First-class university undergraduates who work in Xiamen will for the first time become eligible for a one-time subsidy. [Photo/VCG]

Officials from Xiamen human resources and social security department recently announced that first-class university undergraduates who work in Xiamen will become eligible for a one-time subsidy. 

The students must be Xiamen locals or Taiwan residents who study with China's "Double First-class" program, a national scheme initiated by the Ministry of Education in 2017 aiming to nurture an elite group of world-leading Chinese higher education institutions and disciplines. 

For eligible recipients, the subsidy of 20,000 yuan ($2,896) is deposited directly into the undergradute degree holder's account. Incoming employees can submit subsidy applications to their employer for approval and then complete the application process on the city website (https://app.xmhrss.gov.cn/ggfwwt-portal). 

To be eligible for the subsidy, new employees must apply through their employers within one year of their date of arrival at the local employer. The subsidy program is restricted to students who graduated after Nov 26, 2018. 

The program also covers new master's degree and doctoral program students who graduated after July 10, 2017. Subsidies include 30,000 yuan for master's degree holders and 50,000 yuan for doctoral program graduates.

The screen at the administrative service center in Siming district, Xiamen, displays job information on Jan 9, 2019. [Photo/VCG]

A corner of Xiamen University, a prestigious local higher education institution. [Photo/VCG]