Can graduates from the world's top 50 universities settle directly in Shanghai?
Recently, the "Notice on Implementing Special Talent Support Measures to Boost Work and Production Resumption" released by the Shanghai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau has attracted widespread attention.
Among them, there are several new policies specifically aimed at "increasing efforts to attract top talents from world-renowned universities." Shanghai is definitely pulling out all the stops to attract talent!
Policy Highlights
Graduates from world's top 50 universities: The requirements for social insurance contribution base and duration are waived. As long as you work full-time in Shanghai, you can directly apply for settlement.
Graduates from world's top 51-100 universities: After working full-time in Shanghai and paying social insurance for six months, you can also apply for settlement.
.png)
How Are World Rankings Determined?
Regarding how world rankings are defined in the policy, Shanghai authorities have provided a detailed explanation, mainly referencing:
-
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (UK)
-
U.S. News & World Report Rankings
-
QS World University Rankings
-
The Shanghai Ranking's Academic Ranking of World Universities
Top 100 universities are primarily determined based on these four mainstream world rankings. The specific eligible universities are subject to the official list in the government's settlement application system.
Other Benefits
In addition, Shanghai has opened a "green channel" for talent introduction, giving priority to key enterprise talents contributing to work and production resumption, as well as returned overseas students from prestigious universities, when applying for talent introduction-related services.
Meanwhile, the notice also mentions that Shanghai will further increase financial support for the "Bole" Award Program for human resources services, guiding headhunting agencies to strengthen the recruitment of high-level overseas talents, and launch a number of free public human resources service programs.
Major Cities Unveil Their Ultimate Weapons
With rapid social development, the demand for talent is increasing across the board, and the war for talent is intensifying. Shanghai's latest policies are indeed very attractive, and other major cities are also pulling out their trump cards, escalating the talent competition.
Even Beijing, which has always been quite strict about talent introduction, has recently relaxed restrictions on settlement for overseas students and key field professionals!
Previously, one of Beijing's settlement policies required "study abroad for more than one year," which limited those on one-year master's programs or those affected by the pandemic.
However, the newly released settlement policy allows for the cumulative calculation of time spent on online teaching domestically during the pandemic.
In addition to Beijing and Shanghai, new first-tier cities like Hangzhou, Chengdu, Nanjing, and Wuhan have also relaxed settlement policies for international students, hoping to attract returned talents with their development potential and various preferential benefits.
Below is a summary of the latest policies and benefits for international student settlement in various cities (please refer to the official websites for the most current information).
Beijing & Shanghai: Escalating Talent Wars
Beijing
Compared to last year, Beijing's policy update this year mainly targets international students who did not spend sufficient time abroad due to the pandemic.
For such students, specific arrangements can be made after verifying with the employer and the Overseas Student Service Center, and the quarantine period for inbound travelers has been shortened to a "10+7" arrangement.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Hold a master's degree or higher from a foreign institution; or have obtained a domestic doctoral degree before going abroad for postdoctoral or visiting research.
-
Studied abroad for more than one year.
-
Submit application materials through a Beijing employer within two years of returning to China.
-
Age 45 or under.
-
Terminated employment with previous domestic employer before going abroad.
-
Establish a formal employment relationship with a Beijing-based employer and pay Beijing social insurance as required.
-
Personal information must be consistent with that during the study period.
-
Those who studied in Hong Kong or Macau are processed under the same conditions.
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
Outstanding talents can receive a maximum reward of 1 million RMB.
-
The government provides 100,000 RMB for business start-up expenses.
-
Short-term transitional housing is provided.
-
Eligible to purchase one duty-free vehicle.
-
Those awarded the "Specially Appointed Expert" title of Beijing can receive a 1 million RMB reward.
Shanghai
To attract talent, Shanghai has continuously relaxed its settlement policies for international students. Compared to 2021, the conditions are even more lenient and welcoming.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Graduates from the world's top 50 universities can settle directly.
-
Graduates from the world's top 51-100 universities can settle after paying any social insurance for 6 months, regardless of the contribution base (based on the ranking in the settlement system).
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
Eligible to purchase one duty-free vehicle.
-
Pujiang Talent Program: Up to 500,000 RMB government funding.
-
Pudong Entrepreneurship: Eligible to apply for 150,000 RMB entrepreneurial funds.
Guangzhou & Shenzhen: Our Doors Are Wide Open
Guangzhou
Compared to Beijing and Shanghai, Guangzhou's settlement requirements are much less demanding. For international students wanting to work in a first-tier city without too much hassle, it's an excellent choice.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a foreign institution, or a master's degree or above.
