21 Scholarships for International Students in China
China funds more international students than almost anywhere outside the United States and the United Kingdom, and it does so through two systems that applicants routinely confuse. Understanding which one you are applying to determines where you send your documents and when.
The first is the Chinese Government Scholarship, usually called CGS or CSC after the China Scholarship Council that administers it. It is a national scheme, it covers tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend, and it is the largest single source of funding for international students in China.
The second is university level funding. Every scholarship in the tables below belongs to this second category. These are awards a university funds and decides itself, under names like President Scholarship, Chancellor Scholarship or Belt and Road Scholarship. They are smaller in number than CGS places but far less contested, and many students who miss CGS are admitted on one of these instead.
How the two systems fit together
The Chinese Government Scholarship runs on two tracks, and they have different deadlines.
Type A applications go through the Chinese embassy or the education ministry in your own country. Your embassy sets the deadline and nominates candidates.
Type B applications go directly to a Chinese university, which then nominates you to the China Scholarship Council. University deadlines are usually earlier than embassy deadlines.
For the 2026 intake the national online system at campuschina.org closed in early February for most applicants, with Type B applications generally closing in mid February, though individual universities and embassies close considerably earlier. If you are reading this outside that window, treat the dates in the tables below as your guide and confirm on the university's international student office page.
The practical consequence is that many applicants submit both. You apply to the university for its own scholarship and, in the same application, ask to be nominated for CGS Type B. Universities are used to this and most application forms have a box for it.
What the funding covers
Thirteen of the 21 awards below cover tuition, campus accommodation and a monthly stipend, which is a genuinely full package. Stipend levels are set nationally as a reference: roughly 2,500 renminbi a month for undergraduates, 3,000 for master's students and 3,500 for doctoral students. Some universities top this up.
Accommodation usually means a place in a university dormitory rather than a cash housing allowance. Where a university offers a cash alternative it is normally smaller than the cost of renting privately in the same city.
Comprehensive medical insurance is generally included or provided separately at low cost. It is compulsory for international students in China regardless of who pays.
Language requirements
This is the single biggest planning decision, and it splits by programme rather than by university.
Chinese taught programmes require the HSK, the standardised Chinese proficiency test. Undergraduate programmes typically ask for HSK level 4, and many postgraduate programmes ask for HSK 5. Reaching HSK 4 from no prior Chinese usually takes a year of serious study.
English taught programmes require IELTS around 6.0 to 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80 to 90. These are common at postgraduate level in science and engineering and much rarer at undergraduate level.
Several universities offer a preparatory year of Chinese language study before the degree begins, and some scholarships fund that year as part of the award. If your Chinese is not yet at HSK 4, ask specifically whether the scholarship covers the language year, because that turns a four year commitment into five.
The application process
- Choose your programme first and confirm whether it is taught in Chinese or English
- Check whether the university requires the HSK, and book the test early because sittings fill up
- Obtain the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, completed and stamped by a hospital. This expires after six months, so do not do it too early
- Apply through the university's own online system, and tick the box asking to be considered for the Chinese Government Scholarship if you want both
- Submit two academic references, a study plan, transcripts and a notarised copy of your highest qualification
- If nominated for CGS, complete the separate application at campuschina.org
Documents you will need
A notarised and translated copy of your highest degree certificate and full transcripts. Notarisation matters here in a way it does not for many countries: Chinese universities generally require a notarised copy rather than a certified photocopy.
A study plan or research proposal, usually 800 to 1,500 words depending on level. Doctoral applicants should expect this to be read by the department, so name the research group you want to join.
Two academic reference letters, signed and on letterhead, from associate professors or above where possible.
The Foreigner Physical Examination Form, which includes blood tests and a chest X ray.
A valid passport with at least twelve months remaining.
A police clearance certificate at some universities, though this is not universal.
For doctoral applicants, an acceptance letter from a supervisor is often the deciding document. Contacting potential supervisors before applying is worth more here than almost anywhere else, because Chinese universities frequently require the supervisor to confirm they will take you before the scholarship is awarded.
