relevant for students studying sustainability and energy transition.
The interesting academic question isn’t:
“Is China’s model perfect?”
It is:
“What can the world learn from China’s approach to scaling clean technologies?”
That is a much more useful question.
China and Culture
China’s appeal is not only economic.
It has one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations and offers students exposure to:
This is important because international education should not become purely corporate.
Students need to understand:
the people behind the economy.
Learning Mandarin as Part of the Experience
Students do not necessarily need to become fluent in Mandarin before visiting China.
But even basic exposure to Mandarin can enhance the experience.
Learning simple expressions around:
can make students more confident and culturally engaged.
For longer-term study, language requirements naturally depend on the programme and university.
Absolutely—but programme design matters.
A China immersion programme should not become:
University lecture + Great Wall + shopping + airport.
That would miss the point.
A strong academic immersion programme should connect:
University
↓
Industry
↓
Innovation
↓
Culture
↓
Reflection
For example:
Morning: University lecture on China’s technology economy
Afternoon: Industry/innovation visit
Next day: Workshop on Chinese business models
Following day: Cultural learning
Next: Company interaction
Final day: Student presentations and reflection
This creates a much stronger educational outcome.
What Can Students Learn in China in 5–7 Days?
A well-designed programme can expose students to:
Business
Chinese business models and global companies.
Technology
AI, robotics, EVs, electronics and digital transformation.
Manufacturing
Production, supply chains and industrial ecosystems.
Entrepreneurship
Startups and innovation.
Culture
Chinese history and contemporary society.
Globalisation
China’s role in international trade.
Urban Development
How major cities are planned and developed.
Cross-Cultural Communication
How students interact with another culture.
The purpose isn’t to become an expert in China in seven days.
It is to return with better questions, broader knowledge and a more global perspective.
Universities should ask five questions.
1. Is there a strong academic partner?
The university relationship should be meaningful, not simply a certificate arrangement.
2. Is the programme discipline-specific?
Engineering students should not receive exactly the same experience as business students.
3. Is there industry exposure?
Students should see how theory connects with the real economy.
4. Is there cultural learning?
Students need structured cultural exposure rather than only sightseeing.
5. Is there reflection?
Students should be asked to articulate what they learned.
China and University Internationalisation
China is also relevant from an institutional perspective.
Indian universities increasingly want to move from:
student mobility
towards:
institutional internationalisation.
China offers potential areas for collaboration including:
For institutions, the question should therefore be:
Can China become part of our university’s long-term internationalisation strategy?
Rather than:
Can we send students to China once?
That distinction matters.
China’s scale of R&D investment makes it particularly relevant for research-oriented universities.
China spent RMB 3.613 trillion on R&D in 2024, with basic research expenditure reaching RMB 249.7 billion.
For Indian institutions, potential areas for academic dialogue can include:
Of course, individual partnerships need to be assessed carefully based on academic fit, institutional policies, regulatory considerations and research priorities.
China also offers scholarship pathways for international students.
The Chinese Government Scholarship includes programmes supporting undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and scholar-level study, with different routes and eligibility requirements.
Students should always verify current eligibility, application routes and deadlines through the relevant Chinese government or university sources.
China vs Other Asian Study Destinations
Every country offers something different.
Singapore
Business + finance + global connectivity
South Korea
Technology + innovation + K-culture + global brands
Japan
Technology + manufacturing + culture + sustainability
Malaysia
Affordability + multicultural environment + university partnerships
China
Scale + manufacturing + technology + trade + innovation + global business
This doesn’t make China “better.”
It makes China different.
And for students, difference is often where the learning begins.
India and China will continue to be important players in Asia.
Students who understand both markets may develop a more nuanced understanding of:
The goal should not be to compare the two countries as competitors in every area.
The goal should be:
Understand. Compare. Learn. Apply.
That is the essence of international education.
1. Is China a good destination for international students?
Yes. China has a very large higher education system, globally recognised universities and extensive research and technology ecosystems.
China recorded 271,064 international students in its 2024 higher-education statistics.
2. Why should Indian students consider China?
China offers exposure to technology, manufacturing, business, entrepreneurship, international trade, innovation and a very different cultural environment.
3. Is China good for short-term immersion programmes?
Yes, particularly when the programme combines university learning with industry, innovation and cultural experiences.
4. Is China good for engineering students?
Very much so. Engineering students can explore manufacturing, robotics, EVs, batteries, electronics, AI, renewable energy and advanced technologies.
5. Is China good for business students?
Yes. China provides a major case study in international business, e-commerce, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, globalisation and consumer markets.
6. Is China good for MBA students?
Yes. MBA students can explore corporate strategy, global expansion, entrepreneurship, supply chains, digital transformation and Chinese business models.