-
International students working or starting a business in Guangzhou-based government agencies, enterprises, institutions, or individual businesses can apply for household registration transfer to Guangzhou.
-
Establish a business or individual enterprise in Guangzhou.
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
Subsidized interest for small secured loans, up to 200,000 RMB per person.
-
Eligible to purchase one duty-free vehicle.
-
Settling in Nansha or Huangpu districts can receive a settlement incentive of 20,000 to 60,000 RMB.
-
District-level talent apartments and entrepreneurship subsidies.
-
Projects submitted to the science and technology commission by international students can receive a one-time start-up grant of 100,000 RMB.
Shenzhen
Shenzhen's settlement requirements are even simpler than Guangzhou's; essentially, if you want to stay, you can.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Under 45 years old.
-
Obtain the "Qualification Certificate for Returned Overseas Students" from Shenzhen.
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
Receive Shenzhen living allowance: Bachelor's degree holders 15,000 RMB per person, Master's 25,000 RMB per person, Ph.D. 30,000 RMB per person (after one month of social insurance).
-
Eligible to purchase one duty-free vehicle.
-
Minor children enjoy free kindergarten and primary/secondary education with priority application, and can apply for the senior high school departments of key municipal or district schools.
-
Eligible to apply for government-provided affordable housing and international student apartments.
New First-Tier Cities: Zero-Threshold Settlement and Diverse Subsidies
Hangzhou
As a new digital economy hub, Hangzhou's settlement policy is very lenient among new first-tier cities. A bachelor's degree or above is sufficient for settlement, and master's degree holders can enjoy the "settle first, then seek employment" policy.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Chinese nationals who are returned overseas students.
-
Working normally in Hangzhou and paying social insurance.
-
Age requirement: under 45 for bachelor's degree holders, under 50 for master's degree holders.
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
For high-level returned overseas students starting businesses in Hangzhou, funding ranging from over 1 million to 5 million RMB.
-
For innovative talents selected in the "521 Talent Program": 800,000 RMB settlement allowance and the opportunity to purchase a dedicated talent residence of no less than 120 square meters.
-
Full interest subsidies on bank loans up to 5 million RMB for entrepreneurs.
-
Eligible to purchase one duty-free vehicle.
-
Living allowance for recent graduates with a bachelor's degree or above coming to work in Hangzhou (including returned overseas students within 5 years of graduation and foreign talents): Bachelor's 10,000 RMB, Master's 30,000 RMB, Ph.D. 100,000 RMB.
Chengdu
As a densely populated and highly modern city, Chengdu warmly welcomes and needs a large number of returned overseas talents to contribute to its construction and development.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Hold a bachelor's degree or above from a foreign institution, and have studied abroad for more than one year.
-
Aged 45 or below.
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
Returned students with a master's degree or above starting a business in Chengdu can receive up to 500,000 RMB funding.
-
Returned doctoral degree holders working in Chengdu stably for over 9 months per year can receive up to 300,000 RMB funding.
-
International student entrepreneurs can enjoy tax reduction and exemption policies.
-
Full interest subsidies on bank loans up to 5 million RMB for entrepreneurs.
Nanjing
Nanjing's settlement conditions are very simple: as long as you have a bachelor's degree or above from abroad and are employed or start a business in Nanjing, you can apply for settlement.
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Hold a graduate degree or above, or be a bachelor's degree graduate under 45 (including returned overseas students).
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
For high-level entrepreneurial talents, up to 1 million RMB funding, plus office rent subsidies or exemptions.
-
Housing rental subsidy: Ph.D. holders 1,000 RMB/month, master's 800 RMB/month, bachelor's 600 RMB/month (cumulative subsidy period no more than 36 months).
Wuhan
Wuhan offers generous subsidy policies for international students who wish to start a business and live there!
Conditions for Settlement:
-
Undergraduates and associate degree graduates under 40 can settle directly.
-
No age limit for doctoral and master's degree holders.
Benefits for Settling Students:
-
Returned Ph.D. holders can receive a monthly government subsidy of 2,000 RMB.
-
Provide various funding channels for international student entrepreneurs, including venture capital and government funds.
In recent years, the trend of talents returning to China has been rising annually. Apart from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai, many new first-tier cities are also becoming increasingly attractive.
The "war for overseas talent" among Chinese cities and enterprises is heating up, with welfare policies becoming ever more generous. Therefore, the space for development after returning to China upon graduation is also expanding.
For those planning to return to China after graduation, it is advisable to thoroughly research the market and development of target cities before returning, and choose the most suitable city for employment and development based on your major, interests, and the local settlement policies.
We wish everyone not only to receive your desired offer but also to succeed in your studies and settle smoothly!
