Ministry of Education of P. R. China - Chinese Government Scholarship Program: Senior scholar

What you get

The Chinese government pays EUR 430 per month (CNY 3,500) for a research stay of one to two academic years at a designated university in China. The scholarship is administered by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and covers tuition in full, free on-campus accommodation (or a housing allowance instead), and health insurance of roughly CNY 800 per year. If you apply through a bilateral channel - a cooperation agreement between China and your home government - international travel costs are also covered. If you apply through the unilateral route, they are not.

This is a research stay, not a degree programme. You carry out a specific project under a Chinese academic supervisor. A preparatory Chinese language course is possible, but it counts against your total funded period, not in addition to it.

Who can apply

• Nationality: Any nationality except Chinese citizenship.
• Qualification: You hold a master's degree or higher, or you hold the rank of associate professor or above.
• Age: You are under 50 at the time of application.
• Field: All fields offered at designated Chinese universities are eligible, including sciences, engineering, medicine, law, economics, arts and humanities.
• Language: For courses taught in Chinese, you need at least HSK Level 3 (a standardised Chinese proficiency test). For courses in another language, you need the certificate required by the host university, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Pre-admission: Before submitting your online application, you must have a pre-admission notice or invitation letter from your intended supervisor at a designated Chinese university.
• Other funding: You must not hold another government-funded scholarship at the same time.

How to apply

Apply online at campuschina.org. You can apply through your home country's relevant ministry (bilateral route), directly through a designated Chinese university, or through a designated international organisation such as UNESCO. The general deadline is 30 April, but your specific channel may set an earlier cutoff, so confirm with the body handling your application. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview before the CSC makes its final decision.