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Wang Xiaoxi, a 56-year-old retiree from China, has embarked on a remarkable journey to further her education. A year after retiring, she received an undergraduate offer from the University of Athens in Greece, where she plans to study ancient Greek archaeology, history, and literature. Her adventure began with an unexpected discovery: her digital student ID entitled her to a 10% discount at KFC. Sporting her silvery "grandma gray" hair, Wang celebrated with a meal at a local Athens outlet.
For Wang, this journey is not just about academics - it’s a bold step into a new chapter of life. To be officially enrolled, she must achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 within three months of the semester's start. Determined to succeed, Wang practices English daily with her 30-something daughter, Xiao Yu, who has accompanied her to Athens as a study companion.
Wang’s life so far has been anything but ordinary. Born in a Xinjiang farming community, she excelled in her studies, becoming the top liberal arts student in her province. She graduated from East China Normal University with a degree in Chinese literature, pursued a master’s in education, and worked as a high school teacher in Shanghai. Her career path included teaching Chinese in Singapore, managing a bookstore, and leading a team in an advertising company. After leaving her final job at a publishing house, she decided it was time to focus on her personal aspirations, with studying abroad being the cornerstone of her plans.
While younger Chinese are increasingly hesitant to study abroad, middle-aged and senior citizens like Wang are reversing the trend. Demand for education among older adults in China is soaring. In 2024, reports emerged of retirees lining up as early as 4 a.m. to secure spots in senior universities in Wuhan. In Guizhou, 110,000 applicants competed for 1,000 places, while courses in cities like Hangzhou and Shanghai are often oversubscribed.
Language schools and education agencies have begun catering to this demographic, offering programs tailored to older students. These institutions emphasize that studying abroad is no longer the exclusive domain of the young. In fact, 20% of study-abroad participants in 2023 were over 50, compared to just 3% in 2019. On social media, younger family members often share stories of supporting their parents’ educational pursuits. For instance, one daughter documented her 53-year-old mother’s journey to a language school in Paris, stating, “53 is the perfect age to chase your dreams.”
Others, like a 62-year-old woman who enrolled in a six-month study tour at Cambridge University after three years of English preparation, demonstrate the growing ambition among China’s older generation.
Unlike short-term study tours, pursuing a full degree is a more rigorous endeavor. Wang Xiaoxi is not alone in this journey. One 50-year-old couple has advanced to their second year in archaeology at Leiden University in the Netherlands, while a woman in her 60s documents her studies in the U.S., aiming to complete the bachelor’s degree she couldn’t achieve in her youth. On social media, she shared, “The upside of studying abroad is the lack of interpersonal drama you find in senior universities back home. The downside is being the slowest and least capable in the class.”
Wang herself admits that the decision to study abroad is only the first step; the challenges ahead are immense. From deciphering Greek-accented English to navigating university digital systems and even dealing with a broken pair of reading glasses, the hurdles are endless.
In Athens, a city known for its sunny skies and laid-back pace, Wang has begun what she calls a “marathon” of intellectual and personal growth. Though the road ahead is steep, her determination and resilience are an inspiration to others.
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