However, those who lack such a support structure may find it tough to kick start their new lifestyle. Jiang Wenqian, a 20-year-old sophomore at University of the Arts London, still remembers the loneliness and helplessness she had to endure when she first arrived in London four years ago at the age of 16.

"I was forced to study at a boarding school where most of my classmates were born in the UK as my parents wanted me to have no language or cultural barrier with the locals," said Jiang, who recalled that she could barely communicate with her peers on the first day of school.

It took her almost half a year before she made friends and dared to speak in public. The tough start to her overseas experience left a negative impact on her as well, as she started to develop an inferiority complex when she entered university.

"If I could choose, I would stay with my family for a bit longer, probably three more years. Maybe teenagers nowadays are more independent and broad-minded, which makes it easier for them to adapt to the foreign culture. But that wasn't the case for me," said Jiang.

Experts also warn that Chinese parents should not "blindly" send their children overseas because the latter may not necessarily be mature enough to live independently.

"Parents must ensure that their children are very well prepared before commencing their overseas study experience. Some may find it hard to understand and complete their school work or integrate into the local communities," said Yang.

"The most important thing is that parents need to be a little wiser and pay more attention to what their children really need, instead of mindlessly following the current trends."