As the Covid-19 Pandemic continues to inflict pains and sufferings on millions around the globe, whether you want to admit it or not, has already unprecedently altered the landscape of international education industry. 

Drastic measures have been widely adopted by various governments around the world against the backdrop of the Pandemic. While the universities in the US were switched to a lockdown mode, with all student visas being temporarily suspended until further notice, schools and institutes in other parts of the world like Europe also fell victims of the deadly virus. In the east hemisphere, while the number of newly confirmed Covid-19 cases in Japan has hit 1300 since August 1st, rendering dozens of schools impossible to stay open, Beijing has suspended the entry to China by all foreign nationals with valid visas and resident permits, including those international students on student visas since March 28th at the height of the epidemic.  

According to the whitepaper How COVID-19 is Impacting Prospective International Students Across the Globe recently released by QS, more than half of the students who joined the survey have suggested that the Pandemic has imposed a negative impact on their lives, forcing them to postpone their plan to study abroad.   

As one of the leading pioneers offering top-notch consulting services to international students who intend to study in China, we have been on frontline from day one. Bombarded by endless queries from students from all over the world on whether they should cancel postpone their plan to come to China, when they could come back to resume their studies and how to best respond to the crisis. 

We therefore would like to take this opportunity to offer you some tips that you might find helpful should you have the same questions above.  

First of all, the fact that China has successfully contained the virus has made her one of safest places to visit and the first economy to grow since the outbreak. As Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic began to reopen herself after the 3 months lockdown in April, social distancing restrictions have been gradually lifted in first in restaurants, followed by supermarkets and cinemas. 

In an attempt to eradicate the COVID-19 threat for good, China has made significant progress developing a vaccine to help control the Pandemic. It is estimated that China will lead the race delivering a breakthrough vaccine either the end of 2020 or early next year, if everything goes smooth as planned. In another word, China will be among the first to reopen herself to the world when deemed appropriate.

The number of international students residing in China surged and hit 492,200 in 2018, twice the amount of 2009, making it increasingly challenging for students to access to top universities in China. However, the COVID-19 Pandemic might present you a valuable window of opportunity to apply for a dream university/college in China as many students have decided to put their study abroad plan on hold. We suggest that one should act now securing both their admission and scholarship before the number balloons again.

Various measures have been taken by universities in China to help attract talents from all over the world amid the Pandemic, introducing new scholarship programs and helping their graduates obtaining a work visa/employment visa. For example, as one of NHC’s strategic partners, South China Medical University was one of the hardest medical institutes to get into in China. However, the management of SMU has decided to introduce two additional elite scholarship programs so that more students can benefit from them.     

In an attempt to better facilitate registered students residing outside China due to the Pandemic, the Chinese Ministry of Education has introduced new policies encouraging Chinese universities to launch online courses which students can take remotely so that they do not fall behind.

It may sound clichéd, but as far as we are concerned, studying abroad is not just about pursing knowledge, it is also about embarking on a new journey which you shall never forget and taking on a new challenge which will not only broaden your horizon but also help you stand out from competition of peers.

Here you are, standing probably at your first crossroads in your life, not knowing what to do next. To give up on your dream and stay inside your comfort zone or to seize the day and the opportunity and make your life extraordinary? It’s all up to you. 

But once you have made up your mind, you know where to find us and you can always count on us. 

Stay tuned for more juicy info. about the upcoming 2021 Intake and please feel free to contact NHC to learn more about admission policy changes and scholarship programs. 

Thanks.

Regards,

NHC Team