Scholarship Guide for International Students in China

Four-Tier Funding System: National | Provincial | Municipal | University

China offers one of the most comprehensive scholarship ecosystems in global education. Whether you are pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, or language program, there is a funding pathway tailored for you. Below, we break down the four tiers of available scholarships — from national government programs to individual university awards — so you can strategically combine multiple sources and maximize your financial support.

National Level

Funded by the Chinese Central Government

The most prestigious and comprehensive funding tier. Administered by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), these scholarships cover the full spectrum of study programs with generous financial packages.

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

The Gold Standard of Fully Funded Study in China

Types Available

Bachelor’s Degree Students
Master’s Degree Students
Doctoral Degree Students
General Visiting Scholars
Senior Visiting Scholars

Funding Coverage

Tuition: Fully waived
Accommodation: Free campus housing or monthly allowance
Living Stipend:
- Bachelor’s: 2,500 RMB/month
- Master’s & General Scholars: 3,000 RMB/month
- Doctoral & Senior Scholars: 3,500 RMB/month
Medical Insurance: 800 RMB/year (400 RMB for programs under 6 months)

Key Requirements

Non-Chinese citizen, good health
Bachelor’s: High school diploma, ≤25 years old
Master’s: Bachelor’s degree, ≤35 years old
Doctoral: Master’s degree, ≤40 years old
Chinese-taught programs: HSK Level 4 (Master’s/Doctoral)
English-taught: Meet university language requirements

Application Portal

Apply via Campus China

Deadlines vary by university — typically December to March.

International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship

For Aspiring Chinese Language Educators Worldwide

Program Types

One-Academic-Year Scholar: 11 months (Sept entry)
One-Semester Scholar: 5 months (Sept or March entry)

Funding Coverage

Tuition: Fully covered
Accommodation: On-campus double room provided
Living Stipend: 2,500 RMB/month
Medical Insurance: 800 RMB/year (1-year) / 400 RMB (semester)

Key Requirements

Non-Chinese citizen, aged 16-35 (working teachers ≤45)
One-year: HSK Level 3 (210+), HSKK preferred
Semester: HSK Level 3 (180+), HSKK required
Committed to Chinese language education
Cannot have received this scholarship within past 3 years

Notes

Apply through individual universities’ International Student Offices. Check specific host university requirements.

Provincial Level

Funded by Provincial & Municipal Governments

Each province and municipality in China independently funds scholarships to attract international talent. These can often be combined with CSC or university awards for maximum benefit.

