Students board the flight to Manchester. MO XIAOJIAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Other universities in England and Wales have also been looking to use charter flights for students from China, according to WalesOnline. These schools include Swansea University, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of South Wales, the University of the West of England, the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth.

Steve Spriggs, managing director at William Clarence Education, an education placement, tuition and consultancy service based in London, said, "I think this will become more commonplace as we go into next year, and may even become a normal procedure in future years."

With the higher education market set to become increasingly competitive, and as UK institutions compete with those from Canada, the United States and Australia for top talent in China, Spriggs said he feels this could become a new trend.

He added, "Making it as easy as possible to access university makes sense, and if it means chartering a flight to China and back, then, commercially, that also makes sense."

Julian Fisher, senior partner at the consultancy Venture Education in Beijing, said,"When the pandemic hit the UK, universities were relatively slow to react, but I think they have made a considerable effort since then to support their international students.