Chinese GovernmentScholarshipsfor International Students

The Chinese Government Scholarship is a national scholarship framework for eligible non-Chinese citizens who plan to study or conduct research in China. The China Scholarship Council, commonly abbreviated as CSC, administers the scholarship process described by the official Campus China portal.

This guide explains the published framework. It does not replace the current notice from the nominating authority, international organization or Chinese university handling a specific application. Deadlines, participating institutions and program availability can differ by route and intake.

Program categories and application channels

The official framework identifies four broad program categories. The correct category determines where an applicant begins and which organization may nominate or recommend the application.

Do not choose a route only because its name appears in an application portal. First confirm which authority is accepting applications for your country, institution and intended program.

Supported study levels and duration

The framework may support:

• Bachelor's degree study
• Master's degree study
• Doctoral degree study
• General scholar study
• Senior scholar study

Scholarship duration may include both Chinese-language or preparatory study and the main academic program. The official framework generally allows one year for Chinese-language or preparatory study, while funding for the academic program normally follows its standard duration.

Participating institutions offer programs across science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics, law, management, education, history, literature, philosophy and the arts. Availability depends on the current scholarship route and the programs offered by participating universities.

Scholarship coverage and official standards

The published scholarship coverage includes tuition, accommodation support, a monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance.

Treat these amounts as the official framework stated in the cited Campus China guidance. Confirm the award notice and university instructions before making a budget. They determine how accommodation is arranged, when stipends begin, which costs remain the student's responsibility and whether any route provides different terms.

General eligibility requirements

Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens and in good physical and mental health. The published education and age requirements are:

The word "generally" in an age requirement does not authorize an applicant to assume an exception. Any exception must be supported by the current official program notice or confirmed by the responsible authority.

Applicants must also satisfy the academic and admission requirements of the receiving university.

Language and undergraduate testing requirements

Applicants for bachelor's degree study must take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment, or CSCA. The intended university should confirm which test subjects are required for the selected major. Applicants must register in time to obtain a valid score report before the scholarship application deadline.

For programs taught in Chinese, the framework generally requires:

• HSK Level 3 or higher for general scholars, except applicants to Chinese-language programs, and for senior scholars
• HSK Level 4 or higher for master's and doctoral applicants

Universities and individual programs may set a higher Chinese-language threshold.

Applicants to master's, doctoral, general scholar or senior scholar programs taught in another language must meet the receiving university's requirements for that language. Depending on the program, the university may request evidence such as an IELTS or TOEFL score.

Official application process

The published process follows these stages:

1. Research participating Chinese universities and programs and identify the correct scholarship route.
2. Contact the intended university and obtain any required admission or pre-admission material.
3. Contact the responsible application authority and secure the required nomination or recommendation eligibility.
4. Complete the Chinese Government Scholarship application online through the Campus China system and upload the required materials.
5. The application authority submits its recommended candidates and application materials to CSC.
6. CSC arranges eligibility and academic review with the relevant universities and experts, then determines the selected candidates.
7. CSC reports the results to the application authority, which notifies applicants.

A CSC submission may not replace a separate university admission application. Follow both sets of instructions when the current route requires two submissions.

Required application documents

The official framework lists the following materials. A program or university may require additional documents.

1. Chinese Government Scholarship application form

Complete the form online in the official scholarship application system. Use the program category and agency number supplied by the responsible authority.

2. Passport identity page

Submit a clear scan of the identity page of an ordinary passport. If the passport will have less than 12 months of validity from the expected start of study, obtain a new passport and use it for the application. When an applicant cannot obtain a passport before submission for an objective reason, the application authority may permit another valid identity document showing the applicant's English name, sex, nationality and date of birth.

3. Highest diploma or current enrollment evidence

Submit a notarized copy of the highest diploma earned. A current student must instead provide an official certificate of enrollment or expected graduation issued by the institution.

4. Academic transcripts

Provide academic transcripts. Documents written in a language other than Chinese or English must include a notarized Chinese or English translation.

5. Language proficiency evidence

Applicants to relevant Chinese-taught master's, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar programs must provide a valid HSK score report meeting the applicable level. Applicants to programs taught in another language must provide the evidence required by the university, which may include IELTS or TOEFL results.

6. CSCA score report for bachelor's applicants

Every bachelor's applicant must register for the CSCA early enough to receive a valid score report before the application deadline. Confirm the required test subjects with the intended university.

7. Admission material

Master's, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar applicants should provide admission material issued by the intended university. Depending on the university, this may be an admission notice, pre-admission notice or supervisor invitation. The official guidance identifies admission material as a document that may receive priority consideration.

8. Study or research plan

Write the plan in Chinese or English. The published minimum lengths are 200 words for bachelor's applicants, 500 words for general or senior scholars and 1,000 words for graduate applicants.

9. Recommendation letters

Master's, doctoral and senior scholar applicants must submit two recommendation letters written in Chinese or English by professors or associate professors.

10. Portfolio materials

Applicants to art, design and similar programs should provide relevant work samples, such as images, drawings or video materials, as required by the program.

11. Guardian documents for minors

An applicant younger than 18 must provide the required legal documents for a guardian in China.

12. Foreigner Physical Examination Form

An applicant planning to study in China for more than six months must submit a copy of the completed form and retain the original. The form must be completed in English and include every required examination item, the applicant's photograph with the required cross-page stamp, and the physician's and hospital's signatures and seals. Incomplete forms are invalid. Examination results are valid for six months.

13. Non-criminal record certificate

Submit a valid certificate issued by the appropriate public security or competent authority in the applicant's location. The official guidance states that it should normally have been issued within the six months before the application is submitted.

Review the application before submission

Check that names, passport details, degree titles and university information match across every form and document. Confirm that scans are complete and readable, translations and notarizations meet the stated requirements, and the application has been submitted to every required system or authority.

Save the final application, submission confirmation, application number and official correspondence. If information changes after submission, ask the responsible authority how to correct it rather than opening a duplicate application without instructions.

Final authority for each application

The China Scholarship Council (www.csc.edu.cn or campuschina.org) defines the national scholarship framework. The current scholarship notice, responsible application authority and receiving university determine the operative deadline, available programs, nomination rules and final admission requirements for a specific application cycle.