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

What the Chinese Government Scholarship for senior scholars gives you

You will be awarded a research placement of up to 1 years at a Chinese university. You may extend this to a total of 2 years if you complete a preparatory course in Chinese. You will receive:

• A monthly living allowance of approximately 430 EUR (CNY 3,500).
• Full exemption from tuition fees, meaning you do not have to pay any course fees.
• A free place in a hall of residence or a housing allowance of 1,000 CNY per month if you live off-campus.
• Health insurance worth 800 CNY for a whole year.

This is a research placement without a degree; it is not a degree programme. Your travel expenses will only be covered if you apply through the official channels in your home country. The funding comes from the Chinese Ministry of Education and is administered by the China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Who can apply

• Your qualification: You hold a Master’s degree or are an associate professor or hold a higher academic rank.
• Age: You are under 50 when you apply.
• Invitation first: Before you apply, you will receive a letter of preliminary acceptance or an invitation from the Chinese university of your choice. A supervisor there must agree to accept you.
• Language: To study on a programme where the language of instruction is Chinese, you will need to have reached HSK level 3 (the standard Chinese language test for non-native speakers). For programmes taught in another language, the relevant requirements set by the respective higher education institution apply, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Nationality: Any nationality other than Chinese. You must be in good physical and mental health.
• Field of study: Any subject taught at the chosen universities, from sciences and technical subjects to the humanities and the arts.
• Current status: You are not yet enrolled on a degree programme in China.

How to apply

First, use the campuschina.org portal to find a host university and a supervisor, and ask them to extend an invitation to you. You should then apply via the sending organisation responsible for your country, such as the Chinese Embassy or the relevant authority in your home country. The CSC does not accept applications directly from individuals. If you are an EU citizen, please apply via the Chinese Mission to the European Union (the ‘EU Window’). The application deadline is 8 February for the academic year 2026/2027.