British Council - Generation UK - China



Intern abroad on the British Council Generation UK Programme with CRCC Asia

Spend two months in China with a Generation UK – China funded internship, provided by CRCC Asia

Launched by the British Council in 2013, the Generation UK Programme offers funded internship placements and academic scholarships for UK students in China. By 2020, the Programme aims to have helped 80,000 students from the UK boost their employability, enhance their long-term job prospects, and develop a global mind-set through study and work experience opportunities in China.

By encouraging students to engage with China, Generation UK aims to bring young people from both countries closer together, increase mutual understanding, and pave the way to lasting links and partnerships. The Generation UK – China campaign is supported by all four government administrations in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

To find out more about the campaign and how you can get involved, please visit the British Council’s Generation UK – China website here.

CRCC Asia and the British Council Generation UK Programme

“CRCC Asia is one of our current partners in delivering internships for UK students in China. They have helped British students under the Generation UK – China programme gain valuable cross-cultural business skills through placements across a range of industries and locations. They have received very positive feedback from participants with regard to both the internship placement itself and the pastoral care they provide during the placement.”

Steven Hutt, Head of Outward Mobility, British Embassy in China

Why should I intern abroad with Generation UK?

Whatever your ambitions for the future, your internship will help you stand out from the crowd. New industries and work opportunities in China are rising faster than the skyscrapers that accommodate them, and China may soon overtake the US as the world’s largest economy. Companies across the world will value your experience of China’s culture and business practices.

As well as completing a 2-month internship, you’ll also benefit from Mandarin lessons and take part in business and cultural activities, offering you valuable insight into the customs and traditions of China.

British Council Generation UK Funding and Eligibility

 

The Generation UK campaign is supported by all four government administrations in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Generation UK is committed to social mobility and widening participation in the higher education sector. Funding support is focused on helping talented first-generation scholars and students from low-income backgrounds.

To be eligible for our Generation UK – China internship programme, you must meet one of the following financial eligibility criteria’s depending on which year you began your studies, where you study and from which student funding body you are receiving support from. You will be asked to provide official documentation in support of your application which details the level of support you receive based on your household income.

Please review this Generation UK – China Internship – Finance Eligibility pdf document, which has been supplied by the British Council. Please review the section that applies to you.

 

General Eligibility Requirements:

You must:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • be currently enrolled at a UK university, or have graduated from one within the past year, or be enrolled in a programme at a Further Education institution in Northern Ireland which is accredited by a university
  • have completed at least one academic year at university (at university, or a Further Education college if in Northern Ireland)
  • be a UK passport holder if studying in England or Wales
  • be a UK or EU passport holder if studying in Scotland
  • be a UK or Irish passport holder if studying in Northern Ireland
  • have achieved, or be on track to achieve, a 2:1 degree
  • meet the financial eligibility as outlined here: Generation UK Internships in China – Finance Eligibility
  • not be in receipt of any other Generation UK funding.

Financial Eligibility Requirements:

Generation UK is committed to social mobility and widening participation in the higher education sector. We focus on helping talented first-generation scholars and students from low-income backgrounds.

To be eligible for the Generation UK internship programme, you must meet one of the following criteria, depending on which student finance body makes your student finance payments and which year you began your studies. If you’re currently a postgraduate student, you must have met the criteria during your undergraduate degree.

If you started your course before 2016, you must:
  • Be in receipt of or have received a Maintenance Grant from Student Finance England, Northern Ireland or Wales.
  • Be in receipt of or have received SAAS bursary for Scottish students.

Please provide the following evidence:

  • Full scanned copy of your Student Finance/SAAS financial support letter detailing your tuition fees and maintenance loan and grant entitlements.
If you started your course after 2016 and receive funding from Student Finance England, you must be:
  • Living with parents – In receipt of a maintenance loan of £4,576 or above
  • Not living with parents and studying outside London – In receipt of a maintenance loan of £5,845 or above.
  • Not living with parents and studying in London – In receipt of a maintenance loan of £8,304 or above.

