Conducting doctoral research in China: an exploration of international students’ motivation to study at Chinese universities

With the growing trend of globalisation and internationalisation higher education, China actively recruits more international students to study at Chinese universities. Notably, doctoral are a significant cohort in this trend. Although many studies have investigated students’ learning experiences China, few explored their motivations pursue degrees China. To fill gap, through push–pull model, we motivation 55 from three The findings show that various national, institutional, individual factors comprehensively influenced choice Their also reflect is progressively establishing systematic mechanism attract by taking advantage economic development academic returnees. While these advantages universities may still play an alternative role education. This contributes education Implications suggestions for future discussed.