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

What the Chinese Government Scholarship (General Scholar) gives you

You will receive a monthly scholarship (living expenses allowance) of approximately 390 EUR (CNY 3,000) for a research or study placement lasting one to two academic years at a Chinese university. This is a non-degree programme: you will study or conduct research without obtaining a Chinese degree. The scholarship also exempts you from tuition fees and standard laboratory fees. You will be provided with free accommodation in a student hall of residence or a housing allowance of approximately 90 EUR (CNY 700) per month, as well as health insurance (CNY 800 per year). You will also receive a one-off settlement allowance and have your travel costs to your place of study within China covered. The programme is funded by the Chinese Ministry of Education and administered by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). International flight costs are not covered.

Who can apply

• Nationality: Any country except China. You must be in good physical and mental health.
• Age: You are now at 45 in the application process.
• Education: You must have at least a secondary school leaving certificate.
• Field of study: All academic disciplines, including natural sciences, engineering, medicine, law, economics, history, literature, philosophy and the visual arts.
• Chinese level: For degree programmes taught in Chinese, you will need to have achieved HSK level 3 (the standard Chinese language test). If Chinese is your main subject, you are exempt from this requirement. For degree programmes taught in English, you must provide evidence of your language proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL, upon request by the university.
• University place: You will have a better chance if you already have provisional admission or an invitation from a Chinese university, although this is not a requirement.
• No double funding: You may not receive another scholarship from the Chinese Government at the same time.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the CSC system at campuschina.org. You can apply either through the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country, or directly through a partner university. The application deadline is 30 April. You will be notified of the result in around July or August.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a comprehensive, state-funded programme that is open to almost all nationalities and all fields of study, and therefore attracts many applicants. Your strongest point is a letter of preliminary acceptance from a Chinese university, as applicants who already have one are given priority. If you secure a host university early on and meet the language requirements, your chances will improve significantly compared to applying at the last minute.