Scholarships in China

International students in china are supported financially for their study expenses by way of various scholarships. Students of good character are rewarded, commended and granted scholarship by Chinese universities.

The Chinese government scholarships are divided into the undergraduate student scholarship, the postgraduate student scholarship, the doctoral student scholarship, the learners for the Chinese language scholarship, and the Visiting Students and Senior Visiting Students scholarship, according to the classifications of students.

The undergraduate student scholarship is granted to those who apply to study in Chinese universities for bachelor’s degree, usually with a term of four school years (five years for medical students). While the Master Degree student scholarship is granted to those who apply to study in Chinese universities for master’s degree, with a term of two to three school years, the PhD student scholarship is granted to those who apply to study in Chinese universities for doctor’s degree, with a term of three school years.  The learners for the Chinese language scholarship is granted to graduates of non-Chinese majors, those without basic Chinese knowledge, and applicants who want to study Chinese in China, with a term of one or two school years.  Visiting Students scholarship is granted to those who apply to study their former majors in China, with a term of one or two school years.  Senior Visiting Students scholarship is granted to those who apply to do further studies in China on a certain special subject under the guidance of Chinese tutors, with a term of one or two school years.

Scholarships can be of two types- Full scholarship and Partial scholarship. A full scholarship of Chinese government covers medical Insurance for International Students, tuition (or research) fees, basic learning materials costs, accommodation, living allowance, a one-time settlement subsidy, and one inter-city travel allowance. A partial scholarship includes one or some items of the full scholarship (one-off settlement subsidy and one-off inter-city travel allowance excluded).

Foreign student scholarship, The Great Wall Scholarship, Distinguished Foreign Students Scholarship, HSK Winner Scholarship Program, Chinese Culture Research Fellowship, and Short-term Studies Scholarship Program for Foreign Teachers Teaching Chinese, are to name a few of the Chinese government scholarship programs. The Hong Kong University Scholarships administers a number of scholarships which are awarded to postgraduate students for outstanding academic achievements

Some of the full scholarships that were available to international students in 2010, include CHINA/UNESCO – the Great Wall Fellowship Scheme, Study in Asia Scholarship Scheme, China/AUN Scholarship Scheme, China/Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Scholarship Scheme, China/Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Scholarship Scheme, Chinese Government Special Scholarship Scheme-University Postgraduate Program, Chinese Government Special Scholarship Scheme-Degree Oriented Program in Provinces and Autonomous Regions, and Distinguished International Students Scholarship Scheme.

Application Process

Students eligible for financial aid were to apply to the schools and the China Industrial and Commercial Bank for low-interest loans. Three categories of students eligible for aid were established: top students encouraged to attain all-around excellence; students specializing in education, agriculture, forestry, sports, and marine navigation; and students willing to work in poor, remote, and border regions or under harsh conditions, such as in mining and engineering. In addition, free tuition and board were to be offered at teachers’ colleges, and the graduates were required to teach at least five years in primary and middle schools. After graduation, a student’s loans were to be paid off by his or her employer in a lump sum, and the money was to be repaid to the employer by the student through five years of payroll deductions.

Applicants shall apply to Chinese diplomatic missions or dispatching authorities between January and April every year.

Applicants may contact the above authorities for deadlines for application.

Students should contact the China Scholarship Council (CSC), a non-profit institution with legal status affiliated with the Ministry of Education.

The objective of the CSC is to provide financial assistance to the Chinese citizens wishing to study abroad and to the foreign citizens wishing to study in China.

Selection Of Institutions And Specialties

Applicants can choose one academic program and three institutions as their preferences from the Chinese Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE). Students who wish to apply must check the Directory of Chinese Higher Institutions Admitting International Students under Chinese Government Scholarship Program. Only the listed Chinese HEIs in the Directory are available to the applicants for their study in China.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens and in good health.
   
   
2. Education background and age limit:
   
   
   • Applicants for undergraduate program must have senior high school diploma with good academic performance and be under the age of 25.
   • Applicants for master’s degree program must have bachelor’s degree and be under the age of 35.
   • Applicants for doctoral degree program must have master’s degree and be under the age of 40.
   • Applicants for Chinese training program must have senior high school diploma and be under the age of 35, Chinese language is the only subject available.
   • Applicants for general scholar program must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study and be under the age of 45, all subjects besides Chinese language are available.
   • Applicants for senior scholar program must have master’s degree or above, or hold academic titles of associate professor or above, and be under the age of 50.
     
     

Documents needed for application:

• Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship filled in Chinese or English
  
  
• Highest diploma held by the student (notarized photocopy)
  
  
• Academic transcripts (notarized photocopy)
  
  
• A study or research plan in Chinese or in English.
  
  
• Recommendation letters: Applicants for postgraduate studies, or study in China as senior scholars must submit two letters of recommendation in Chinese or English from professors or associate professors.
  
  
• Applicants for music studies are required to submit a CD of the applicants’ own works.
  
  
• Applicants under the age of 18 should submit the legal documents of their legal guardians in China.
  
  
• Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form (The original copy should be kept by the applicant. The medical examinations must cover all the items listed in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Please select the appropriate time to take medical examination as it is valid for only 6 months.