What exactly do Chinese students do to boost Sheffield's economy?

[stifflersmom 11]

It doesnt actually say what those 5000 are it just says international students, so I took it as meaning that. It could ofc mean 5000 undergrads, but considering the Uni is bigging itself up, then I would say its 5000 int students undregrads and post grads.

 

I think this is supported because the postgrad page also says 5000.

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/international

 

The Times link also gives the figure for 2016, which must be based on them being more up to date than the Uni or a projection?

 

I do take your point though and it may be an explantion for the difference. If we were bothered we could just email the uni. mediateam@sheffield.ac.uk

 

This page has figures from 2014, and the 2015 and 2016 figures will likely reflect higher numbers of international students, certainly at a fee paying undergraduate level. International research students will probably not show a similar upward trend but remain static...that would give a number close to the Times Higher Education figure.https://www.shef.ac.uk/departmentProfiles/instprofile/student-population/2014

[Badlittlepup 10]

A pub landlord is probably the worst person to ask.

 

Many people from the Far East do not metabolize alcohol the way we do, and they have either a very low tolerance or very high, plus very bad reactions to alcohol known as 'the Asian flush'.

 

As a result, they just don't have the drinking culture that we have. They drink about half the amount we do. And as some people said there are cultural reasons why the students here aren't big drinkers, as it's seen as a low class pursuit. And practical ones too, you're hardly likely to spend that amount of money on sending your kid to uni if they're just going to waste time getting drunk.

 

I work with a lot of Chinese students and have never felt looked down on, in fact, they are over respectful and eager to be polite and considerate. They do spend money on Chinese goods from Chinese businesses...just like many Brits drink John Smiths and eat pies & fry ups in British owned bars half the world over.

[anyroo 10]

I'm a student so I can probably give you more of an on-the-ground perspective:

 

Accommodation: They can generally afford the more expensive accommodation (£150+ pw) that British students generally can't.

 

Fees: I believe international students at hallam pay around 12k+ (that all comes from their own pockets, not student finance.)

 

Nights out: Occasionally see international students in clubs but there's also a lot of 'international parties' often ran by the same promoters and clubs as regular student nights in the city but for the mostpart only marketed towards international students.

[999tigger 10]

This page has figures from 2014, and the 2015 and 2016 figures will likely reflect higher numbers of international students, certainly at a fee paying undergraduate level. International research students will probably not show a similar upward trend but remain static...that would give a number close to the Times Higher Education figure.https://www.shef.ac.uk/departmentProfiles/instprofile/student-population/2014

 

 

 

Not quite following you. the number we are looking for relates to the % of international students at Sheffield University. That would include graduate and postgraduate as no distinction was made.

 

I would get this by dividing the total number of international students by the total number of students.

 

The number given on both the graduate and undergraduate page for international students is 5000.

 

The number given for students is 26309 and thats also the number on your link.

 

5000/26309= 19% For it to be 31% then foreign students would have to be 8155 of the total. This was for the 2014-2015 year and they have not made the 2015-2016 year available.

 

As I understand it you are suggesting there has been an increase in a year to get to the 31% figure or you believe it will happen by 2016? Possibly but are you aware of an international student boom this year?

 

How does the Times get figures for 2016?

 

I am cautious about such a boom in any one year. This seems unlikely as according to the Times the International student % has never changed between 2011 to 2016 and it has always been 31%. Even for 2014. I might be being thick, but im not seeing where those missing 3000 international students are, unless they are 3000 postgrads and not included in the 5000 figure which would seem odd.

 

Can you show me the calculation of how you get the 31%? Just a puzzle.

[Dozer 13]

I'm a student so I can probably give you more of an on-the-ground perspective:

 

Accommodation: They can generally afford the more expensive accommodation (£150+ pw) that British students generally can't.

 

Fees: I believe international students at hallam pay around 12k+ (that all comes from their own pockets, not student finance.)

 

Nights out: Occasionally see international students in clubs but there's also a lot of 'international parties' often ran by the same promoters and clubs as regular student nights in the city but for the mostpart only marketed towards international students.

 

Thanks for taking the time to give us the student perspective.

[Elmambo 25]

The benefits to Sheffield as opposed to the disadvantages are in my opinion very overstated. However, as someone who lives in the middle of a student area, I have to say that I find the Chinese students respectful, well mannered and best of all quiet. I've yet to be awoken in the middle of the night by Chinese students screaming and shouting at the tops of their voices - they don't seem to subscribe to the yob culture at all.

I would think that in view of the large investment necessary to fund tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses etc., that they must come from fairly well-off families - this may be a factor. Whatever, the more of them the better.

[stifflersmom 11]

Not quite following you. the number we are looking for relates to the % of international students at Sheffield University. That would include graduate and postgraduate as no distinction was made.

 

I would get this by dividing the total number of international students by the total number of students.

 

The number given on both the graduate and undergraduate page for international students is 5000.

