The Evolution and Characteristics of Chinese Overseas Education in the UK (1949-1965)

Abstract

Objectives: On the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a large number of students studying in Britain returned home under the influence of the Chinese policies and their patriotic feelings, which laid the foundation for studying abroad education in New China. In the first few years after the founding of New China, the Chinese government adopted a "one-sided" approach in diplomacy, that is, it favored the eastern bloc headed by the Soviet Union and did not send students to Britain. After the Korean War, China and Britain established diplomatic relations at the level of charge d'affairs in 1954, providing an opening for Chinese overseas education in Britain. From 1956 to 1965, China sent a certain number of international students to Britain, which was determined by Sino-British relationship. The majors of these English students were mainly natural science, and a few students’ majors were English language. The living expenses of students studying in the UK were provided by the Chinese Embassy in the UK, which exercised the authority to manage students studying in the UK.