Province / Region	Scholarship Name	Funding Standard (RMB/Year)	Key Highlights
Beijing	Beijing Wallace Government Scholarship	Category A (Full): Covers tuition, accommodation, living, insurance Category B (Partial): Partial tuition waiver	Bachelor’s ≤25, Master’s ≤35, Doctorate ≤40; Chinese: HSK 4; English: IELTS 6.5/TOEFL 85+
Shanghai	Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship	Category A (Full): Bachelor’s 59,200 / Master’s 70,000 / Doctorate 87,800 Category B (Partial): Tuition + insurance	Category A is fully funded; amounts vary by discipline (higher for medicine/art)
Jiangsu	Li Yinghua Scholarship	Full: Tuition + accommodation + 1,500 RMB/month + insurance Partial: 30,000 RMB/year	Bachelor’s ≤30, Master’s ≤35, Doctorate ≤40; Full scholarship is highly competitive
Guangdong	Guangdong Provincial Scholarship	Bachelor’s: 10,000 Master’s: 20,000 Doctorate: 30,000	Open to both new and current students; grades 70%+ required
Zhejiang	Zhejiang Provincial Scholarship	Category A (Graduate): 30,000 Category B (Undergraduate): 20,000	Can be combined with national/provincial/university awards for “quadruple stacking”
Anhui	Study in Anhui Scholarship	Bachelor’s: 20,000 Graduate: 30,000	Application in June each year
Jilin	Jilin Provincial Scholarship	Master’s: Tuition-free + accommodation-free + 1,700 RMB/month	Full funding for Master’s students; April-May application
Sichuan	Sichuan Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Chengdu offers rich cultural experience; top host universities include Sichuan University
Shaanxi	Sanqin Scholarship	Category A (Doctorate): 25,000 Category B (Master’s): 20,000 Category C (Bachelor’s): 13,000	For self-funded students in Shaanxi universities for 2+ years; CSC recipients ineligible
Shandong	Shandong Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (annual budget ~20M RMB)	30+ undergraduate universities participate; Chinese programs require HSK 5 (180+)
Hubei	Hubei Provincial Scholarship	Bachelor’s: 10,000 Master’s: 15,000	Deadline: May 31 each year; Hubei Normal University is a host institution
Hunan	Hunan Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Host universities include Hunan University, Central South University
Fujian	Fujian Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Host universities include Xiamen University, Huaqiao University
Chongqing	Chongqing Municipal Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Chongqing University and others participate
Tianjin	Tianjin Municipal Scholarship	Bachelor’s: Full 34,800 / Partial 20,000 Graduate: Full 47,800 / Partial 30,000	Divided into full and partial categories; January-June application window
Jiangxi	Jiangxi Provincial Scholarship	Category A (Graduate): 25,000 Category B (Undergraduate): 20,000 Category C (Visiting): 6,000	Requires 2 professor recommendations; Doctorate ≤40, Master’s ≤35
Yunnan	Yunnan Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Host university: Yunnan University
Guizhou	Guizhou Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Application: April-June each year
Gansu	Gansu Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Application: April-June each year
Guangxi	Guangxi ASEAN Scholarship	Bachelor’s: 12,000 Master’s: 18,000 + Tuition + accommodation + insurance	Exclusively for ASEAN 10 countries; Bachelor’s ≤25, Master’s ≤35, Doctorate ≤40
Ningxia	Ningxia Regional Scholarship	As published annually	Ningxia Normal University is a host institution
Xinjiang	Xinjiang Regional Scholarship (Neighboring Countries)	Master’s: 12,200 Doctorate: 15,000 + Tuition + accommodation + insurance	For students from neighboring countries; three application batches per year
Heilongjiang	Heilongjiang Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Application: April-June each year
Liaoning	Liaoning Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Dalian University of Technology participates
Shanxi	Shanxi Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Application: April-June each year
Hainan	Hainan Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Application: April-June each year
Henan	Henan Provincial Scholarship	Varies by university (merit-based)	Application: April-June each year

Municipal Level

Funded by City Governments

Major Chinese cities independently fund scholarships to attract global talent to their universities. These are often highly competitive but offer generous packages and city-specific benefits.

Xi’an — Belt & Road + Central Asian Five Countries Scholarships

Strategic Funding for Key Regional Partners

Belt & Road Scholarship

Doctoral: 25,000 RMB/year
Master’s: 20,000 RMB/year
Bachelor’s: 15,000 RMB/year
Language Students: 1,000 RMB/month (up to 10 months)

Covers first-year living expenses only. Tuition must be paid upfront upon enrollment.

Central Asian Five Countries Scholarship

Full coverage of tuition, accommodation, living allowance, insurance, and international travel

Extremely generous — specifically for citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other Central Asian nations.

Shenzhen — Universiade Scholarship

Funding China’s Innovation Hub

Funding Details

Bachelor’s: 30,000 RMB/year
Language Students: 10,000 RMB/year

Key Advantages

Can be stacked with Guangdong Provincial and university scholarships
Free on-campus accommodation
Comprehensive medical insurance coverage
Visa assistance and full arrival support

Hangzhou — Municipal Government Scholarship

Funding Digital Talent in China’s Tech Capital

Funding Details

Covers tuition, accommodation, and living allowance
Specific amounts and categories (e.g., Category D) announced annually by Hangzhou Education Bureau

