With more visas granted and application processes streamlined, more and more Chinese students are studying abroad in Britain and the United States.

Staff from Britain's Lancaster University introduce the school to Chinese students at the China Education Expo 2006, held over the weekend in Beijing. [Reuters]

Meanwhile non-English speaking countries such as Italy are also becoming popular destinations.

The figures were released over the weekend at the China Education Expo 2006, which attracted more than 6,000 visitors and 450 overseas schools from 30 countries and regions.

Between January and September the British Embassy stamped 18,000 Chinese student visas. Accounting for 90 per cent of visas authorized to students, Britain remains the top destination for Chinese applicants.

"The rate has jumped by 18 per cent from the same period last year. More students are receiving a quality education in Great Britain, and the British Government welcomes the rising number of international students, allowing them to spend a year working in the country after they finish their studies," said Jazreel Goh, an official with the education department of the British Embassy. "Meanwhile, the quality of students' applications is getting better as well."

To date Britain and New Zealand are the two favourite destinations, with a total of 60,000 Chinese students in Britain and 30,000 in New Zealand at present. At this year's expo the 60-plus British schools were the largest single group of participants.

Besides the thousands of students studying in Britain and New Zealand, the number of applicants wishing to study in the US has also tripled, thanks to the US Embassy relaxing its F1 visa rate to 95 per cent in the first eight months, a US Embassy official told CCTV.

"No matter whether students have scholarships or not, as long as they can provide a reasonable income source they will be treated equally and without discrimination," CCTV reported.

"My parents insist on my going to the US for graduate study. I think it is important to have the overseas experience it will broaden my thinking and help me get a well-rounded understanding of the world. But finally I will return to China," He Wenwen, a sophomore at Beijing International Studies University told China Daily.

Meanwhile non-English speaking countries are also attracting more students. Italy plans to accommodate 2,000 Chinese students this year 10 times last year's number, while the Republic of Korea intends to recruit more than 1,000, 25 per cent more than last year.

The Education Expo, organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), is seen as an opportunity for overseas schools to expand their presence in what is potentially the world's largest recruitment market.

"This year the expo is themed 'quality first'," said Wu Zaofeng, deputy secretary-general of CEAIE.

"We hope our overseas participants will be able to bring tailored and quality programs to our visitors, making it easier for them to find jobs in the future."

The hot subjects for overseas study include information technology, engineering, accounting, international communications, logistics and hotel management.