Due to the Chinese Civil War, Tsui's father emigrated to the United States to pursue doctoral studies in agricultural economics.
The elder Tsui worked for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and moved his family to Bangladesh and Thailand.
The Tsui family later returned to the United States, where Amy graduated from high school, and enrolled at Carlton College in Minnesota, before transferring to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in 1970 and 1972, respectively.
Five years later, Tsui obtained a doctorate from the University of Chicago, where she was advised by Donald Bogue.
[7] In most recent years, Tsui has focused her research on the topic of women's reproductive activities and health in various countries around the world.