The Collapsed Dream: Why Chinese International Students Are Being Rejected at Home

Once viewed as symbols of prestige, ambition, and success, Chinese international students—often known as haigui (海归, returnees)—are finding their return home far harder than expected. After investing heavily in education abroad, many are now being shut out of top-tier public roles back in China. A series of policy shifts, geopolitical tensions, and economic changes have transformed their golden ticket into something far less certain.

Closing the Gates to the Public Sector

One of the most dramatic shifts is in civil service recruitment. The "selection recruits" (选调生) program, which fast-tracks outstanding university graduates into the government leadership pipeline, has become far less accessible to overseas graduates.

• Provinces like Guangdong have removed nearly 60 overseas universities—including globally renowned ones—from their list of eligible schools for the 2025 "selected recruits" program.
• In Shandong, similar policies have restricted civil service roles to graduates of domestic institutions.
• Authorities are increasingly emphasizing that applicants must have demonstrated political loyalty—such as CCP membership, leadership roles in domestic student or party organizations—and less emphasis on having studied abroad.

Oversupply, Degree Devaluation, and "Watered-Down" Qualifications

The wider talent pool in China has expanded enormously: university enrollment and graduation rates have surged, producing an overabundance of domestically educated graduates. Meanwhile, the number of returnees has also risen sharply.

This increased competition has diluted the perceived advantage of foreign degrees. Short-term master's programs—especially the popular one-year masters from overseas—are increasingly viewed with skepticism and labeled "watered down." Some large firms are reportedly excluding such degrees from their hiring criteria.

The Reality of Returning: Mismatch, Pressure, Disillusionment

Returning home is often a shock. While foreign education can provide unique skills, a mismatch often exists between what returning students offer and what Chinese employers need.

• Lack of Relevant Experience: Chinese companies, particularly in a tight job market, prioritize local work experience and internships. Many haigui may lack this crucial on-the-ground experience, making them less attractive to employers.
• Devalued "Soft Skills": Soft skills highly valued in Western countries, such as a focus on personal narrative and passion, are often less important to Chinese employers. They place a greater emphasis on professional certifications, grades, and a candidate's commitment to the company.
• Salary and Expectation Gap: Many haigui return with high salary expectations, believing their foreign education warrants a premium. However, their salary demands often exceed what employers are willing to pay, especially when they can hire a well-qualified domestic graduate for less. A 2024 report found that the average annual salary for returnees had fallen and some were accepting jobs with very low monthly pay.

Geopolitical Underpinnings and Economic Headwinds

These changes are not happening in a vacuum. Broader geopolitical tensions (e.g., U.S.–China relations), national security concerns, and Broader economic trends contributed to policies and challenges for haigui.

• Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances, publicly declared that her company would "never use overseas returnees ... there are spies among the returnees." She said it is difficult to distinguish who might be spies, so in "conservatism," they prefer to hire from domestic universities.
• Economic Slowdown: A general economic slowdown and a sluggish job market, particularly for recent graduates, have exacerbated the issue. High youth unemployment rates in China affect all job seekers, not just those returning from abroad
• Shift from Multinational to Domestic Companies: The Chinese job market is increasingly dominated by fast-evolving domestic companies, particularly in sectors like e-commerce, AI, and fintech. These companies may prefer candidates from top Chinese universities who have a better understanding of the local market and business practices. The need for English language proficiency, once a key advantage for returnees, is also less of a factor due to the rise of AI and an increasingly English-proficient domestic workforce.

Between Two Worlds: Caught in the Middle

For many students, the return isn't about national service or idealism—it's about necessity. Some find that staying abroad didn't yield the career they expected; returning seems like the only viable option. Yet upon return, they are neither fully accepted into the domestic system nor able to operate freely in foreign contexts. This limbo can breed anxiety, disillusionment, and identity conflict.