 

The number given for students is 26309 and thats also the number on your link.

 

5000/26309= 19% For it to be 31% then foreign students would have to be 8155 of the total. This was for the 2014-2015 year and they have not made the 2015-2016 year available.

 

As I understand it you are suggesting there has been an increase in a year to get to the 31% figure or you believe it will happen by 2016? Possibly but are you aware of an international student boom this year?

 

How does the Times get figures for 2016?

 

I am cautious about such a boom in any one year. This seems unlikely as according to the Times the International student % has never changed between 2011 to 2016 and it has always been 31%. Even for 2014. I might be being thick, but im not seeing where those missing 3000 international students are, unless they are 3000 postgrads and not included in the 5000 figure which would seem odd.

 

Can you show me the calculation of how you get the 31%? Just a puzzle.

The 2014 figures give the international student % as 27% (7064/26309). So I'm suggesting a 4% increase between then and now which doesn't seem unreasonable. However, I wasn't aware that the Times figure didn't vary between 2011 and 2016. I'll see if that tallies with the Uni figures in my link as that gives definitive numbers.

[Margarita Ma 10]

Now the Chinese population here has increased quite significantly, they seem to spend all their money in Chinese owned business and socialise entirely with other Chinese. They seem to look down on the Brits.

 

They aren't integrating, and they seem to receive favourable treatment from the likes of the Police.

 

The new generation of Chinese, arriving in considerable numbers are very different from the old, who did integrate very well.

 

In a sense the working classes in Sheffield of White, Middle Eastern, South Asian and East African heritage, are there to serve these incoming Chinese upper class tourists.

 

I don't think it will be very long before tensions, many of them class based, begin to rise.

 

Brits are used to travelling to other countries and being treat like Kings, not having others come to our country and look down on us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No. 1 the thread started with a question about STUDENTS not Tourists. but as you brought that up what is it that a lot of British Tourists do when they go abroad. I will tell you, just in case you don't know. When camping in Europe they either take their cornflakes and rice crispies with them or moan about having to adapt to the customary local breakfast. In Hotels they want their customary Bacon and Egg Breakfast and though it has taken decades some quite welcome a decent cup of coffee. British tourists very often get drunk and cause mayhem in places they visit. They are often rude to the natives of the area they are visiting and those who are serving them and treat them as if they are worth nothing. I have sometimes been ashamed of my compatriots when visiting other countries and see how they behave. They sometimes look for all the world like the British Raj in the last days of Empire. Disgusting !

No.2. The STUDENTS pay for their courses and pay more than British Students. They rent accommodation and purchase food clothing and equipment which is no good to them when they go back home so it gets left behind. They go out and explore the countryside. I often see Chinese and Japanese students on the Bakewell /Chatsworth bus. They go to the Theatre and yes I dare say they get homesick occaisonaly so want to eat more like they might at home and also have birthday and other celebrations in Chinese restaurants. However don't forget that these restaurants are also part of our ethnically diverse economy. So what if they dont go out and get blind drunk enough at the weekend to show their underwear as many British Undergrads do when let loose from Mater and Pater's Castle. This would not be acceptable in China and would bring disgrace on their family. The Foreign Students also often Volunteer. I have had the pleasure of working alongside some at the Botanic Gardens and also when I worked in Oxfam. Yes they can then put it on their CV. but we get many more foreign students volunteering than British, perhaps they are too busy recovering from their hang-over.

[999tigger 10]

The 2014 figures give the international student % as 27% (7064/26309). So I'm suggesting a 4% increase between then and now which doesn't seem unreasonable. However, I wasn't aware that the Times figure didn't vary between 2011 and 2016. I'll see if that tallies with the Uni figures in my link as that gives definitive numbers.

 

Ahhhhhhh I must be blind. So really the 5000 number given is pretty misleading and appears to be out by some margin. Im happy to go with your number, but you cna see where I got mine from and its not unreasonable if thats what they are saying on their own site.

 

Thanks for sticking with it and clearing it up.

[MJ01 439]

I think I get Asian Flush too & the 'threepenny bits'

[Badlittlepup 10]

Also, the thing to remember about Chinese students, they come here, they study, they nearly all go home. They don't claim benefits, they're young, they don't use the health service much, they usually don't give birth here or have children in education, or get tax credits, they probably won't draw a state pension here or need care in their old age. It really is a win/win for us, they spend money, pay taxes, and are an infinitesimally small burden on the state. We'd be crazy not to be grateful they're here.

 

And when they do stay, they're normally in highly, highly specialised jobs which only a handful of the world's population can do, which bring in a lot of profit and investment. So they're not taking jobs from locals as your man on the street probably couldn't do the same.

 

It's exactly the sort of immigration we should have, which provides indisputable positive benefits for the people who are already here.

[dnairn8417 10]

Imagine what Sheffield would be like if we didn't have the two universities...