Chinese Government Scholarship Application Guide

The Chinese government established scholarships to support outstanding students and scholars from around the world to study or conduct research at Chinese institutions, with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people around the world and developing exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

China’s Ministry of Education has entrusted the China Scholarship Council (CSC) with the recruitment, admission, and management of Chinese Government Scholarship students.

I. Program Categories and Application Channels

(1) Country Programs

These scholarships are provided under cooperation and exchange agreements, or understandings, between China and the governments and institutions of relevant countries. They accept undergraduate students, master’s students, doctoral students, general visiting students, and senior visiting students.

Applicants apply to the relevant dispatching authorities in their home countries.

(2) Chinese Institution Independent Recruitment Programs

These scholarships are provided to Chinese institutions to support outstanding students whom the institutions directly select and recommend for study in China. Eligible student categories depend on the requirements in each program’s notice.

Applicants apply to the Chinese institutions undertaking these programs.

(3) Special Scholarship Programs

These scholarships are provided under cooperation agreements between China and relevant international organizations and institutions. Applicants apply to the relevant international organizations and institutions.

Program	Eligible applicants	Supported student categories	Application authority	Contact information
Great Wall Scholarship Program	Students and scholars from developing countries	Master’s students; doctoral students; general visiting students; senior visiting students	National Commission for UNESCO in the applicant’s country	https://en.unesco.org/countries
China–EU Student Exchange Program	Students and scholars from EU member states	Undergraduate students; master’s students; doctoral students; general visiting students; senior visiting students	Education and Culture Section, Mission of China to the European Union	http://www.chinamission.be
China–AUN Scholarship Program	Students and scholars from ASEAN member states	Master’s students; doctoral students	ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat	www.aunsec.org
Pacific Islands Forum Program	Students and scholars from Pacific island countries	Undergraduate students; master’s students; doctoral students; general visiting students; senior visiting students	Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat	www.forumsec.org
World Meteorological Organization Program	Students and scholars from around the world interested in research in meteorology	Undergraduate students; master’s students; doctoral students	World Meteorological Organization	http://www.wmo.int/

(4) Credit Student Program

These scholarships are provided under exchange and cooperation agreements between Chinese and overseas institutions. They accept general and senior visiting students for study periods of no more than 12 months.

Applicants apply to the Chinese institutions and their overseas partner institutions.

II. Supported Student Categories, Duration, Institutions, and Fields

(1) Student Categories

Undergraduate students, master’s students, doctoral students, general visiting students, and senior visiting students.

(2) Funding Duration

Funding includes Chinese-language preparatory study and study in the chosen academic program. Funding for Chinese-language preparatory study is generally for one year. In principle, funding for study in the chosen program follows its standard duration.

(3) Institutions and Fields

Programs offered by Chinese institutions undertaking the education of Chinese Government Scholarship students cover science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics, law, management, education, history, literature, philosophy, and the arts.

For details of Chinese institutions and programs, visit http://www.campuschina.org.

III. Scholarship Coverage and Amounts

(1) Coverage

Tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and comprehensive medical insurance.

(2) Amounts

1. Tuition waiver.

2. Free dormitory accommodation or an accommodation subsidy.

3. Living allowance:

   Undergraduate students: RMB 2,500 per month.

   Master’s students and general visiting students: RMB 3,000 per month.

   Doctoral students and senior visiting students: RMB 3,500 per month.

4. Comprehensive medical insurance:

   RMB 800 per person per year.

   RMB 400 per person for study periods of less than 6 months.

IV. Eligibility Requirements

(1) Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good physical and mental health.

(2) Educational Qualifications and Age

1. Bachelor’s degree applicants must have an educational background equivalent to high school graduation, excellent academic results, and generally be no older than 25.

2. Master’s degree applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification, have excellent academic results, and generally be no older than 35.

3. Doctoral degree applicants must hold a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification, have excellent academic results, and generally be no older than 40.

4. General visiting students must have an educational background equivalent to high school graduation or higher at enrollment and generally be no older than 45.

5. Senior visiting students must hold at least a master’s degree or the professional title of associate professor or higher at enrollment and generally be no older than 50.

(3) Language Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree applicants must take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA), the undergraduate admission academic proficiency test for international students in China. Official website: www.csca.cn.

