The Decision to Study at Postgraduate Level in Another Country: A Case Study

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine full-time postgraduate courses in business/management education undertaken by Chinese students at British universities. Such courses cost many thousands of pounds in terms of tuition fees alone. It seemed worthwhile to attempt to assess the benefits that might accrue to such students especially in terms of their subsequent experience in the labour market.

A qualitative methodology is used in which questionnaire data from Chinese postgraduate students is analysed; the students had all undertaken an MA or MSc in some aspect of business management at a British university since 2006. The paper also considers the data collected from follow-up questions that were asked of students who had returned to China after graduation.

These interim results suggest that it is the non-financial rather than financial rewards to postgraduate study that are considered important by Chinese students.