Open to undergraduate applicants
These 10 awards accept applications at bachelor's level, and most also cover master's and doctoral study.
| University | Scholarship | Coverage | Deadline | Fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Institute of Technology | BIT International Student Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 30 April | Science and engineering |
| Beijing Normal University | International Student Scholarship | Tuition, living allowance | Between February and March | All fields |
| Northwestern Polytechnical University | President Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 28 February | All fields |
| Southern University of Science and Technology | President Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 15 March | Science, engineering, and medicine |
| Southwestern University of Finance and Economics | University Belt and Road Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 30 April | Finance, economics, and management |
| Sun Yat Sen University | Belt and Road Scholarship Program | Tuition, housing, stipend | 31 March | All fields |
| University of Science and Technology Beijing | Chancellor Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 31 March | Science, engineering, and technology |
| Xi'an Jiaotong University | Siyuan International Student Scholarship | Tuition waiver, stipend | 28 February | All fields |
| Xiamen University | International Students Scholarships | Tuition, living allowance | 10 April (window opens 1 December) | All fields |
| Yanshan University | President Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 30 April | Engineering, science, and management |
Master's and doctoral only
These 11 are postgraduate awards. Note that the Chinese University of Hong Kong operates under a different system from mainland China: Hong Kong has its own visa arrangements, its own Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, and teaching is predominantly in English.
| University | Scholarship | Coverage | Deadline | Fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Forestry University | APFNet PhD Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | Varied, check with the university | Forest economics and management |
| Beijing University of Chemical Technology | Presidential Scholarship | Tuition, stipend, insurance | 30 April | All fields |
| Central South University | Scholarship for International Students | Tuition, housing, stipend | 31 March | All fields |
| Chinese University of Hong Kong | Postgraduate Studentships | Stipend, tuition support | The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship initial application closes on 1 December | All fields |
| Huazhong Agricultural University | Scholarship for International Students | Tuition, housing, stipend | 1 November to 27 February | Agriculture, life sciences, and related fields |
| Southwest Jiaotong University | Presidential Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 10 June | All fields |
| Tongji University | International Doctoral Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 31 March | All fields |
| University of Chinese Academy of Sciences | Scholarship for International Students | Tuition waiver, stipend | 31 January | Science and technology |
| University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | Belt and Road Initiative Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | 30 April | Electronic science and technology |
| University of Science and Technology of China | Fellowship for Doctoral Programs | Tuition waiver, stipend | 31 March for the fall intake | Science and technology |
| Zhengzhou University | President Scholarship | Tuition, housing, stipend | March intake 31 January; September intake 15 May | All fields |
Common reasons applications fail
Missing the university deadline while watching the national one. University deadlines for CGS Type B nomination close well before the campuschina.org deadline, and being on time for the second is useless if you missed the first.
Leaving the medical form too late or too early. It takes time to arrange and it expires after six months, so it needs to land inside a fairly narrow window.
Applying without contacting a supervisor for a doctoral place. At many of the universities in the second table, an award is only confirmed once a supervisor agrees to take the student.
Assuming a programme is taught in English. Fewer undergraduate programmes are English taught than applicants expect, and discovering this after admission is expensive.
Submitting uncertified translations. A translation that is not notarised is frequently rejected outright rather than queried.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for both a university scholarship and the Chinese Government Scholarship? Yes, and most applicants should. A single university application usually lets you request both, and being unsuccessful for CGS does not remove you from consideration for the university's own award.
Do I need to speak Chinese? For a Chinese taught programme, yes, normally HSK 4 or 5. For an English taught programme, no, though basic Chinese makes daily life considerably easier.
Is accommodation really free? Usually a dormitory place is provided rather than money. If you want to live off campus, expect to pay the difference yourself.
Can I work while studying? Part time work is permitted only with approval from both your university and the local entry and exit authority. It is more restricted than in the United States or Germany, and should not be counted on as income.
Are these scholarships renewable? Normally yes for the standard length of the programme, subject to an annual review of academic performance. Some universities reduce or withdraw funding after a weak year, so the renewal condition is worth asking about at offer stage.
What is the Belt and Road Scholarship? A group of awards aimed at students from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. Three of the awards below carry that name. Eligibility is broadly similar to other university scholarships, with preference given to applicants from partner countries.