A total of 350,000 Chinese are expected to go abroad for advanced study this year, according to a survey released by China Education Online in Beijing on Tuesday.

The survey indicates that China has seen a boom in the number of people choosing to study overseas since 2008. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, the numbers of people taking courses overseas were 178,900, 229,300 and 284,700, respectively. The average annual increase rate was 24 percent.

The number of intermediary agencies arranging overseas study has grown accordingly, according to the survey. By October 26 this year, China has altogether 416 such officially acknowledged intermediary agencies.

The survey also shows that the market value is estimated to reach 60 billion yuan ($9.5 billion) in 2011.

The most favored overseas destinations for Chinese students are the United States, Australia, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, the survey shows.