7. Is China good for computer science students?
Yes. AI, robotics, digital platforms, electronics and advanced technology make China highly relevant for computer science students.
8. Is China good for architecture students?
Yes. China’s urbanisation and city development provide opportunities to study smart cities, infrastructure, architecture and urban planning.
9. Which Chinese cities are best for students?
It depends on the academic objective.
Beijing: education, research, technology and policy
Shanghai: business, finance, trade and international exposure
Shenzhen: technology, entrepreneurship and manufacturing
Guangzhou: business, trade, manufacturing and logistics
10. Which are China’s top universities?
Among leading mainland Chinese universities in the QS rankings are Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
11. Can Indian students study in China in English?
Some programmes are available in English, but language of instruction varies by university and programme. Students should verify this before applying.
12. Do students need to learn Mandarin?
Not necessarily for every programme, but basic Mandarin can significantly improve the cultural and everyday experience.
13. Is China expensive for international students?
Costs vary considerably by university, city, accommodation and lifestyle. Students should compare the complete cost rather than tuition alone.
14. Are scholarships available in China?
Yes. Chinese Government Scholarship programmes and university scholarships are available, subject to eligibility and programme-specific conditions.
15. How much does China invest in research?
China’s R&D expenditure reached approximately RMB 3.613 trillion in 2024, or 2.68% of GDP.
16. Why is China important for technology students?
China has major ecosystems in AI, robotics, EVs, batteries, electronics, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
17. Why is China important for business students?
Because China is one of the world’s most important consumer, manufacturing and trading economies.
18. Can students learn about e-commerce in China?
Yes. China’s digital commerce ecosystem provides an excellent environment for studying platforms, logistics, consumer behaviour and digital payments.
19. Can students learn about electric vehicles in China?
Yes. China’s EV and battery ecosystem provides a significant real-world case study in manufacturing, technology and sustainability. China’s exports of EVs, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products approached RMB 1.3 trillion in 2025.
20. Is China suitable for interdisciplinary programmes?
Yes. China is particularly suitable for programmes combining business, technology, innovation, culture, sustainability and globalisation.
21. What is the biggest advantage of a China immersion programme?
The combination of scale, technology, business, manufacturing and culture creates a learning environment that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
22. Should a China immersion programme be mostly sightseeing?
No. Sightseeing can be part of the experience, but academic and experiential components should remain central.
23. What should parents check before sending students to China?
They should check the university partner, academic content, accommodation, supervision, transport, insurance, visa/documentation requirements, emergency arrangements and programme inclusions.
24. What should universities consider before creating a China programme?
Universities should evaluate academic fit, institutional partner quality, student safety, learning outcomes, industry exposure, cultural relevance and long-term partnership potential.
25. Can Indian universities collaborate with Chinese universities?
Potentially, yes, subject to institutional policies, applicable regulations and the specific nature of the partnership. Models may include exchange, faculty engagement, joint research, short-term programmes and academic collaboration.
The UnTechEd Perspective: China Should Be Studied, Not Just Visited
At UnTechEd, we believe that international immersion should answer a bigger question:
China matters because it represents an extraordinary combination of:
Scale
Technology
Manufacturing
Research
Entrepreneurship
Global trade
Innovation
Culture
Urbanisation
And economic transformation.
A student visiting China should not return home simply saying:
“I visited China.”
The stronger outcome is:
“I understand something about how China built its technology and manufacturing ecosystem.”
Or:
“I understand how Chinese businesses scale.”
Or:
“I understand how China’s cities are being transformed.”
Or:
“I understand how e-commerce and digital technology are changing consumer behaviour.”
Or simply:
“I now see India and the world differently.”
That is the purpose of international education.
China gives students the opportunity to see how:
Research becomes technology.
Technology becomes products.
Products become businesses.
Businesses become global companies.
Infrastructure creates economic ecosystems.
Culture shapes international perception.
And perhaps most importantly:
Education connects all of these systems.
This is why China deserves a serious place in the conversation around international study and short-term immersion.
Not because it is simply a large country.
But because China itself is one of the most important case studies of the 21st century.
International education should not be about collecting countries.
It should be about collecting perspectives.
A student who experiences Singapore may understand global business differently.
A student who experiences South Korea may understand technology and cultural influence differently.
A student who experiences Japan may understand manufacturing and sustainability differently.
And a student who experiences China may begin to understand scale, innovation, manufacturing, global trade and economic transformation differently.
That is the real value of an international immersion programme.
Don’t just visit China. Understand China.
Don’t just see the technology. Understand the ecosystem behind it.
Don’t just study globalisation. Experience it.
Don’t just travel. Learn.
— Sultana Khan
Founder & CEO, UnTechEd
Connecting Institutions for Higher Growth