The bar chart provides information about the candidates from different countries, namely China, Japan, the USA, and Russia, applying to universities in one European country over the period from 2004 to 2008.
Overall, the number of Chinese candidates decreased while the figures for the USA and Japan increased. However, the number of Russian applicants to European universities fluctuated over the 4-year period.
In 2004, the number of Chinese candidates applying to European universities was the highest, with over 25000 students, followed by nearly 15000 those of America, over 5000 those of Japan, and 2500 those of Russia.
The number of Chinese candidates saw a significant decrease and stood at 15000 students in 2008. In contrast, the figure for the USA substantially rose and, in 2008, surpassed Chinese to be at the same number of Chinese candidates in 2004. While there was a gradual increase in the number of Japanese students wanting to study at universities from European country, the figure for Russia fluctuated around under 500 applicants