According to the survey, nearly 30 per cent of students preferred Britain, 24.5 per cent favoured the US and 16.5 per cent chose Australia, with Canada (15.8 per cent) coming in fourth.

Hong Kong ranked fifth at 13.7 per cent, marking a jump of 6.8 per cent compared to last year.

Li Maizi, 32, a Beijing-based overseas education consultant, said the survey results aligned with her observations.

She said while the number of clients this year remained the same as in previous years – between 200-300 – fewer wanted to go to the US. Chinese students had become more concerned after the US government targeted them with antagonistic policies, Li said.

“The unfriendly policies, poor handling of the epidemic, the soaring number of deaths and the frozen relationship with China – all would make students think twice before making a decision. Usually, I told the parents who don’t care about politics that [US President Joe] Biden’s policy towards China is predictable,” Li said.

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“I think after a year or two when the pandemic in the US is under control and relations with China have eased a bit, the US would still be the first choice of many students who’d like to study overseas,” Li said. She added that those who went to the US were mostly elite families because tuition was expensive and consultation fees were high.

Joshua, 22, is set to graduate from a journalism undergraduate programme in China’s eastern city of Qingdao this year and plans to further his studies in communications in Hong Kong.

“Studying in Hong Kong amid the pandemic seems to be more secure in terms of health, quality of living and education,” he said, adding that he would get vaccinated against the coronavirus before heading to the city.

“Distance learning is really the only thing I’m worried about. I might take a gap year if courses are moved online. But other countries will be resuming on-campus teaching,” he said.

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“The experience was short but seeing is believing,” he said. “The protest did not have a big personal impact on me because it is a wider matter of society. But getting to know people and building rapport is a personal matter.”

Joshua spent an exchange semester in the US in the first half of last year and said he would also apply for American institutes in the event his plan to study in Hong Kong did not work out.

“My experience in the US left me a good impression. I hung out with international students and the locals I met, including my roommate, were very friendly. We encountered the pandemic during my stay and professors offered great help.”

“I refuse to take political classes and receive brainwashing education any more. Domestic universities are not suitable for students who want to get into academia,” she said.

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The US was her first choice since she wanted to study mathematics or art and design. But she worries that the US government will target mathematics next and issue strict policies against Chinese students wishing to advance in the field, as it had for other technology-related majors.

“Also, Covid-19 is not well controlled in the US. Now I would consider Britain and Canada because their policies seem more stable and consistent and they are more friendly with Chinese people compared to the US,” she said.

“But I have still got three years before I go to college. By then the pandemic in the US will definitely be under control, and perhaps relations between China and the US won’t be so tense. Who knows?”