Chinese Government Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Study in China

Key facts:

• Organisation: China Scholarship Council (CSC), under the Ministry of Education of China
• Category: Scholarship
• Country / region: China
• Deadline: Not specified – varies by application receiving agency and university
• Open to nationalities (optional): International applicants from countries outside China.

• Funding: Tuition fees, university accommodation or accommodation subsidy, monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance.
• Study level: Undergraduate, Master's, PhD, general scholar and senior scholar programmes.
• Field of study: Various academic disciplines, depending on the participating university and available programmes.
• Duration: Depends on the programme and host university; not specified in the announcement.
• Host institution: Designated Chinese universities.
• Language requirement: Chinese or English proficiency, depending on the language of instruction and programme level.

About the programme

The Chinese Government Scholarship was established to strengthen understanding and friendship between China and people around the world. It also supports international cooperation and exchange in education, research and other fields.

The scholarship allows talented international students and scholars to pursue higher education or conduct research at designated Chinese universities.

The China Scholarship Council (CSC), acting on behalf of China's Ministry of Education, is responsible for managing the admission, enrolment and administration of scholarship recipients.

Who can apply

Applicants must:

• Be citizens of countries other than the People's Republic of China.
• Be in good physical and mental health.
• Meet the academic qualifications and age requirements for their intended programme.
• Meet the language requirements of their chosen programme.
• Satisfy the admission requirements of their preferred university.

Academic and age requirements

Undergraduate applicants

• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent qualification.
• Be academically excellent.
• Be under 25 years old when applying.
• Take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and submit a valid score report.

Master's applicants

• Hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification.
• Be academically excellent.
• Be under 35 years old when applying.

PhD applicants

• Hold a Master's degree or equivalent qualification.
• Be academically excellent.
• Be under 40 years old when applying.

General scholar applicants

• Hold a high school diploma or higher qualification.
• Be under 45 years old when applying.

Senior scholar applicants

• Hold a Master's degree or be an associate professor or above.
• Be under 50 years old when applying.

Language requirements

Requirements depend on the language of instruction.

For Chinese-taught programmes:

• General scholar programmes: HSK Level 3 or above, excluding Chinese language majors.
• Senior scholar programmes: HSK Level 3 or above.
• Master's and doctoral programmes: HSK Level 4 or above.

For programmes taught in other languages:

Applicants must provide recognised language proficiency evidence that meets the requirements of their chosen university. This may include IELTS or TOEFL results for English-taught programmes.

What you get

The scholarship provides the following benefits:

• Tuition fees: Covered by the scholarship.
• Accommodation: Free university dormitory accommodation or an accommodation subsidy.

• Monthly living allowance:

  • Undergraduate students: CNY 2,500 per month.
  • Master's students and general scholars: CNY 3,000 per month.
  • Doctoral students and senior scholars: CNY 3,500 per month.

• Medical insurance:

  • CNY 800 per person per year.
  • CNY 400 per person for programmes lasting less than six months.

The scholarship therefore provides major financial support for eligible students and scholars during their studies or research in China.

How to apply

Applications involve a designated Chinese university and an application receiving agency.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Campus China website to identify designated universities and available programmes.
2. Choose your preferred university, academic programme and scholarship category.
3. Contact the university to obtain the required admission or pre-admission documents.
4. Contact the relevant application receiving agency in your country to understand its recommendation process.
5. Complete the online Chinese Government Scholarship application form.
6. Submit the application and required supporting documents before the applicable deadline.
7. The application receiving agency reviews and recommends candidates to the China Scholarship Council.
8. The CSC organises further eligibility and academic assessments before finalising the shortlisted candidates.
9. The CSC communicates the admission results to the application receiving agency, which then informs applicants.

Documents required

Applicants should prepare the following documents:

1. Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form: Complete and submit the form online.
2. Passport: A clear scanned copy of the information page of an ordinary passport. The passport should remain valid for at least 12 months from the expected start of study. If it does not, renew it before applying.
3. Academic certificates: Notarised copies of the highest educational qualification. Current students should provide an expected graduation certificate or proof of student status.
4. Academic transcripts: Submit academic records. Documents not written in Chinese or English must include notarised translations into either language.
5. Language certificates: Provide the required HSK, IELTS, TOEFL or other accepted language proficiency evidence, depending on the programme.
6. CSCA score report: Required for undergraduate applicants. Applicants should confirm the required test subjects with their intended university.
7. Pre-admission documents: Obtain a pre-admission notice or invitation letter from the university, school or professor.

8. Study or research plan: The required length depends on the programme:

   • Undergraduate applicants: At least 200 words or Chinese characters.
   • General and senior scholars: At least 500 words or Chinese characters.
   • Postgraduate applicants: At least 1,000 words or Chinese characters.
9. Recommendation letters: Master's, doctoral and senior scholar applicants must provide two recommendation letters in Chinese or English from professors or associate professors.
10. Portfolio: Applicants for arts or design programmes must provide samples of their work, such as videos or paintings.
11. Guardian documents: Applicants under 18 must submit legal documents for their guardian or guardians in China.
12. Foreigner Physical Examination Form: Required for applicants planning to study in China for more than six months. The medical examination must be complete, signed and stamped by the hospital. Results are valid for six months.
13. Police clearance: Submit a valid non-criminal record certificate or police clearance issued by the relevant local authority, usually within six months before application submission.

Important dates

• 2027 intake: Scholarship applications are for the 2027 academic cycle.
• Application deadline: Not specified in the announcement.
• Closing date: Depends on the application receiving agency and the university.

Applicants should contact their chosen university and relevant application receiving agency to confirm the exact deadline. Some agencies may have earlier closing dates than the university or central scholarship process.