After finishing her masterโs degree in education last December, Harley Hu began looking for a full-time job in the United Kingdom. The search proved to be far more gruelling than she had expected.
โI sent out maybe 200 or 300 CVs,โ the 25-year-old told the Post. โIt took half a year to find something stable.โ
After six months of juggling part-time work as a Chinese language tutor, Hu has now secured a full-time role in teaching. But the job only provides a temporary respite, as her employer does not sponsor skilled worker visas.
That means Hu will need to find another solution to stay in the UK after her two-year post-study work visa expires in late 2026. โItโs really tough,โ she said. โIf I canโt sort it out, Iโll have to prepare to go back to China.โ
UK government data reveals a sharp contrast between the trajectories of Chinese international students and those from other nations after graduation.