Abstract

China has become the largest source country of foreign students in Canada. For Canadian international education, China is a huge potential market. Unfortunately, we know very little about the motivations and perceptions of Mainland Chinese students when they choose Canada to pursue their higher education. Compared to other studies, this study focuses on pre-departure experiences of Mainland Chinese students. This is a small-scale inquiry and eight Mainland Chinese students were interviewed. The participants’ narratives provide rich data to answer the question of why Mainland Chinese students choose to study in Canada. This thesis also examines influential factors that affect Mainland Chinese students’ decision-making processes.
The findings illustrate that there were three main factors that motivated the interviewees to study abroad. First, the participants chose to study abroad because of the lack of opportunity to get a high-quality education in China and the fierce competition for admission into top universities. Second, the participating students and their families believed that the high-quality of education in Western countries could bring competitive career advantages. Finally, parental involvement worked as a key factor. This study also demonstrates that parents and study abroad agencies were two main factors that influenced the participants’ decision to study in Canada over other countries. This study provides useful data and insights for Canadian institutions to gain a deeper understanding of Mainland Chinese students and enhance their recruitment strategies.