But this is a serious business. Chinese students are already worth 2 billion pounds a year to the UK economy. 

 

"It is the biggest opportunity there is right now. Everyone feels it. Everybody in the UK is very very excited about China. China is what everybody wants right now." 

 

And what China wants is a British education. At Beijing’s New Talent Academy, the students have opted to take A-levels; and nearly all of them have multiple offers from Britain’s top universities. 

 

He Jiayi, Philosophy Economics, University College London; Wu Yingwen, Computer Science, Imperial College of London; Fu Lingfang, Accounting and Finance, University of Bath. 

 

For British universities, short of cash, wealthy foreign students are the perfect formula. The British government sets strict limits on how many UK students can go to university; but there are no limits at all on international students from outside the EU because they pay full fees. 

 

British students have rioted because their government subsidized fees are going up. But that wouldn't happen here. They are happy to pay fees of up to 27,000 pounds a year. 

 

"As you know Chinese parents, they have been preparing for their education from a very young age. They can spend all the money they have just on education. 

 

Zhu Hanlin wants to be a banker. She thinks studying in Britain is a solid investment.

 

Maybe after this four-year (study) in University, I can get better life in the future. 

 

Their British education might not come cheap, but it is a price they are happy to pay. 

 

Holly Williams, Sky News, Beijing.