MOFCOM Scholarship-CSC Program

Program Overview

The degree education programs sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China are designed to develop senior government officials and managerial professionals from recipient countries. Through master's and doctoral degree programs, they aim to cultivate senior, interdisciplinary professionals working in applied fields such as government, trade, foreign affairs, agriculture, technology, education, culture and health. The programs support institutional capacity-building and the economic and social development of recipient countries.

The programs are intended for government officials, research professionals and senior managers pursuing master's or doctoral education in China. Instruction is delivered entirely in English. Applicants are expected to hold the required prior degree, have relevant professional experience and be physically able to undertake an intensive academic program.

The MOFCOM Scholarship-CSC Program was established by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China to strengthen exchange and cooperation between China and other countries and to develop professionals for developing countries. Since 2015, it has primarily supported young and mid-career professionals from recipient countries in pursuing postgraduate degrees in China. The China Scholarship Council (CSC) is entrusted with administering the Scholarship.

I. Degree Categories, Scholarship Duration and Language of Instruction

Scholarship recipients must register for an English-taught program.

II. Where and When to Apply

Applications are accepted by the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office (ECCO) of the Chinese embassy in the applicant's country. Applicants must consult the responsible receiving authority for the applicable annual deadline.

III. Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

1. Be citizens of a developing country other than the People's Republic of China and be under 45 years of age.
2. Be in good physical and mental health and provide a physical examination report issued by a local public hospital. Applicants must not have any of the following conditions:
   • A disease prohibited under China's entry-exit inspection and quarantine laws and regulations.
   • A serious chronic condition, including hypertension, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, or diabetes; a psychological disorder; or another infectious disease that may endanger public health.
   • A recovery period following major surgery or an acute episode of illness.
   • A severe physical disability.
   • Pregnancy.
3. Have at least three years of professional experience. Applicants to a master's program must hold a bachelor's degree; applicants to a doctoral program must hold a master's degree.
4. Preferably be currently employed in a position relevant to the proposed program and have a relevant educational or professional background.
5. Be a government official at division level or above, or at an equivalent level; a senior manager of an organization or enterprise; or a key academic member of a university or research institution.
6. Have English proficiency sufficient to meet the program's academic requirements, equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 or above.
7. Demonstrate potential for professional development and a commitment to promoting friendly exchange and cooperation between the applicant's country and China.
8. Not be studying in China or have been admitted to another scholarship program provided by the Chinese government.

IV. Scholarship Coverage

1. Exemption from tuition, teaching material fees, research and fieldwork fees, the English-taught program supplement, and dissertation supervision fees.
2. Free on-campus accommodation.
3. Annual living allowance:

   Recipient category	Annual allowance
   Master's student	RMB 36,000
   Doctoral student	RMB 42,000

4. A one-time settlement allowance of RMB 3,000 per recipient.
5. Medical insurance for international students in China.
6. One round-trip international airfare covering the initial journey to China after enrolment and the return journey after graduation. The Scholarship also covers up to n−1 additional round-trip international airfares for home visits, normally one at the end of each academic year. Here, n is the program duration established at enrolment and is capped at three years.
7. All recipients must pass an annual review to continue receiving the full scholarship in the following academic year.
8. Other scholarship funds are centrally administered and used by the Ministry of Commerce or the host universities and are not paid directly to recipients. Funding is limited to the approved study period. Students whose graduation is postponed do not receive continued sponsorship.

V. Application Documents and Submission

All application documents must be prepared in Chinese or English.

Online Application and Document Checklist

1. Application Form for the MOFCOM Scholarship-CSC Program. Complete and submit the form online through Campus China by selecting Scholarship Application for Students, and print a hard copy.
2. A photocopy of the applicant's highest diploma or degree certificate.
3. Photocopies of academic transcripts.
4. A study plan or research proposal, together with a curriculum vitae covering education and professional experience since completion of secondary school.
5. Two recommendation letters: one from the applicant's current employer and one academic recommendation.
6. A photocopy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.
7. A photocopy of the applicant's English-language proficiency certificate.
8. A photocopy of a valid passport.
9. A valid certificate of no criminal record issued by the local public security authority, normally within six months before the application submission date.

