In Depth: Chinese Students Hoping to Study Abroad Return to a Changed World

With the fall semester application deadline for many overseas universities rapidly approaching, Xixi was feeling the pressure.

Before 2020, most Chinese students had a good shot at getting into the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), said Xixi, who plans to pursue a doctorate in the city this year. During the past school year, however, the university admitted many more candidates from elite Chinese universities, leaving prospective students like Xixi who didn’t graduate from a top school a lot less sure about whether they should consider CityU as their primary target.