University graduates from outside the city who start businesses in the city will earn more points if they apply for a permanent residence permit, according to the Shanghai Education Commission.

The commission's newly released city-entry standard for university graduates from other parts of the nation creates a 100-point scoring system.

Applicants receive points based on education, academic performance, personal ability as well as the employment situation. The higher the score, the better the chance of getting a residence permit.

This year, students who were named president or to a board of directors' position in a business earned two to five extra points.

Graduates who have applied for an invention patent can also score one to five points more, according to the evaluation.

"The number of applicants is so large that we need a threshold to select really outstanding graduates," said Wang Yadong, an official with the Shanghai Career Guidance Center for Graduates under the commission. More than 100,000 students graduated from universities in the city this year. About 33 percent are from other areas of the country.

About 10,000 non-local students will be given a permanent residence permit this year, entitling them to the same social benefits as Shanghainese.

The commission will announce the qualifying score later this month.

Graduates who fail on the evaluation can apply for a Shanghai Residence Card. It provides the same social benefits, but is only valid for a maximum of three years, the commission said.   

(Shanghai Daily July 5, 2005)