Offline Submission

1. Before applying, applicants must obtain the approval and recommendation of the relevant authority in their home country. They must then submit the application in accordance with that authority's requirements.
2. Where the applicant's government permits direct submission to the Chinese embassy, the applicant must obtain a permission or recommendation letter from the home-country government confirming approval to study in China. The original letter and the other required application documents must be submitted to the ECCO of the Chinese embassy in the applicant's country. Scanned electronic copies are also required. Contact details for Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Offices are available from the Academy for International Business Officials.
3. The responsible home-country authority must send the ECCO a written request for an official recommendation letter and clearly state:
   • Whether the applicant is willing to be considered for a comparable program at another university if the preferred programs cannot offer admission.
   • Any other special request.

Important Notes

• Every submitted document must be in Chinese or English. A document in another language must be accompanied by a notarized Chinese or English translation.
• Original degree certificates, transcripts, the Foreigner Physical Examination Form and language certificates must be presented for on-site verification.
• The ECCO will return the submitted hard-copy originals and photocopies. If admitted, the student must take these documents to China and submit them to the host university for verification and filing.
• A spouse or another dependant may not accompany a recipient during the period of study in China under this program, and the Scholarship does not cover any related expenses.
• No explanation of an admission decision will be provided.
• An application without the recommendation of the ECCO of the Chinese embassy will not be considered.

VI. University Placement

Each applicant may select one major and list three preferred universities from the 26 designated institutions. CSC will place an applicant at one university only, taking into account the applicant's preferences and the universities' admission requirements.

VII. Admission and Registration

According to the program information provided, scholarship recipients receive their admission package through the ECCO of the Chinese embassy by the end of August and must register at the host university by the stated deadline, which is normally in September. Applicants must confirm the current schedule with the responsible authority for their application year.

VIII. CSC Online Application Instructions

Read the system instructions carefully before applying.

1. Visit Campus China, select Scholarship Application for Students, create an account and sign in.
2. Select Edit Personal Details, enter all required personal information, verify and save it, and then select Finish to return and begin the scholarship application.
3. Select Type A as the Program Category. This category applies to applicants for the MOFCOM Scholarship-CSC Program.
4. Enter 00010 as the Agency Number. The system will display the corresponding agency name automatically. Program Category and Agency Number are matched and both are mandatory. If either is incorrect, the responsible application processing authority will not receive the online application.
5. Complete the application information. Fill in Language Proficiency and Study Plan, upload the required supporting documents, review every section for validity and accuracy, and select Submit.
   For a Type A application, the system matches available institutions based on the selected student category, preferred language of instruction and proposed major. Information about available majors is provided in the university directory on Campus China. The system's Help section provides the Catalogue of Fields of Study, First-Level Disciplines and Specialties for identifying the relationship between a discipline and a major.
6. After submission, Personal Details and Application Information cannot be edited directly. Before the processing authority begins reviewing the application, an applicant may select Withdraw and edit it. The application must then be resubmitted; otherwise, it will not be processed. Once processing has begun, the application cannot be withdrawn.
7. Select Print the Application Form to download the completed form.
8. Submit the scholarship application in accordance with the requirements of the dispatching authority or application processing agency.

CSC does not authorize individuals or intermediary agencies to process Chinese Government Scholarship applications. Applicants should submit their applications directly through the official dispatching or application processing authorities and should use Campus China as the official source of Study in China information.

An application containing an incorrect Agency Number will not be processed. The source instructions recommend Firefox or Internet Explorer 11; when using Internet Explorer, Compatibility View must be disabled. All application information must be completed in Chinese or English.

IX. The 26 Designated Universities