Political instability could be driving increased interest in US universities established in China in partnership with local institutions, according to analysts, with students from both America and China increasingly keen to enrol. 

US-Chinese collaborative campuses have experienced record-breaking application numbers from both domestic and international students. 

Duke Kunshan University, a joint venture between Duke University and Wuhan University established in 2018 in eastern China, reported record application numbers for its 2025 undergraduate intake, with 11,884 students applying for 550 places. 

Of these, 5,882 were applications from international students, a 25 per cent increase from 2024. 

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Similarly, New York University (NYU) Shanghai, which was founded in 2012 by NYU and East China Normal University, said application numbers reached a new high of 24,000 in 2025. 

Over the past three years, the number of undergraduate applications has seen a cumulative increase of 47 per cent for Chinese applicants and 18 per cent for international applicants, according to the university.

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Part of the draw of these institutions for Chinese students could be that eligibility is not solely down to their score in the gaokao – the highly competitive exam that determines admission to China’s public universities. 

Given the turbulence of relations between the US and China, it is likely that a range of other factors is contributing to the growing popularity of these institutions.

“We’re in a period of significant instability and I’m sure that’s running through the minds of Chinese families and students who are applying to these…very good American joint ventures,” said Philip Altbach, emeritus professor at Boston College’s Center for International ����Vlog. 

In the US, president Donald Trump is reportedly considering travel restrictions that would ban citizens of certain countries from entering the country, while in recent weeks his administration has revoked some international student visas. 

It also remains unclear whether the tariffs on Chinese goods imposed by Trump will be expanded in the future, and how China will react if they are. 

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“Amid rising geopolitical uncertainties and visa restrictions in some Western countries, more Chinese students are exploring high-quality alternatives within China that still provide an international education,” said Jian Li, an associate professor in the China Institute of Education Policy at Beijing Normal University.

The figures also highlight the increasing international appeal of these institutions, including among students hailing from the US.

NYU Shanghai said that, over the past three years, approximately 53 per cent of international applicants came from the US. Similarly, half of Duke Kunshan University’s international applications in 2025 were from those based in the US. 

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While China continues to be one of the biggest senders of international students to the US, flows the other way have been minimal in recent years, despite attempts by policymakers to boost them. 

In 2023, Chinese president Xi Jinping set a target of attracting 50,000 American students to China – a pledge that was met with some scepticism given the shaky relationship between the two countries. However, the figures suggest that interest among US students to study in China may be growing.

Despite the success of these institutions, Altbach warned newcomers against jumping on the bandwagon, given current political uncertainties. 

“NYU and Duke have the advantage of being there for a while [and] being ‘name brand’ universities,” Altbach said, adding that he thought there could instead be an uptick in joint degree programmes between US and Chinese institutions. 

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“In the current period, that’s a much more likely, more realistic and probably better idea.”

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com