Abstract
This thesis investigates the decision-making processes of Chinese students’ self-funded international education in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research articulates how the interplay between hedonic and utilitarian motivational factors, coupled with the perception of risks, influences the decision to pursue education abroad. Driven by globalization, the surge in Chinese students studying abroad positions China as a leading nation of origin. The unprecedented circumstances introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic have added layers of complexity to these decision-making processes, necessitating a deeper exploration of perceived risks and benefits associated with studying abroad.
Utilitarian motivations, driven by career and educational advancement aspirations, tend to heighten risk perception, which may deter the decision to study abroad. Conversely, hedonic motivations, associated with cultural exploration, tend to lower risk perception, thereby encouraging the pursuit of international education. The thesis further explores the moderating effect of gender on these relationships, offering nuanced insights into how male and female students perceive and respond to these factors differently.
The findings emphasize the complex interplay between motivations, perceived risks, and the broader cultural context influencing Chinese students’ decisions to study abroad. It highlights the implications of these insights for educational institutions, policymakers, and students, suggesting strategies to mitigate perceived risks and better align international education offerings with the aspirations and concerns of prospective students.
In conclusion, this thesis contributes to international higher education by providing a comprehensive analysis of the decision-making processes of Chinese students considering self-funded study abroad options. It offers a nuanced understanding of how motivations and perceived risks shape these decisions, providing valuable perspectives for stakeholders in the international education domain to navigate the complexities of student mobility in a post- pandemic world.
本文研究了新冠肺炎疫情背景下中国学生自费留学的决策过程。本文阐明了在风 险感知（risk perception）下，享乐动机（hedonic motivation）和功利动机（utilitarian motivation）间的相互作用如何影响出国留学的决策。在全球化的推动下，中国留学生 的激增使中国成为主要的留学原籍国。前所未有的新冠疫情增加了留学决策的复杂性， 这就需要更深入地探索与出国留学有关的感知风险（perceived risk）和利益。
由职业和教育发展愿望驱动的功利动机（utilitarian motivation）往往会提高风险 感知（risk perception），这可能会阻止出国留学的决定。相反，与文化探索相关的享 乐动机（hedonic motivation）会降低风险感知（risk perception），从而鼓励出国留学。 此外，本文进一步探讨了性别对这些关系中的调节作用，为男女学生对这些因素的不 同认知和反应提供了细致入微的见解。
研究结果显示，留学动机（motivation）、感知风险（perceived risk）以及更广泛 的文化背景在中国学生出国留学决策过程中有复杂的相互作用。它指出了这些相互作 用对教育机构、政策制定者和学生的影响，提出了降低感知风险（perceived risk）的策 略，并使国际教育供给能更好地贴近意愿留学生的愿望，解决意愿留学生的担忧。
总之，本文对中国学生是否选择自费留学进行了全面分析，为国际高等教育做出 了贡献。它对动机（motivation）和感知风险（perceived risk）如何影响自费留学决策 提供了细致入微的看法，为国际教育领域的利益攸关方如何在后疫情时代应对全球学 生流动的复杂性提供了宝贵的观点。