Abstract：Based on the panel data of 57 universities affiliated to the Ministry of Education from 2008 to 2017, this study uses the instrumental variable method and threshold regression model to empirically test the effect of international students studying in China on the scientific research output of universities. The results show that international students studying in China can significantly improve the scientific research output of universities. For every 10% increase in the overall number of international students in universities, the number of international papers published will increase by 4.71%; international students studying in China have a significant promoting effect on the scientific research output of universities in different regions and different types of universities and show the characteristics of heterogeneity; the impact of international students studying in China on the scientific research output of universities is restricted by their own scale. Therefore, China should constantly enhance the attraction of studying in China and continue to expand the scale of highquality international students studying in China; improve the management mechanism of international students studying in China, and create a good institutional environment for international students studying in China to actively participate in scientific research output activities in universities; grasp the differentiation characteristics of international students and universities in China, and improve the efficiency of international students studying in China serving the scientific research output of universities.
2023, Vol. 17 
