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Chinese students have set their eyes on a wider range of countries for studying abroad, extending from developed countries such as the United States, Canada and Britain to developing countries like South Africa.

Statistics indicate that some 80,000 self-funded students go abroad to study each year.

Shao Wei, vice-director of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), said that Chinese students could be found all over the world.

CSCSE established an agency for the business in Russia and Ukraine in 2000. About 700 Chinese students went to the two countries through the agency by the end of 2001 and the number is likely to rise this year.

Educational globalization and the identification of different cultures contribute a lot to the diversification of Chinese students' choice, said Shao.

According to Shao, with the development of China's economy, Chinese people were willing to invest more in education, which made it possible for more students to study abroad.

Shao said that cost was the major consideration for Chinese people in choosing where to study. Russia and Ukraine only required 30,000 yuan each year, which was suitable for ordinary Chinese families.

Song Chen, a third-year student from Beijing Huicai Middle School, was admitted to Fontys College in Holland. Song said, "I'm from an ordinary family. We can afford the expenses in Holland, but the living level in America or England is too high for us."

Security and the degree of difficulty in getting visas are also factors to consider for Chinese students when they make their choices of countries to go.

Statistics show that the total number of Chinese students studying abroad was 300,000 in 103 countries, most of them at their own expense.