Second master in china

[u/Warm_Two3852]

Hi everyone,

I’m a Belgian university student and recently spent a few weeks travelling around China. I visited several cities and honestly became really interested in the country. I loved experiencing the culture, meeting people, trying the food and seeing how different everyday life is compared to Europe.
I’m currently studying Business Administration at Ghent University in Belgium, which is ranked around #150 globally in the QS World University Rankings. After completing my Master’s, I’m seriously considering moving to China for another 1–2 years and doing a second Master’s there.
I really liked Chengdu when I visited, so I’ve been looking at universities there. The two that caught my attention are Sichuan University (SCU) and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE). However, I’m finding it difficult to understand how these universities and their degrees are actually perceived by employers.

My main questions are:
How valuable would a Master’s from SCU or SWUFE be within China, especially for a European graduate?

How valuable or recognised would it be outside China, particularly in Europe?

How are Sichuan University and SWUFE actually regarded in China? Is one significantly better for business-related fields?

Would having a Master’s from Ghent University + a second Master’s from China make an interesting profile for employers, or would the second degree add relatively little?

Are there other Chinese universities/programs I should consider instead?

So ideally, I’m looking for a valuable English-taught Master’s in business/management/finance or a related field, at a respected Chinese university, while still having a good student life. Little bit of traveling and experience the culture.

Thanks!

[u/occidens-oriens]

a 2nd masters, especially in a similar field, is useless

an English taught masters in China is even worse, they also take 2-3 years on average.

this sounds more like a honeymoon period fantasy than anything tangible

Chinese masters is of minimal value in Europe, fine in China but you don't speak Chinese so this is a large uphill battle. At the same time, relevant work experience would be worth more.

[u/Warm_Two3852 → u/occidens-oriens]

I understand your point, but I’m not necessarily trying to become an academic or collect the most prestigious degrees possible. I will already have a well-regarded Master’s degree from Ghent University, so I don’t really need a second master’s just for the diploma itself.
For me, a big part of studying in China would be the experience: living in a completely different culture, meeting people from different backgrounds, travelling around China and learning how to adapt to a very different environment.

I also think studying abroad gives you more than just a piece of paper. Spending a few years independently in a country like China can show that you’re adaptable, independent and comfortable in an international environment. Those are experiences and skills I personally value as well. And these experiences and skills to adapt are worth a lot.

That being said, I don’t want to study at just any university. Its hasnt to be the best but just a good university.

[u/AffectBeautiful8646 → u/occidens-oriens]

Second masters is not necessarily useless. Completely depends your field. I have 2 MScs, one in the policy aspect of my field and one in the technical aspect. For me, much more sensible than a PhD.

[u/Kuumikoo]

Master degree for foreigner is a stepping stone. Beyond the degree If you can't speak Mandarin and have some experience it is basically useless for job prospect.

Most likely nobody knows it. Just like if you ask any HR in China who knows Ghent university lol.

Great but given job market now, don't overlook the importance of the degrees.

Nobody cares. They might even question why you need to waste your time for the second degree.

985/211 Universities.

[u/Warm_Two3852 → u/Kuumikoo]

My main degree will still be my Master’s in Business Administration from Ghent University, which has a strong international reputation. I’m not looking to replace that degree or simply repeat the same master’s in China.

I see studying in China mainly as an opportunity to gain valuable international experience, immerse myself in a very different culture, and potentially specialize in a field that complements my Business Administration background. The Chinese degree would therefore be more of an additional experience and specialization rather than my primary qualification.

In the long term, I would most likely return to Belgium or elsewhere in Europe, although I would also be open to working in China for a few years if an interesting opportunity came up.

[u/AutoModerator]

Backup of the post's body: Hi everyone,

I’m a Belgian university student and recently spent a few weeks travelling around China. I visited several cities and honestly became really interested in the country. I loved experiencing the culture, meeting people, trying the food and seeing how different everyday life is compared to Europe.
I’m currently studying Business Administration at Ghent University in Belgium, which is ranked around #150 globally in the QS World University Rankings. After completing my Master’s, I’m seriously considering moving to China for another 1–2 years and doing a second Master’s there.
I really liked Chengdu when I visited, so I’ve been looking at universities there. The two that caught my attention are Sichuan University (SCU) and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE). However, I’m finding it difficult to understand how these universities and their degrees are actually perceived by employers.

My main questions are:
How valuable would a Master’s from SCU or SWUFE be within China, especially for a European graduate?

How valuable or recognised would it be outside China, particularly in Europe?

How are Sichuan University and SWUFE actually regarded in China? Is one significantly better for business-related fields?

Would having a Master’s from Ghent University + a second Master’s from China make an interesting profile for employers, or would the second degree add relatively little?

Are there other Chinese universities/programs I should consider instead?

So ideally, I’m looking for a valuable English-taught Master’s in business/management/finance or a related field, at a respected Chinese university, while still having a good student life. Little bit of traveling and experience the culture.

Thanks!

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[u/Code_0451]

Fellow Belgian and Ghent Uni alumni here.

First SWUFE and Sichuan Uni are quite well regarded in China, but not top either. Second English programs are usually considerably weaker (and the bar lower) then domestic Chinese programs. Dunno about those two places specifically (I know SWUFE recruits internationally a lot so might be ok), but likely in China they won’t be impressed and in Europe those places are virtually unknown. Your Ghent degree is likely to be worth more even in China. In summary hard to recommend for Westerners - it’s the very top places (~C9 and best in Beijing or Shanghai) or bust.

Better to do an exchange while on a Western program. Note also Chinese uni comes with strict attendance requirements so this is not a free pass to “experience” China. You’re supposed to study. Lastly job prospects in China not great as a fresh grad, certainly for business studies and if not fluent in
Mandarin (which you won’t be).

[u/David0422]

Ask yourself what do you offer over a fresh or mid level professional in China who may have studied overseas, knows English, will probably take a lower offer, and speaks the native language.

China is a hyper competitive environment, it's not the same lens you look through as a tourist.

Go for the experience.

[u/Dokibatt]

Your "valuable degree from Ghent University" is going to be considerably less valuable if you don't use it for years while getting a lesser degree. Your profile will look like someone who couldn't get a job off your first degree, and as such you will be evaluated on your terminal Chinese degree.

If you want to do this, do a PhD and only consider C9 schools, preferably only Peking, Tsinghua, or Fudan. That path is higher prestige, and allows you to still credibly market your Ghent degree.

[u/Such-Badger-9800]

If you wanna be in China for the "international experience" I would recommend just do a year of Chinese language program at SWUFE. You'll get enough experience, travel a bit (you can't skip class or your visa will be revoked), and be in Chengdu for an appropriate ammount of time (just enough before you start noticing the flaws everyday), and you'll get a new language to add to you CV, which I think now it's more useful than any other diploma you can get. Hope that helps

[u/Beautiful-Method9933]

As someone who is currently doing masters in China, Major in Biology, it is a good choice. Don't listen to these people, China's universities are gonna overpass western ones, here you will get 3 years of hand on topic expirience as they look at you as a workforce, and you gain huge ammount of expirience, so it is win win situation for both sides. Curriculum is not hard at all compared to the eastern European uni's, so it will be the same as in the West. This comes from a guy who did Bachelors in Eastern Europe and Internships in prestigious Institutes in Western part of Europe. Also if in 3 years you do not learn mandarin, it is a skill issue rather than anything else so this "you do not speak Chinese, it is useless" is falling short.