Chinese students in UK struggle with language, jobs, and isolation, report warns

UK universities must take bold action to support Chinese students or risk losing them to other countries, a recent report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has warned.

Chinese students make up over 154,000 of the UK's international student population and contribute $2.87 billion annually in tuition fees. But many struggle with language barriers, social isolation, and employment prospects, making the UK a less attractive study destination.

According to Pippa Ebel, the report's author, many Chinese students struggle to form diverse friendships. "The single most consistent answer was really around the friendship groups they had and whether they successfully fully secured diverse friendship groups—and the majority really don't," she explained​.

Digital adaptation is another hurdle. Many Chinese students arrive accustomed to WeChat and RedNote, while UK universities use WhatsApp and LinkedIn, creating a disconnect in communication. "China comes from a different digital ecosystem, a very different education system," said Ebel. "Universities need to look at a differentiated strategy just for Chinese students".

Employment opportunities are also a concern. Despite academic success, only 10 percent of Chinese graduates secure jobs in the UK, and 80 percent never receive career support. Ebel stated: "There aren't yet solutions, but there is the recognition, at least, that these problems exist."

Some UK universities are taking steps to improve integration. The University of Leeds offers buddy systems, free English classes, and weekly Global Café meetups. Yalian Liu, a Leeds student, credited the buddy system for helping her to settle in. 

"My buddy is French, and she's the first friend I have here" she said​. "We went to a coffee shop together, went to explore some campus sites together. That was really helpful because I wouldn't dare to do it alone."

Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, acknowledged these challenges, stating: "I think everybody could do more. That's important because otherwise, it's very difficult to attract international students—it is international competition."

Despite these initiatives, some students still struggle. Yuan Tse, a Leeds student, noted difficulties in adjusting to local dialects. "The local people have strong accents. I have some friends who are local Leeds or Yorkshire students. I can barely understand what they say, even though I've been here for one year," she said​.

The HEPI report urges universities to introduce stronger spoken English assessments, targeted career support, and more diverse housing policies. With international competition growing, UK institutions must adapt—or risk losing a vital academic and financial lifeline.