The 2025 China Study Abroad Forum kicks off in Beijing on April 11, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange
The US has failed to secure a top-three position in the study-abroad environment evaluation, ranking fourth behind the UK, Singapore, and Canada, according to the 2025 Blue Book on China's Study Abroad (blue book) released during the 2025 China Study Abroad Forum on Friday.
The blue book, which assessed 28 countries, cited key factors including heightened geopolitical tensions, restrictive academic policies, frequent safety advisories, and more.
Zheng Jinlian, vice president and research director of the Center for China and Globalization, explained at a sub-event that the US' fourth-place ranking was primarily due to the current high level of tension between the two countries.
"The US also has the highest number of study-abroad warnings among the 28 countries surveyed and imposes restrictions on certain fields of study, including the STEM majors," she later told the Global Times.
The blue book comes after China's Ministry of Education on Wednesday issued an overseas study alert, urging Chinese students to assess security risks and raise their awareness of precautions if they are considering studying in certain US states.
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, the US state of Ohio passed a higher education bill recently that includes negative provisions related to China and imposes restrictions on educational exchange and cooperation between Chinese and US higher education institutions, the ministry said.
The report coincides with growing concerns among international educators over escalating China-US trade tensions and unilateral policies.
"Academic freedom and freedom of speech in American universities are diminishing, causing many to self-censor," Li Rongyu, deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president of University of Queensland in Australia, who attended a US education event in March, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview.
He warned that America's post-WWII legacy of openness and global talent recruitment is eroding, reducing its appeal to international students.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that other countries such as China and Australia are offering favorable conditions to attract talent, leading to the return of talents. This shift may accelerate cooperation in the international education sector and other fields.
"The current international situation presents an opportunity for China and countries like Australia to re-examine bilateral relations and potentially establish more independent foreign policies in education," he said.
International experts at the forum emphasized the urgency of multilateral cooperation amid global challenges.
"No single country can address today's issues alone," Maria Fasli, acting vice-chancellor of the University of Essex, told the Global Times, calling for graduates worldwide to become "better citizens" equipped to tackle shared problems.
Hamed Vafaei, deputy director of International Relations at the University of Tehran, echoed this view: "If the US insists on carrying on unilateralism, more countries need to unite together to come through this special moment."
The blue book also noted the diversification of Chinese students' destinations, with Belt and Road partner countries gaining traction.
Hamed Vafaei told the Global Times that more students are coming to Iran due to its relaxed visa policy and the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Both Iran and China boast ancient civilizations, and many Chinese students show a strong interest in Iran's history and language," he said, expressing a wish for more Chinese students to study in Iran.
Additionally, the report shows that Chinese students studying overseas are increasingly aligning their majors, such as AI, with domestic labor demands.
"Students now pursue 'knowledge plus skills plus cultural competency,' not just diplomas," said Wang Daquan, Director of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange during a press conference ahead of the forum.
