UK graduate work visa applications will open on July 1st

  What is the impact on students studying in the UK

  Our reporter Zhao Xiaoxia

  On July 1, the British Graduate Route (Graduate Route) will officially open for applications.

As the time for open applications approaches, this policy has become a hot topic of concern for Chinese students studying in the UK and Chinese students planning to study in the UK.

  You can choose to study or work in the UK for 2 to 3 years

  Before the introduction of the UK graduate work visa policy, the UK had introduced PSW (Post-Study Work) visas.

The PSW visa was officially introduced under the T1 (point-based system) in June 2008. It is designed to allow international students with bachelor’s, master’s and other diplomas to find a job or conduct business in the UK for two years after graduation. .

However, due to various reasons, the British government cancelled this policy in April 2012.

Since then, any policy changes regarding PSW visas will become a hot spot for students studying in the UK.

  In September 2019, the British government announced the introduction of a new visa policy, allowing students studying in the UK to stay in the UK after graduation to find job opportunities.

This new graduate work visa will be open to all international students, including those from China, who must hold a valid student visa and successfully obtain a bachelor's degree or above from a recognized UK higher education institution.

  According to Zhou Meng, the British Education Promotion Manager of the British Council and the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, ​​British graduates' work visas will be officially opened for applications on July 1.

After graduation, Chinese students can choose to stay in the UK to study or work for 2 years (undergraduate and postgraduate graduates)/3 years (for PhD graduates).

“At the same time, the British Home Office has further relaxed the application conditions for the graduate work visa path under the epidemic. International students enrolled in the fall of 2020 who are unable to travel to the UK due to the epidemic need only arrive in the UK before June 21, 2021, and January 2021 Or students enrolled in February only need to arrive in the UK before September 27, 2021 to be eligible to apply for the graduate work visa path."

  Is it difficult to work in the UK?

  The introduction of the UK graduate work visa policy is undoubtedly a piece of good news for Chinese students.

  "Originally, I was planning to apply for North American colleges, but I noticed the new visa policy in the UK, so I changed to apply for British colleges. After graduating from studying abroad, if I can accumulate some work experience abroad, it will definitely be a great future for my career development. Help.” Wanli (pseudonym), who is working hard to enroll in the target school, the London School of Economics and Political Science, said, “There are indeed friends around me who have changed to apply to British universities because of the new British visa policy like me.”

  According to data released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in January this year, there have been more than 140,000 Chinese students studying in the UK, an increase of 56% in 5 years.

In addition, according to data from the University Admissions Service (UCAS), the number of mainland Chinese students applying for admission to the UK undergraduate program in 2021 has increased by 21.46% compared to the same period last year.

  According to the "2021 China Study Abroad White Paper" issued by Kai Tak Education, the UK has become the preferred destination of Chinese students for the third consecutive year.

In this regard, relevant experts said that the rich selection of courses in the UK, the short academic system for higher education, and the work visa for graduates that will be open this summer, have increased the attractiveness of studying in the UK.

  "Study in the UK is indeed hotter, but you have to pay attention to it. If you just go for the new visa policy, you still have to think carefully. After all, the introduction of the new policy does not mean that you can find a satisfactory job by studying in the UK. These are two different things." Wanli said.

  A few days ago, at the launch of the "2021 British Returnees Employability Survey Report" jointly held by Kai Tak Education, 51job 51job, and the British International Student Employability Association, the relevant person in charge of the British International Student Employability Association stated that the employment market in the UK In China, international students have five major advantages: academic advantages, language advantages, network, work attitude and related skills.

At the same time, international students also have five shortcomings: highly competitive market, limited local resources, lack of internship experience, too high expectations, and lack of career planning.

"Therefore, the skills that international students need to improve most include: understanding domestic and foreign employment trends, setting career goals; continuously developing cultural awareness and skills; finding ways to obtain internships and work experience; social and communication skills and the use of network resources; initiative and Be proactive." The person in charge said.

  Is it easy to return to China to find a job

  Compared with Chinese students working in the UK, what is the situation of their return to China?

"2021 British Returnees Employment Ability Survey Report" gives the answer.

The report shows that nearly 80% of British returnees found their first job within 3 months.

In the job search process, the three things that British returnees are most concerned about are salary, development space, and professional counterparts. Working hours are the option with the lowest consideration.

  It is worth noting that more than one-fifth of the returnees in the UK have entrepreneurial plans, mainly because they want more autonomy, and nearly half of them are for higher income and self-worth.

The entrepreneurial fields that have received the most attention from British returnees are e-commerce and the Internet, education and self-media.

  According to the survey data of 51job 51job, from the perspective of domestic employers, 75.28% of all employers who intend to recruit overseas students are willing to recruit British students.

  Feng Lei, Director of Overseas Recruitment of 51job Worry, suggested that overseas returnees should try and make more mistakes when applying for jobs. “During the recruitment season this spring, we have seen that returnees are less willing to try and make mistakes in the job search process. It is recommended that returnees should seize the pre-graduation experience. Opportunities, more trial and error, so that you can know more about yourself so that you can make timely adjustments."

  Sun Bo, director of Qi Tak Study Abroad Project Management Center, said that the introduction of work visas for British graduates provides more opportunities and conveniences for Chinese students who want to stay and work in the UK.

However, whether it is a Chinese student who chooses to stay in the UK to work, or a Chinese student who plans to return to the country for development, from the moment the UK is determined as the destination country for studying abroad, it is necessary to prepare for future employment. The entire application process must be targeted. Combining majors and future job market conditions, scientifically plan future career development and lay a solid foundation for successful employment after graduation.