International students who have completed their postgraduate degree in the UK will be allowed to remain and work in Britain for an additional year after graduation starting this month, the British Council announced yesterday.

 

The policy to give job experience will also be applied to those with undergraduate degrees in jobs where the UK has skill shortages -- such as math, science and engineering.

 

Later this year, the British government is also expected to introduce a program to place up to 1,000 Chinese graduates a year in jobs in the UK for 12-month work experience.

 

"As well as the advantages of the education itself, there are increasing opportunities to stay and gain work experience after graduation," said Sue Bishop, British Consul General in Shanghai.

 

"We believe study in the UK offers top quality education in an innovative and multi-cultural country," she said.

 

From 17,000 to 26,000 Chinese students have studied annually in the UK in recent years; a quarter of the student visas were issued in Shanghai and Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

 

About 60,000 Chinese students are studying in the UK currently, 15 percent of the international students.

 

Student visa application success rates rose from 68 percent in 2004 to 72 percent last year. The percentage so far this year is 80 percent.

 

(Shanghai Daily May 18, 2006)