The United States and Britain are the most favored destinations for Chinese overseas students. But choosing the right university or institution is not always easy for those who want to ensure the quality of their studies abroad.

Britain has traditionally attracted overseas student for the high quality of its schools and its unique cultural environment. Nearly 100,000 Chinese students are currently studying in the UK.

Tuition, however, can be high. Foreign students are often charged as much as 8,000 pounds per year, a much higher rate than the 3,000 pounds that domestic and European Union students are asked to pay. As a result, a number of for-profit commercial educational institutions have sprung up, making it more difficult for Chinese students to pick and choose the right school.

Li Hong, First Secretary of Education Section of Chinese Embassy in Britain, said, "British educational authorities have a formal standard to evaluate and verify educational institutions. But they cannot eliminate those commercial educational institutions whose principal aim is to make a profit. So I advise Chinese students to choose formal colleges and institutions recognized by both the Chinese and British governments."

In the United States, by contrast, there are an estimated 80,000 graduate and undergraduate Chinese students. In addition to college students, there are some 20,000 visiting scholars, as well as thousands of high school students.

So far, the US has avoided educational scams involving overseas student, because of its rigorous school certification and enrollment system.

Chen Yue, First Secretary of Education Section of Chinese Embassy in US, said, "American universities and institutions certified to issue enrollment notices must pass strict qualification accreditation. In addition, the United States Embassy considers the accreditation of the institutions being applied to when issuing visas. "

Chen Yue recommends that Chinese students study up on the schools they wish to apply to. The Guide to American Education, for example, provides detailed information on over 4,000 public and private colleges in the United States.