Key Advantages

Can be stacked with National, Provincial, and University scholarships (“Quadruple Stacking”)
Rich internship and employment opportunities in Hangzhou’s digital economy

Chongqing — Mayor Scholarship

The Municipality’s Premier Award

Funding Tiers

First Prize: 25,000 RMB/year
Second Prize: 10,000 RMB/year

Important Notes

Tuition must be paid upfront; scholarship disbursed after enrollment
Target programs: Chinese-taught (Sports Health, Chinese Language & Literature) and English-taught (Business English)

Jinan — “Jinan Scholarship”

Shandong’s Capital Investment in Global Talent

Funding Tiers

Regular Scholarship: 3,000 RMB/year
“Jinan Elite Scholarship”: 10,000 RMB/year

Special Provisions

Open to graduating-year students at universities in Jinan
Grade requirement can be relaxed for students with: SCI publications, National 3rd Prize (or Provincial 2nd+) in competitions, or provincial-level innovation awards

University Level

Funded by Top Chinese Universities

China’s elite institutions (C9 League, 985 Universities) independently fund scholarships to attract world-class talent. These awards are often fully funded and can serve as excellent alternatives or supplements to CSC.

Rank	University	Scholarship Name	Funding Coverage	Key Notes
1	Tsinghua University	Tsinghua International Student Scholarship	Full/partial tuition waiver + living expenses + accommodation	Extremely competitive; apply simultaneously with admission; values academic potential and leadership
2	Peking University	Peking University Freshman Scholarship	Full/partial tuition waiver + living allowance	Covers Bachelor’s to Doctoral; auto-considered at enrollment review; requires outstanding grades
3	Zhejiang University	ZJU President’s Scholarship	Full funding (tuition + accommodation + living + insurance)	Includes “Excellence Scholarship” for professionals/executives (1+1 model); regular freshman award requires separate application
4	Shanghai Jiao Tong University	SJTU President’s Scholarship	Full / 1st / 2nd / 3rd tier (tuition + living)	1st tier = full funding; interview required; values comprehensive qualities
5	Fudan University	Fudan International Student Scholarship	Full/partial tuition waiver + living allowance	Includes Belt & Road专项; strong in humanities/social sciences; early deadline (March-April)
6	Nanjing University	NJU Government / President’s Scholarship	Full funding or tuition waiver	Stackable with Jiangsu Provincial and Nanjing Municipal policies; high value for STEM doctoral applicants
7	USTC	USTC President’s Scholarship	Full funding (tuition + accommodation + living)	STEM-focused “hardcore” scholarship; extremely high GPA and research requirements; strong faculty recommendation needed
8	Harbin Institute of Technology	HIT International Student President’s Scholarship	Full / tuition waiver + living expenses	Aerospace/engineering powerhouse; wide coverage; some programs require HSK, but English-taught programs also available with awards
9	Xi’an Jiaotong University	XJTU International Student Scholarship	Full / 1st / 2nd / 3rd tier	Established 1999; first batch demonstration base (2013). Full award covers tuition + accommodation + living. Strong in engineering/medicine.
10	Renmin University	RUC President’s Scholarship	Full tuition + living allowance	Top in humanities/social sciences; limited quota; special allocation for Belt & Road countries

Pro Tips for University Scholarship Applications

“President’s Scholarship” is your best bet: These are university-funded (not CSC-funded), so they don’t compete for CSC slots. Even if you don’t get CSC, you can still win a full university award.
Apply early: Deadlines for Tsinghua/Peking/Fudan are typically December-February. SJTU/ZJU/NJU: March-April. Start preparing documents in November!
Recommendation letters matter: Top 10 universities strongly prefer 2 letters from associate professors or above, preferably one from a Chinese-connected or internationally experienced professor.
Study Plan is the tiebreaker: For graduate programs, a 1,000+ word research proposal is often the deciding factor for full funding.
Language advantage: Even for English-taught programs, having HSK 4/5 or IELTS 6.5+ significantly boosts your scholarship odds.