Chinese students’ willingness to study abroad: The personal and familial influencing factors

Abstract

Background: Studying abroad is no longer a new phenomenon. The popularity of Chinese students studying abroad is well known and the enthusiasm for studying abroad among students has been consistently strong for many years, especially with the continuous development of the Chinese economy. Aims: This paper will examine personal and family factors which influence the willingness to study abroad among Chinese university students. The application of these influencing factors can potentially have an impact in the formulation of government-related policies, the establishment and development of study abroad agencies, and the decision process among students when choosing to study abroad. Methods: The current study utilized a self-report approach to examine the potential impact of several personal and family factors on the willingness to study abroad. Results: Utilizing multivariate analysis and statistical analysis modeling, it was found that willingness to study abroad is greatest among female students with moderate to high grades, who are from urban areas and non-agricultural households, with fathers in high status occupations, mothers with higher levels of education, and higher family income. These factors embody the intergenerational transmission of benefits associated with family capital.