Chinese students rank US, UK top choices

US President Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House and Brexit in the United Kingdom have not lessened the appeal of these countries among Chinese students choosing an overseas education destination, according to a new report.

A survey of 6,217 students who plan to study abroad, or their parents, found that the United States remains the top choice, with 50 percent preferring the US, up from 46 percent last year.

It is the third consecutive year the country ranked No 1 in the annual Report on Chinese Students’ Overseas Study. It was conducted in more than 40 cities in February and March.

Some of Trump’s policies, including visa restrictions, are thought to have influenced international students and prospective immigrants.

Although China was not directly affected by the travel ban, 25 percent of universities saw undergraduate applications from China decline and 32 percent had fewer Chinese graduate student applications, the report said.