Overseas studies broaden horizons, help in career development

A rising number of mature Chinese students are choosing to pursue education overseas to broaden their career prospects.

They include Li Yanqiu, 47, who decided to leave her job in print media, which she held for 18 years, to study in the United Kingdom six years ago. She has no regrets about making this move.

Li, who graduated from the Journalism Department at Fudan University in Shanghai, pursued a master's in ethnographic documentary film at University College London in 2017. She graduated with distinction, fulfilling her long-held ambition of studying abroad.

Just a few months after taking the International English Language Testing System exam and applying to several schools, Li received an acceptance letter from the London college.

"I had been thinking about studying abroad for a long time. I considered this idea during my college years, but studying overseas wasn't commonplace at the time," she said.

"I also wanted to go abroad while working to experience the education system, but I put this on hold due to family reasons. However, my desire for change was always there."

Li opted to study abroad when her son was ready to enter high school, as she believed that both of them needed some space to pursue their respective goals.

In May, the 2023 China Study Abroad White Paper released by Chinese education company New Oriental Education & Technology Group said research data during the past five years showed that more individuals who are 25 or older are pursuing postgraduate studies overseas.

With increasing pressures in domestic education, these students and working professionals are looking to study abroad to further their education, enhance their employability, and broaden their career prospects.

Zhang Wei, chief expert at the Elite USA J1 Visa Program for Study Visits, said: "I clearly sense this trend of mature students studying abroad. Some seek to enhance their international perspective, explore overseas markets and establish international networks, some hope to find opportunities to start a new life, while others facing career stagnation seek to 'refresh' themselves abroad."

With the economic development and social progress achieved by China, young and middle-aged individuals, while dedicating themselves to their careers, will increasingly look toward the global stage, Zhang said, adding that this is inevitable in career development, and reflects people's ambitions amid nation's increased prosperity and expansion.

Before going abroad, Li did not have a clear goal, but she hoped to achieve a distinction for her academic work.

"That year was very precious to me, and I don't want to forget it. Of course, there are some regrets, as I was too eager to obtain good grades at the expense of exploring London. I was also too tense, and my studies were intense, meaning I could not fully enjoy life studying abroad," she said.

Her practical course in the UK required her to make three short documentaries, for which she had to work with different teammates. Li's graduation thesis was a seven-minute documentary. She drew on her experience of working in the newspaper industry by confidently conducting interviews and approaching strangers on the streets, proving more adept than classmates who lacked work experience.

"The decision to study abroad opened up the world for me. If I hadn't studied overseas, I might still be in my office doing the same old job. Now, I have gained more skills than just being a journalist. I have also matured and become more professional," Li said.

After returning to China in September 2018, she took a few months off before joining a Fortune Global 500 pharmaceutical company in January of the following year on a friend's recommendation.

In July 2021, Li joined the pharmaceutical company Biotech, working in the corporate communications department.

"I am willing to step out of my comfort zone, as remaining there without ambition or motivation is too boring. My life now has a sense of value every day, and I find my work interesting. I want to work for a few more years," said Li, who recently started running and doing other exercises to improve her fitness.

Visits to Japan

Similar to Li, Huang Youxin, 36, who has more than 10 years' work experience, has always dreamed of studying abroad, especially in Japan. She has visited rural areas in that country, and loves the tranquil lifestyle.

Last year, she felt that her own lifestyle did not match her aspirations. As work pressures and other issues led to emotional problems. Huang decided to study abroad.

"After making this decision, I had new goals and felt more positive every day. Studying abroad will give me another option," said Huang, who graduated from a second-tier university in Shanghai and now works in media operations while preparing to study Japanese.

She initially planned to focus on language learning and undertake a language study program, but decided to pursue a master's — shifting her focus to sociology.

"The advantage a mature student has is a strong sense of autonomy and life experience, which helps in adapting to living abroad. The downside is that it's been a long time since I left school, so whether I can quickly adapt to the learning environment remains to be seen," Huang said.

She has not yet fully planned her post-study arrangements, as she feels it's too early to decide on them.

Huang is preparing for her studies abroad, and plans to start her journey as a mature student before the end of this year.

"I believe that compared to the utilitarian approach to learning, where others tell you what to study for better job prospects, when we grow up and become financially independent, we have more opportunities to pursue our true selves. Compared to other dreams, studying abroad is relatively straightforward," Huang said.

The 2023 China Study Abroad White Paper released by EIC Education in March showed that after reaching a low point in 2020, the number of applications to study overseas continued to rise in the following two years. Last year, the number of applications grew by 23.4 percent compared with 2021.

