On 28 July 2022, China's Ministry of Education released an announcement extending arrangements which allow universities operating transnational education programmes to recruit students whose overseas study plans have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This arrangement was first introduced in September 2020 and was previously extended in 2021. The announcement lists a total of 74 TNE partnerships (including 7 joint universities, 14 joint institutes and 53 joint programmes) across 15 provincial-level regions which have been given permission to recruit additional students under this policy. 16 of these partnerships involve UK institutions.

Analysis:

This announcement provides Chinese students who are unable or unwilling to go abroad due to the pandemic with more domestic study options. This will provide an opportunity for UK universities with joint institutes/programmes in China to increase their enrolment.

While student surveys show that the majority of Chinese students are now willing to study abroad and attend face-to-face programmes, it may still have a limited negative effect on onshore UK recruitment. Students’ choices will still depend on different factors including programme quality, cost-effectiveness, career development plans and universities' international student support.

Sources:

http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/gzdt_gzdt/s5987/202207/t20220728_649322.html

https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/tne-joint-institutes-and-programmes-china-given-permission-recruit-additional (previous announcement in September 2020)

https://education-services.britishcouncil.org/news/market-news/china%E2%80%99s-ministry-of-education-announces-measures-allowing-domestic-tne-partnerships (previous extension in August 2021)