Female graduate students in the city say they have a tougher time finding a good job than their male counter-parts, and some say even bachelor degree holders have an easier time finding work, according to a survey conducted by the Women's Committee of the Shanghai Educational System.

The survey - which was conducted last month to learn about the living situation of local female graduate students - looked at 959 students from 19 universities and colleges in the form of questionnaires, group discussions and one-on-one interviews.

"On one hand, employers have to pay more to graduate students. On the other hand, employers worry female graduate students will ask for wedding leave and maternity leave shortly after they start work," said Zhu Jiafeng, who was in charge of conducting the survey.

High expectations are another obstacle for job seekers, as nearly 90 percent of the questioned students said they want a job that pays at least 3,000 yuan (US$361) a month to start.

The students also said they feel pressure to put off having children until after they have turned 30 in order to concentrate on their studies and careers.

The average age of the surveyed students working on a master's degree is 27.59 years old while that of the doctoral students is 32.62. Even at that advanced age, it is almost impossible for them to get pregnant while still at school.

Many universities still don't allow women graduate students to bear children during their studies so they aren't distracted from their school work. If they insist on having children, they must suspend their studies, according to the state rules.

"As a result, some of my classmates selected to get pregnant while preparing their thesis. When they get the degree, they can also have children soon," said Betty Wang, 26, a graduate student at Shanghai International Studies University.

Many of the women also complained that they have to live off their parent's money while in school as some teachers won't allow them to get a part-time job.

"Most women graduate students are eager to earn their own living. But due to the city's high living expenses, it's common for them to continue their studies with help from their old parents," said Zhu.

The survey indicates only 5.9 percent of the interviewees majoring in arts and management and 3 percent of those in science have the chance to earn money from part-time jobs.

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