Since 2008, China has been the largest source of international students studying in the United States.

The Open Doors 2022 Report on International Educational Exchange said China remains the top country of origin for international students in the US, with some 290,000 Chinese accounting for 30.6 percent of all international students at higher education institutions in that country.

Counseling role

Four years ago, Dong Na, 46, resigned from her job at a State-owned enterprise, or SOE, in Shanghai.

She is now a full-time marriage and family therapist at Northwestern University in Chicago, US, counseling 20 couples each week. She also runs the account Marriage and Family Therapist Ms Dong on the Chinese life-sharing platform Xiaohongshu.

After graduating from university, Dong, who is from Hunan province, found a job at a Shanghai SOE.

She lived and worked at the company until four years ago, when she faced demotion due to her age. Around that time, a friend in the US, who had been a full-time mother for many years, decided to pursue her dream of studying law after her children entered college.

These events prompted Dong to pursue self-discovery and fulfillment by living life on her own terms.

"I began considering which profession would suit me best. Through research, I discovered that, given my qualifications and life experience, psychological counseling appeared the most suitable choice. The role of a marriage and family therapist appeared tailor-made for me," Dong said.

She planned to first apply for a Marriage and Family Therapy master's program at a US university, become a specialized therapist, and then return to China to practice.

In the next six months, Dong prepared for various exams until she received a long-awaited acceptance letter from Northwestern University for its Marriage and Family Therapy program. In September 2019, she traveled to the US after bidding farewell to her husband and daughter.

For someone with rich life experience such as Dong, the most challenging aspect of studying in the US was having to read 200-300 pages of material every week and completing 500 hours of therapy tasks.

Through perseverance, determination and self-belief, Dong overcame these challenges, successfully completed her master's after two years, and became a certified marriage and family therapist.

She then landed a position at her alma mater, Northwestern University.

"I'm grateful that I did not allow my age to hold me back, or lose the courage to pursue my dreams. I used to believe that experiencing the ups and downs of life was most important, but now I realize that doing what I love and helping others is what truly gives life meaning," Dong said.

"You should not limit yourself based on age. If there's something you want to do, just go for it, regardless of your age. Only by breaking free from the confines of societal expectations can you truly be free."

Lonely journey

After working in the internet industry for more than 12 years, where she ended up earning an annual salary of 240,000 yuan ($33,408), Zhong Dailin, 41, decided to pursue her dream of living and studying in Italy.

Zhong, who was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang province and worked in Beijing, felt the internet industry was declining after reaching its peak, as it faced fierce competition and dwindling revenue.

"I just wanted to understand the culture of a country, experience its sunrise, sunset and all four seasons. Studying in Italy appeared relatively straightforward, and the cost was acceptable. It was the best choice for me," Zhong said.

In early 2019, she began preparing for her overseas studies. Her first year was dedicated to language school, and she then pursued a master's in Communication Theory at the University of Florence.

However, the academic challenges were more demanding than she imagined. Zhong chose a program from the Literature and Philosophy Department, which helped her understand Western culture.

"When I face difficulties, there are people willing to help me. During my two to three years in Italy, I have learned enough Italian to get by in daily life, but academically, it's still tough," she said.

"The teachers are extremely nice and provide a lot of help in English. Everyone is assisting me, so I can't give up," said Zhong, whose graduation thesis defense requires a 10-minute presentation in Italian and writing a 100-page thesis.

As an undergraduate in 2002, she experienced the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. It seemed as if fate had repeated itself, as her studies abroad coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zhong could have graduated in October, but chose to postpone this for 12 months.

"At my age, obtaining this master's isn't about finding a better job. Studying abroad is an experience, even though it hasn't been as smooth as I imagined. Life presents challenges one after another, and they are never-ending," she said.

"After experiencing all this, I've become stronger, but it doesn't mean that everything will be plain sailing," said Zhong, who plans to travel extensively to explore and understand local culture after she graduates.

Later this year, she plans to start sending out resumes. Ideally, she wants to be based in Italy to provide services for clients in China, such as travel support, route planning for studying abroad, and even marketing services for luxury brands in Italy.

"Most people don't want to live a predictable life. Life should have many diverse experiences. You never know what interesting people and things await you. When I look back on my life, the experience of studying and living in Italy will be significant for me, as this has been a truly beautiful and unforgettable journey," Zhong said.

Yu Hai, a sociology professor at Fudan University, said:"People studying abroad for various reasons, whether it's to escape or to embrace the future, all have their own goals and plans. The ultimate decision-making power lies in their hands, and to make the best choice they need to consider the pros and cons based on their personal circumstances."