Chinese Government Scholarship

The Chinese Government established scholarships to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship with people worldwide and develop exchange and cooperation in all fields, supporting outstanding international students, teachers and scholars studying or conducting research at Chinese universities.

China’s Ministry of Education entrusts the China Scholarship Council (CSC) with scholarship admissions and administration.

Currently, 279 Chinese universities educate Chinese Government Scholarship students. Subjects cover science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics, law, management, education, history, literature, philosophy and art.

I. Chinese Government Scholarship programs

1. Bilateral Program

Full or partial scholarships under educational cooperation and exchange agreements or understandings between China and foreign governments, institutions, universities and international organizations. Open to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students, general scholars and senior scholars.

Apply to the international student dispatching authority in the applicant’s country.

2. Chinese University Independent Admission Program

Full scholarships provided to provincial education authorities in selected Chinese provinces and autonomous regions and selected Chinese universities, enabling participating universities to directly select outstanding young international students. Open only to master’s and doctoral students.

Apply to a Chinese university undertaking the program.

3. Great Wall Program

Full scholarships provided through UNESCO for students and scholars from developing countries to study and conduct research in China. Open only to general and senior scholars.

Apply to the UNESCO National Commission in the applicant’s country.

4. China-EU Student Exchange Program

Full scholarships for students from European Union member states, encouraging study and research in China and mutual understanding and exchange. Open to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students, general scholars and senior scholars.

Apply to the Education and Culture Office of the Chinese Mission to the European Union.

5. China-AUN Scholarship Program

Full scholarships provided through the ASEAN University Network (AUN), encouraging young students, teachers and scholars from ASEAN member states to study in China and deepen understanding and friendship. Open only to master’s and doctoral students.

Apply to the AUN Secretariat.

6. Pacific Islands Forum Program

Full scholarships for students from Pacific island countries, encouraging and supporting young people from these countries to study in China. Open to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students, general scholars and senior scholars.

Apply to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

7. World Meteorological Organization Program

Partial scholarships through the World Meteorological Organization covering tuition, accommodation and comprehensive medical insurance, encouraging students worldwide interested in meteorological research to study and conduct research in China. Open to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students.

Apply to the World Meteorological Organization.

II. Study categories, duration, language, universities and programs

Categories: undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, Chinese language study and specialist visiting study.

Duration includes specialist study and Chinese preparation:

Category	Specialist study	Chinese preparation	Total scholarship duration
Undergraduate	4-5 academic years	1-2 academic years	4-7 academic years
Master’s	2-3 academic years	1-2 academic years	2-5 academic years
Doctoral	3-4 academic years	1-2 academic years	3-6 academic years
General scholar	Up to 1 academic year	Up to 1 academic year	Up to 2 academic years
Senior scholar	Up to 1 academic year	Up to 1 academic year	Up to 2 academic years

Language of instruction:

1. Chinese Government Scholarship undergraduate programs are taught in Chinese. Before degree study, recipients must undertake 1 academic year of Chinese and foundational study at a designated preparatory institution and pass the assessments.

Applicants may request exemption if their language and foundational knowledge meet either condition: secondary education was completed in Chinese, with a certificate from the graduating institution confirming compulsory secondary courses were taught in Chinese; or Chinese proficiency meets the admitting university’s undergraduate requirements, supported by an HSK result copy. HSK reports are valid for two years.

Currently, ten institutions provide scholarship undergraduate preparatory education: Tianjin University, Nanjing Normal University, Shandong University, Central China Normal University, Tongji University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Northeast Normal University, Beijing International Studies University, Capital Normal University, and University of International Business and Economics.

2. Postgraduate and visiting programs are generally taught in Chinese; some institutions offer some programs in English. Consult university and program introductions at or .

Recipients choosing Chinese-taught programs who do not meet degree-study language requirements must take 1-2 academic years of Chinese. They may begin specialist study only after meeting their host’s admission requirements; otherwise they cannot continue receiving the scholarship in China. Chinese preparation lasts 1 academic year for science, engineering, agriculture, Western medicine, economics, management, law and art; and no more than 2 academic years for literature, history, philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese pharmacy.

Recipients in English-taught programs or already meeting Chinese proficiency requirements need no Chinese preparation.

Universities and programs:

Currently, 279 Chinese universities undertake scholarship education. Consult university and program introductions at or .

III. Coverage and funding standards

Amounts are annual, in RMB.

Student category	Subject category	Tuition/year	Accommodation/year	Living allowance/year	Medical insurance/year	Annual total
Undergraduate	I	20000	8400	30000	800	59200
Undergraduate	II	23000	8400	30000	800	62200
Undergraduate	III	27000	8400	30000	800	66200
Master’s/general scholar	I	25000	8400	36000	800	70200
Master’s/general scholar	II	29000	8400	36000	800	74200
Master’s/general scholar	III	34000	8400	36000	800	79200
Doctoral/senior scholar	I	33000	12000	42000	800	87800
Doctoral/senior scholar	II	38000	12000	42000	800	92800
Doctoral/senior scholar	III	45000	12000	42000	800	99800

Note: Category I includes philosophy, economics, law, education, literature excluding literary and arts programs, history and management. Category II includes science, engineering and agriculture. Category III includes literature in literary and arts programs and medicine.

1. Full scholarship

• Tuition: covers recipient training, administration and organized or supported cultural, sports, sightseeing and social activities. The university manages this funding.

• Accommodation: covers free dormitories or accommodation allowances. The university manages it. Recipients living on campus under university rules receive free accommodation, generally in twin rooms. Those approved to live off campus may receive monthly or quarterly allowances:

  Undergraduate and preparatory students, master’s students and general scholars: RMB 700/month.

  Doctoral students and senior scholars: RMB 1000/month.

• Living allowances:

  Undergraduate: RMB 2,500/month.

  Master’s and general scholars: RMB 3,000/month.

  Doctoral and senior scholars: RMB 3,500/month.

The university pays living allowances monthly. Recipients registering on or before the 15th receive the full month’s allowance; those registering afterward receive half a month. Graduating students receive allowances through half a month after the university-determined graduation date. Recipients leaving China for personal reasons for more than 15 days during study, excluding normal holidays, have allowances suspended for the period abroad.

• Comprehensive medical insurance: for coverage and claims, consult the Introduction and Claims Guide to Comprehensive Medical Insurance for International Students in China at or .

2. Partial scholarship

Covers one or more components of the full scholarship.

Related PDF — Spanish-language Chinese Government Scholarship application guide

Related PDF — Russian-language Chinese Government Scholarship application guide

Related PDF — Portuguese-language Chinese Government Scholarship application guide