"Britain is my dream place to learn authentic British English," says Tan Lu, a journalist who graduated from the Beijing University.

Despite the fact it may cost her a lavish 200,000 yuan (US$24,100) to get a degree in Britain, she still plans to attend a media course there.

Tan's decision may be good news for Hu Benmo, project manager of Gold Orient International Education & Cultural Exchange Center. Hu thinks that British Prime Minister Tony Blair may mention Chinese students studying in Britain in his visit to Beijing next week.

Chinese students have virtually become investors in Britain. "The average expense to finish a program is 200,000 yuan, and there are at least 60,000 Chinese students studying in Britain," Hu said.

In 2002, Britain overtook the United States as the most favored education destination for Chinese students. These students were attracted to Britain's higher learning by its fame, broad program range and shorter term of study.

The Britis h government also launched a package of encouraging policies as well as adjusting old ones to resolve foreign students' healthcare, visa, and part-time job issues.

Different from the United States, Britain's foreign student programs have few scholarships, because they aim to make profits and acquire foreign currency rather than seek excellent students.

(People's Daily July 20, 2003)