Please provide the following evidence:

  • Official signed letter from your university registrar on university letterhead detailing your student living status based on the above three options, your official home address and your official term time address.
  • Full scanned copy of your Student Finance England financial support letter detailing your tuition fees and maintenance loan entitlements.
If you started your course after 2016 and receive funding from the Student Awards Agency Scotland, you must be:

Please provide the following evidence:

  • Full scanned copy of your Student Awards Agency Scotland financial support letter detailing your tuition fees and maintenance loan entitlements.
If you started your course after 2016 and receive funding from Student Finance Northern Ireland, you must be:

Please provide the following evidence:

  • Full scanned copy of your Student Finance Northern Ireland financial support letter detailing your tuition fees and maintenance loan entitlements.
If you started your course after 2016 and receive funding from Student Finance Wales, you must be:
  • In receipt of a Welsh Government Learning Grant. More information can be found on the Student Finance Wales website.

Please provide the following evidence:

  • Full scanned copy of your Student Finance Wales financial support letter detailing your tuition fees and maintenance loan entitlements.

Funding Includes:

  • 2-month internship placement in an industry of your choice
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pickup
  • Induction Day & Welcome Banquet
  • Welcome Pack (inc. business cards, SIM cards, travel card, city guide)
  • Company Drop-Off
  • Mandarin Lessons
  • Monthly cultural and business events
  • Dedicated on the ground support

Funding Excludes:

  • Visa
  • Flights
  • Living Expenses
  • Program Deposit (To secure your place – refundable upon program completion)

British Council Generation UK Programme Dates with CRCC Asia

Program Start Date Program Location Program End Date
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai   Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Thursday, April 2, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai  Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Thursday, April 30, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Thursday, May 28, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai  Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Thursday, June 25, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Thursday, July 23, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Thursday, August 20, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Thursday, September 17, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Thursday, October 15, 2020 Beijing, Shanghai Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Deadlines and Assessment

Applications to intern abroad with CRCC Asia via the British Council’s Generation UK Programme are open now.

The new application window closes on Monday 2 March 2020.

What is the selection process for the British Council Generation UK Programme?

Internships are competitive. Funding will be awarded to students who have an excellent academic record and can demonstrate a strong interest in China.

 

There are three stages of assessment:

  • written application via an online application form
  • telephone interview with CRCC Asia
  • final selection by the British Council.

We consider the following in assessing your application:

  • academic achievement
  • your interest in your chosen industry
  • your motivations for gaining work experience in China.

 

Supporting documentation

To support your application, please make sure you have electronic copies of the following documents ready to submit during the application process:

  • a clearly visible scanned copy of your passport information page (either jpg or pdf)
  • a copy of you student finance documents – see the student finance eligibility criteria (.pdf). You can download this from your student finance portal. This document must be your official award letter and must clearly show your student finance breakdown.
  • your most recent grade transcript. Most universities will be able to provide one and you may be able to download this from your university portal. If not, we can accept a screenshot of your grades in your university system, signed, dated and verified by your academic referee or university registrar.
  • one academic reference, typed on university letterhead paper and signed by the referee. The referee should include their academic relationship to you, your academic profile, and why they recommend you for the Generation UK programme via CRCC Asia.
  • your CV

Please submit clear, scanned copies of your documents. We cannot accept illegible documents or photographs of documents unless otherwise specified. Your application may not be considered if you do not submit the correct documentation.

 

*Although applications with all the correct supporting documents are preferred, if you are unable to get a certain document, please upload a word document or similar in its place to explain the situation. So long as we receive your application before the deadline, we can consider late submission of documents on a case-by-case basis.*

Updates on the British Council Generation UK Programme

Please note that the Generation UK programme for 2020 has been suspended until further notice.

An update from the British Council:

The health, welfare and safety of programme participants and staff is our priority.

We have therefore suspended the Generation UK internship programmes until further notice.

We continue to monitor the situation in China and intend to resume programme activity once it is safe to do so, acting on advice of health authorities, as well that of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and World Health Organisation.

https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/outside-uk/internships-china

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