Students forgo vacations to prep for overseas universities

Many Chinese middle-income families are increasingly choosing short-term overseas study programs for their children, often spending tens of thousands of yuan to prepare them for attending foreign universities.

According to the 2025 China Overseas Study Development Report released by the New Oriental Education and Technology Group, an education company in China, the proportion of students who choose to study abroad after having overseas study experience has risen from 27 percent in 2015 to 43 percent in 2025.

Participation in short-term overseas programs during vacations has grown rapidly for four consecutive years, making "experience first, decide later" a common path.

"Parents today are more open-minded as they view vacations not just as a break for tutoring or travel, but as an extension of the school year — a time for both exploration and learning. Education companies have also introduced more short-term study programs from overseas, giving families more options," said Zhu Lulu, vice-principal of the high school division at Wuxi Dipont School of Arts and Science, an international school known for its blend of Chinese and Western curriculum in Jiangsu province.

She believes each type of short-term program offers different value.

"Short-term programs help students evaluate the campus environment and nearby living conditions, so they can decide whether they truly want to study there. For others, taking for-credit university courses or joining selective research programs — such as the Ross Mathematics Program or the Yale Young Global Scholars — can strengthen academic readiness and even add value to college applications," said Zhu.