SHANGHAI, June 18 -- CHINESE students in the United Kingdom will soon get a fast track to internships at more than 500 leading British companies.

Barkers Global Ltd, one of Britain's largest human resources agencies, has teamed up with the UK government to launch the internship program for Chinese students, officials announced in Shanghai at the weekend.

Any Chinese student in higher education in the UK and who has registered with the education sector of the Chinese Embassy there can join the Barkers Global talent database for free.

Candidates will be given interview opportunities for internships ranging from two weeks to one year at leading firms.

Employment opportunities, career development consultation and job-seeking skill training will also be offered for free to registered candidates, program organizers said on Saturday.

The program came after the Chinese Embassy in Britain signed a memorandum with Global Education Group Plc, Barkers Global's parent company, to enhance Chinese students' employability last March. "The program is designed to enhance Chinese students' competitiveness, no matter if they try to find a job in the UK or come back to work in China," said Jean Dong, managing director of Barkers Global.

In May, more than 3,000 Chinese were issued student visas to study in the UK. The number is about 14 percent higher than in the same period last year.

Altogether 60,000 Chinese students are now studying in the UK, mostly taking an undergraduate program or above, according to the British Consulate General in Shanghai.

With the growing number of overseas students, helping graduates to land a job has aroused British government concern.