China Connected
International Education
UK–China Higher Education | TNE | Institutional Partnerships
Strategy. Partnerships. TNE. Delivery.China Connected supports UK and international universities to understand, navigate and engage with China's rapidly evolving higher education landscape.
From China strategy and partner development to Transnational Education (TNE), student recruitment and academic delivery, we combine market intelligence, institutional experience and local networks to help universities build sustainable engagement with China.
Review your China strategy
Develop a TNE partnership
Improve an existing China partnership
Build your China delivery capability
China Strategy and Intelligence
China Connected helps UK and international universities develop practical, sustainable and compliant China engagement strategies in a rapidly evolving higher education environment.
Over the past three years, we have designed and delivered China strategies for more than 20 universities across the UK and Ireland, supporting market entry, re-engagement, expansion and portfolio diversification.
Our work covers student recruitment, transnational education (TNE), UK–China university partnerships, research collaboration, industry engagement and government relations. We combine institutional strategy with deep knowledge of the Chinese higher education landscape, regulatory environment and local partnership ecosystem.
Our approach is evidence-led, risk-aware and institution-specific. We help universities identify opportunities, assess risks, strengthen existing partnerships and develop new models of engagement that are commercially sustainable and academically credible.
Whether you are entering China, reviewing your current presence or developing new TNE and academic partnerships, China Connected provides the China market intelligence, strategic advice and local relationships needed to move forward with confidence.
Navigating Transnational Education
China Connected is a specialist UK–China Transnational Education (TNE) consultancy, supporting universities to develop, establish and strengthen joint programmes, joint institutes and overseas branch campuses in China.
China is the world’s largest host country for UK higher education TNE, with 89,425 students studying UK TNE programmes in China in 2023–24, an increase of 79.6% over five years. The market continues to expand: in 2025, China’s Ministry of Education approved nearly 300 new Chinese-foreign cooperative education institutions and programmes at bachelor’s level and above.
Drawing on hands-on experience of establishing, managing and delivering TNE in China, we provide end-to-end China TNE consultancy, including market and policy analysis, partner identification and due diligence, business case development, commercial negotiation, regulatory support, governance, quality assurance, staffing and operational delivery.
Our UK–China Sustainable and Impact TNE Framework helps universities move beyond market entry towards sustainable partnerships built around academic quality, viable staffing models, student experience, institutional alignment and long-term partner relationships.
TNE Development and Delivery in China
China Connected supports universities to deliver high-quality, financially sustainable transnational education (TNE) programmes in China.
Drawing on decades of hands-on experience delivering academic programmes in China, our team supports institutions with curriculum delivery, subject teaching, English language provision, faculty development, student support and quality assurance.
We help universities align delivery with Chinese Ministry of Education requirements and UK academic quality standards, while developing practical staffing and operating models that protect both student outcomes and financial sustainability.
Our approach combines academic quality, regulatory compliance, culturally responsive teaching and efficient delivery, helping institutions build TNE programmes in China that are credible, scalable and sustainable over the long term.
Our Case Studies
Real experiences from those we've assisted.
Foundation course centres in China
Recruitment pipelines
Case study 1
UK university – China Foundation Centre
Challenge: Develop a sustainable China recruitment pipeline.
China Connected: Partner identification, curriculum design, commercial model, local establishment and recruitment strategy.
Outcome: Franchised foundation centre established in central Shanghai in 2024.
Case study 2: London Global Education – Multi-city Foundation ProvisionChallenge: develop a scalable foundation provision model in China that could operate across multiple locations and create progression pathways to international higher education.
China Connected’s role: Working with strategic partner London Global Education, China Connected has supported the development of foundation provision delivered through partner universities and international schools across several Chinese cities. The model combines local academic delivery, student recruitment and progression opportunities to international higher education.
Outcome: A multi-city delivery model has been established, with projected enrolment of approximately 500 students over the next three years. This project demonstrates China Connected’s experience in developing scalable foundation programmes, teaching centres, recruitment pathways and education partnerships in China.
UK–China Articulation and Student Progression Partnerships
China Connected supports UK and international universities to develop 2+2 articulation agreements, SQA, undergraduate-to-postgraduate (UG–PG) progression pathways and bespoke student progression partnerships with Chinese universities.
Over the past three years, we have worked with institutions in China and overseas to establish structured progression and recruitment routes that support international student mobility, sustainable enrolment pipelines andlong-term university partnerships.From Partnership Identification to Progression, China Connected supports institutions across the progression partnership lifecycle, including partner identification, articulation development, curriculum and entry mapping, 2+2 pathways, UG–PG progression, student recruitment and long-term partnership development.
Our experience combines an established Chinese university network with practical knowledge of UK and international higher education, helping institutions develop progression partnerships that are academically credible, commercially sustainable and attractive to students.
End-to-End Transnational Education (TNE) Consultancy
China Connected currently supports several Chinese universities, Singapore private higher education providers and UK universities to develop and deliver sustainable Transnational Education (TNE) partnerships.
We provide end-to-end TNE consultancy, from partner identification, academic alignment and business model development through to negotiation, regulatory support, operational setup, quality assurance and ongoing partnership management.
Our support continues beyond initial approval. We advise on TNE staffing, faculty development, quality assurance, performance monitoring, partnership governance and relationship management, helping institutions build academically credible and financially sustainable international partnerships.
Our work positions China Connected as a specialist UK–China TNE consultancy for university partnership development, joint educational programmes, joint educational institutes, China market entry, quality assurance and sustainable TNE delivery.
Showcasing our successful collaborations and clients
