China
Competition for graduate vacancies is intense. The main opportunities for foreign graduates working abroad in the Chinese labour market are in teaching, particularly English.
A key method of finding work is networking, or Guanxi. Many jobs are never advertised but filled via personal referrals from friends or family. Résumés are used and also covering letters. For Chinese and government-owned companies, a covering letter (with résumé) that is written by hand in Chinese characters can be useful, but this is only for those who can write Chinese characters well.
Recruitment agencies exist but tend to concentrate on experienced hires. Graduates with little or no work experience are unlikely to find agencies an effective means of finding work.
It is possible to apply for jobs from outside China. However, the importance of networking and referral when job hunting suggests that it is advantageous to be based within the country.
Unless an English version is requested, produce a Chinese CV. Include a summary or career objective at the beginning of the CV. Check where your university is listed in the Times Higher Education University Rankings . If the ranking is high, include this information in your CV. Highlight any achievements, both academic and personal.
As well as personal details, include information about your academic background (school name and address, university name and address, courses followed, degrees obtained and dates of attendance). List any relevant work experience, including details of the employer, dates attended, the role you had and your daily activities. Also add your career objectives and your IT and language skills. The CV should be typed on A4 paper and is usually no more than two pages long.
At both the application and interview stages, respect, modesty and politeness are important qualities to demonstrate. Punctuality is vital. Preparation and a thorough understanding of the organisation will enable you to demonstrate respect for the organisation. Give examples of your skills and achievements on applications and, at interview, balance modesty and humility with a demonstration of your qualities.
The interviewing process can be long and may involve a number of interviews before you meet the person who has the authority to make a decision.
University rankings are very important to many Chinese employers. Some will use the Times and Shanghai Jiao Tong University world rankings. China uses the three tier higher education model, which consists of Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees.
If you are planning to live and work in China, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
Many vacancies will never be advertised, but filled via personal referrals by family or friends. Non-Chinese nationals, without established networks and family relationships in China, can be excluded from some roles as a result.
If you are planning to make speculative applications to companies, the British Chamber of Commerce in China website has details of member businesses that are active in the UK and China. If your university has an alumni association, this might offer networking opportunities.
Internships and summer placements are becoming more popular in China. Multinational organisations are increasingly advertising internships at their China offices and using them to identify potential graduate recruits. Positions are usually for Chinese nationals only, due to the need for employers to obtain working permits.
IAESTE China offers paid, course-related placements for students in science, engineering and technology. The placements usually last up to 12 weeks during the summer but longer-term placements at other times of the year are also available.
Teaching programmes, such as the British Council - China Teaching Programme , offer opportunities to live and work in China. Placements are in Chinese schools, colleges or universities and last from a few months to a year. IST Plus organises a teaching programme in China as well. Training to teach English as a foreign language is available from i-to-i TEFL.
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) operates in China. VSO volunteers work in education and in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS.
The majority of short-term work and gap year opportunities usually involve teaching English.
The academic year in China runs from the beginning of September to mid-July and is spread over two semesters. You will need to apply for a study visa and meet the requirements of the university you are applying to in order to study in China.
Masters degree study usually lasts between two to three years. Doctoral degree study usually lasts three years.
Courses are usually taught in Mandarin, although a limited number of postgraduate courses are taught in English. The Chinese language proficiency test, or Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), is a standard test designed to check the Chinese language proficiency of non-native Chinese speakers. The HSK is divided into primary, medium and advanced levels.
The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China lists English taught programmes in Chinese universities as well as the different scholarship and study programmes that are available.
There are 465 institutions of higher education in China qualified to accept international students. In addition, there are over 30 institutions where you can study a wide variety of degrees in English. The China Scholarship Council has details of which institutions accept international students.
You can see university rankings at:
Applicants must be non-Chinese nationals in good health. To study a Masters degree, applicants must hold a Bachelors degree and be under the age of 35, while those wishing to complete a Doctorate should already hold a Masters degree and be under the age of 40.
Details of eligibility, including qualifications required, are on the website for the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China .
The academic years runs from late August to late May. International applicants are advised to apply to Chinese universities between January and April.
Applications can be made directly to the institution or via the China Scholarship Council . Forms can be downloaded from their website.
Tuition fees for a liberal arts Masters degree range from 18,000-30,000 RMB. A liberal arts Doctorate ranges from 22,000-34,000 RMB. Sciences, engineering and medicine can be up to 50% higher than liberal arts fees. There is also an application fee of 400-800 RMB.
Further information on fees is on the website for the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China .
The China Scholarship Council issues full scholarships, which cover the cost of tuition fees, registration fees, basic learning materials, accommodation on campus, medical insurance and benefit plan for international students in China, a one-off intercity travel subsidy and a living allowance. Masters degree students receive 1,700 RMB in monthly allowance while Doctoral degree students receive 2,000 RMB.
Partial scholarships are also available. The Chinese Scholarship Council gives details on what is needed to apply for funds, including notarised copies of any diplomas, a study or research plan (no less than 500 words for postgraduate study), letters of recommendation from professors and the letter of invitation or acceptance from the Chinese institution where you wish to study.
Universitas 21 is an international network of 21 higher education institutions. Students of the University of Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Nottingham can study at either Fudan University or Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) has information on the comparison of China and UK qualifications and higher education structures. Your university careers service may have access to the login service on their website to access information on your behalf.
British nationals require visas to enter the mainland of China, but not Hong Kong. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival.
Your passport should have a minimum validity of six months on arrival in China. If you intend to stay longer than one year, a minimum validity of 18 months is required.
If you are entering China for employment, study or private purposes for a stay of over six months, you must produce a health certificate, which includes a blood test for HIV, which has been legalised by the Chinese Embassy.
Further information is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) .
A visa known as a Z visa is required for foreign nationals taking up employment in China.
A visa known as an X visa is required for foreign nationals wishing to study for six months or more in China.
An F visa, or Business Visa, is for foreign nationals visiting China for periods of less than six months, e.g. for short term study, ‘intern practice’, research, lecturing, business, exchanges and attending trade fairs or exhibitions.
Visa application forms are available to download from the website for the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom , along with full details of the application procedure and all the documents and fees required. Details and forms are also available from the Chinese Visa Application Center (CVAC) . Applications for visas cannot be accepted without having first made an appointment with the CVAC, a service established by the embassy.
If you are not a UK national, contact the Chinese embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, go to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom .
You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in China.
A Permanent Residence Visa (or D Visa) can be issued to foreign nationals if they abide by China’s laws, are in good health, have no record of breaking the law and fall in one of the following categories:
Full information is available on the Central Peoples Government of the Peoples Republic of China website. This includes how to apply, along with full details of the documentation required.
ChinaJob, which is sponsored by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA), provides employment services to non-Chinese citizens. With advice from the Chinese government, ChinaJob advertises for international experts in the sectors that need workers. It can also help with professional placements and co-hosts international job fairs.
Careers support in Chinese universities is developing but is usually restricted to students and graduates of the institution.
Visit British Embassy Beijing for details of the support offered to UK nationals in difficulty, and contact details of the consular offices located in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
The UK in China website lists the following emergency contact numbers:
China is a vast country. Relations with neighbouring countries vary. It is vital to research current conditions in your destination. Find the latest travel advice at Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) .
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