2. For disciplines and programs taught in Chinese, general visiting students, except those studying Chinese language, and senior visiting students should in principle have at least Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) Level 3; master’s and doctoral applicants should in principle have at least HSK Level 4.

3. Applicants for foreign-language-taught master’s, doctoral, general visiting, and senior visiting programs must meet the host institution’s admission requirements for proficiency in the relevant foreign language.

(4) Applicants must also meet the host institution’s admission requirements concerning academic ability and other relevant matters.

V. Application Procedure

1. Applicants consult the Study in China website or other channels for information about Chinese institutions and relevant programs, and select the scholarship program, institution, and academic program for which they will apply.

2. Applicants contact Chinese institutions to obtain the relevant admission documents.

3. Applicants contact the relevant application authority to obtain a recommendation.

4. Applicants log in to the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (http://www.campuschina.org), complete the Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form online, and submit the required application documents.

5. The application authority submits the recommended candidates and their application documents to the CSC.

6. The CSC organizes relevant institutions and experts to review the recommended candidates’ eligibility and academic qualifications and determine those to be admitted.

7. The CSC informs the application authority of the admission results, and the authority informs the applicants.

VI. Application Documents

1. Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form, completed online.

2. First page of the passport. Applicants must submit a clear scan of the first page of their ordinary passport. If the current passport has less than 12 months of validity remaining, counted from the expected start date of study, apply promptly for a new passport and use it to complete the scholarship application. Applicants who cannot obtain a passport before submitting their application for reasons beyond their control may, with permission from the application authority, submit a valid identity document or supporting document containing their name in English, sex, nationality, and date of birth.

3. Notarized proof of the highest educational qualification obtained. Applicants who are currently students must submit proof of expected graduation or proof of enrollment issued by their current institution.

4. Academic transcripts. Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must include notarized Chinese or English translations.

5. Proof of language proficiency. Applicants for Chinese-taught master’s, doctoral, general visiting, and senior visiting programs in China must provide a valid HSK score report meeting the corresponding Chinese proficiency requirement. Applicants for programs taught in a foreign language must provide proof of language proficiency required by the institution, such as an IELTS or TOEFL score report.

6. China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) score report. Bachelor’s degree applicants must register for the CSCA and obtain a valid score report before the application deadline. Contact your intended institution to find out which test subjects are compulsory for your chosen program.

7. Admission documents. Applicants for master’s and doctoral degrees and those applying to study in China as general or senior visiting students must provide admission documents issued by their intended institution. These may include an admission notice, pre-admission notice, or supervisor’s invitation letter. Admission documents are among the documents used to give priority in Chinese Government Scholarship admission.

8. A study or research plan for China, written in Chinese or English: at least 200 words for undergraduate applicants, 500 words for visiting students, and 1000 words for graduate applicants.

9. Recommendation letters. Master’s and doctoral applicants and applicants for senior visiting study in China must submit recommendation letters from two professors or associate professors, written in Chinese or English.

10. Personal works. Applicants for art, design, and related programs should provide a portfolio of personal work, such as videos or paintings.

11. Applicants under 18 must submit the relevant legal documents for their legal guardian in China.

12. Applicants planning to study in China for more than 6 months must submit a copy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form and keep the original. This form is uniformly printed by China’s health and quarantine authorities and must be completed in English. Applicants must complete all examination items required by the form. Forms are invalid if any item is missing, the applicant’s photograph is absent or lacks a seal across its edge, or the physician’s signature and hospital seal are missing. Examination results are valid for 6 months.

13. Certificate of no criminal record. Applicants must submit a valid certificate of no criminal record issued by their local public security authority, normally issued within the 6 months preceding the application date.

VII. Contact Details

Asian Affairs

Telephone: 0086-10-66093584

E-mail: asia-admission@csc.edu.cn

African Affairs

Telephone: 0086-10-66093924

E-mail: africa-admission@csc.edu.cn

European Affairs

Telephone: 0086-10-66093921

E-mail: europe-admission@csc.edu.cn

Americas and Oceania Affairs

Telephone: 0086-10-66093578

E-mail: americas-admission@csc.edu.cn

oceania-admission@csc.edu.cn

Fax: 0086-10-66093972

Website: www.campuschina.org

Department: Division of International Students Affairs, China Scholarship Council

Address: 13th Floor, Building A3, No. 9 Chegongzhuang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China

Postal code: 100044