The increasing number of Chinese students seeking international education has contributed to the growth of the study abroad market, particularly in Malaysia. The appeal of Malaysia as an accessible and culturally diverse destination have contributed to this trend. To cater to this trend, better understanding of the key factors influencing Chinese students’ intentions to pursue higher education in Malaysia is strongly warranted. Hence, the purpose of this study is to review past literature on international education and student mobility to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing Chinese students’ intention to study abroad, specifically in the Malaysian market. The Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) Theory were suggested to explain how the proposed key factors could influence the Chinese students’ study abroad intentions. The discussion on the proposed conceptual framework in this study provides better insights for future research regarding Chinese student motivation to study in emerging markets like Malaysia. The study will yield significant insights for universities, policymakers, and education marketers in formulating targeted strategies to attract and assist international students.