中國留歐畢業生可獲至少九個月逗留期

Chinese students who aim to further their higher education in the European Union (EU) will benefit from an extension of at least nine months of stay after their studies end, according to new rules agreed on by the European Parliament on last Wednesday.

歐洲議會上週三通過的新規將惠及想要赴歐盟國家接受高等教育的中國學生。根據新規，赴歐盟國家的中國留學生完成學業後可在歐盟逗留的時間將延長爲至少9個月。

The new rules, valid for all the students and researchers from non-EU states, are designed to attract more skilled labor for all 28 member states of the bloc, which has a population of about 500 million but is faced with a challenging aging problem.

新規面向非歐盟國家的所有留學生和科研人員，旨在爲歐盟28個成員國吸引更多高素質勞動力。這些成員國的總人口約爲5億，但面臨着具有挑戰性的老齡化問題。

Currently, there are more 200,000 Chinese students studying for their higher education in European Union countries and roughly half of them are studying in UK, according to official figures.

據悉，新政將在兩年內實施。官方數據顯示，目前共有20多萬中國留學生在歐盟國家接受高等教育，其中約一半在英國。

"I am very happy to hear about this as now I am seeking to apply for my second masters degree in London and this will allow me more chances to stay longer in UK after my graduation," said Li Siyu, finance major in Leicester University who would graduate in September.

將於今年9月從萊斯特大學財務專業畢業的李思雨表示：“我很高興聽到這個消息，因爲現在我正打算在倫敦申請碩士學位，這將使我在畢業後有更多的機會留在英國。”

"So I am crossing my fingers to see if the UK still stays in the EU after the referendum next month and as an EU member, it should observe the new rules."

“所以我現在正在祈禱，看看英國在下個月的全民投票之後是否還留在歐盟。作爲歐盟成員，英國應該遵守這一新的規定。”

Currently the UK operates strict rules for graduates from non-EU countries and students are allowed at most two or three months extra after their studies end.

英國現行規定較爲嚴苛，非歐盟國家留學生完成學業後最多隻能再逗留兩到三個月。

Some Chinese students have to apply for a tourist visa to UK if they plan to attend their graduation ceremony.

如果打算參加畢業典禮，一些中國學生必須申請英國旅遊簽證。