Chinese Government Scholarship scheme was established by the Ministry of Education of China in accordance with educational exchange agreements or arrangements reached between the Chinese government and governments of other countries and relevant international organizations to provide both full scholarship and partial scholarship to international students and scholars. The Ministry of Education of China has entrusted China Scholarship Council (hereinafter referred to as CSC) to administer the recruitment of international students and the daily management of the Chinese Government Scholarship programme.

1. Categories of Applicants and Duration of Scholarship

Remedial Chinese language studies are arranged before major studies. If the major courses could be conducted in English, remedial Chinese study will not be arranged. The duration of scholarship corresponds with the duration of studies determined for the scholarship student at the time of admission.

2. Application

The applicants may apply to Chinese diplomatic missions or the competent authority of their home country. The time for application is normally from the beginning of January to the middle of April.

3. Eligibility

1). Applicants must be non-Chinese national and in good health.
2). The educational background and age limit:
      a. Applicants for undergraduate studies must have completed senior high school with good grade and be under the age of 25.
     b. Applicants for master degree studies must have bachelor's degree and be under the age of 35.
     c. Applicants for doctoral degree studies must have master's degree and be under the age of 40.
     d. Chinese language students must have finished senior high school and be under the age of 35.
     e. General scholars must have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies and be under the age of 45.
     f. Senior scholars must have master or higher degree or hold academic titles of associate  professor or higher and be under the age of 50.

4. Details of the Scholarship

1). Full scholarship:
     a. ----exemption of registration and tuition fees, free basic learning materials, and free  accommodation.
     b. ----provided with the same free medical care as the Chinese students
     c. ----monthly living allowance is paid to the students by the institution at the following rates  (CNY yuan per month):
     * undergraduates: CNY 800 yuan
     * Chinese language students: CNY 800 yuan (Thosew who have completed two years of  undergraduate studies or have qualifications equivalent to completion of undergraduate      studies are entitled to CNY 1,100 yuan)
     * master degree students, general scholars: CNY 1,100 yuanw
     * doctoral degree students, senior scholars: CNY 1,400 yuan
     d. ----- settlement subsidy (once only)
CNY 300 yuan for those whose period of studies in Chinaw lasts up to six months
CNY 600 yuan for those whose period of studies inw China lasts at least one academic year

2). Partial scholarship: one or some of the above items of the full scholarship.

5. Application Materials

The applicants must fill in and provide the following materials truly and correctly.

1). Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship (printed by CSC), one original and one photocopy, in Chinese or in English

2). Highest diploma (notarized photocopy). If applicants are university students or already employed, they should also provide documents of being university students or on-post employees. Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with translations in Chinese or English.

3). Applicants for undergraduate studies will need to provide notarized copy of senior high school transcripts. Applicants for other categories of studies also need to provide relevant notarized transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with translations in Chinese or English.

4). A study or research plan written in Chinese or in English (no less than 200 words for undergraduates, no less than 400 words for scholars, no less than 500 words for postgraduates).

5). Applicants for master or doctoral degree studies and senior scholars must submit two letters of recommendation in Chinese or English by professors or associate professors. Applicants who apply in China for master or doctoral degree studies must submit the Admission Notice of the university.

6). Applicants for music are requested to submit one cassette recording of the applicants' own work. Applicants for fine arts must submit six color photographs of personal works (two sketches, two color paintings and two other works).

7). Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form (printed by Chinese quarantine authority) filled in English. The medical examinations must cover all the items listed in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Incomplete records or those without a sealed photograph of the applicants are invalid. The medical examination results will be valid for 6 months. All applicants are kindly requested to take this factor into consideration while determining the time to take the medical examination.

The above materials should be submitted to CSC via the Chinese Embassy in the applicant's home country. CSC does not accept individual applications.

6. Selection of Institutions and Specialty

Applicants may choose 3 institutions and 1 specialty as personal preference from the 88 institutions designated by the Ministry of Education of China. Please check the Directory of the Chinese Institutions Admitting International Students under Chinese Government Scholarship Programme or the website of CSC (http://www.csc.edu.cn) for details. Applicants are required to fill in their preferences of institutions and specialty strictly within the institutions and specialties listed in the Directory.

7. Admission and Notification

CSC will review all the application materials it receives from the applicants and forward the application materials to relevant institutions on the basis of the qualification of the applicants and also taking into consideration the preferences of the applicants. The institutions shall decide whether or not to admit the applicants. If the applicant has been in touch with or been accepted by an institution (listed in the Directory) prior to application, the applicant is requested to enclose the relevant admission letter so as for CSC to finalize the placement with the institution.

The application will not be processed if the applicant's conditions are inconsistent with the recruitment regulations or the application materials are incomplete.

Scholarship applicants accepted by Chinese institutions will be officially confirmed as Chinese Government Scholarship students with endorsement from the Ministry of Education of China.

CSC will send the List of Accepted Students, Admission Notice and Visa Application for Study In China (JW201) by July 31 to the Chinese diplomatic missions in the home countries of the scholarship students so as for them to forward these documents to the students via the authorities in charge in the scholarship student's home country.