Other Nations Lure Chinese Students as the U.S. Turns Them Away

In the heart of Sydney’s financial district, sandwiched between the offices of law firms and fund managers, the smartly refurbished classrooms of King’s Own Institute are ready for a major intake of students. There are banks of white desks and tables lined with Dell computers and Lenovo laptops. But there’s barely an Australian anywhere on campus.

With more than 2,400 students—almost all of them from abroad—studying for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in subjects such as business, accounting, and information technology, KOI is at the forefront as schools worldwide pursue Chinese students who increasingly are seeking alternatives to studying in the U.S. China Education Group Holdings Ltd., an operator of nine postsecondary schools across six Chinese provinces, announced the A$128 million ($86 million) purchase of KOI on Sept. 23, a deal that should boost KOI’s appeal in China, according to the school’s chief executive officer, Douglas Hinchliffe.