Every major funding route for international students in China, what it covers, who qualifies and when it opens. Deadlines vary by embassy and university — always confirm on the official link before you apply.
The flagship scholarship, funded by China’s Ministry of Education and administered by the China Scholarship Council. It covers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar programs at around 280 designated Chinese universities.
| Type | Applied through | Who it suits | Typical deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type A — Bilateral | The Chinese embassy or your national ministry / scholarship agency | Students whose country has an education agreement with China | January – early March |
| Type B — University | Directly to the university, which nominates you to CSC | Strong academic profiles applying to a specific professor or faculty | December – March (earlier than Type A) |
| Type C — Provincial / programme | Provincial education departments and special programmes | Applicants routed through a province, institute or special project | Varies, often March – April |
Run by the Chinese International Education Foundation (formerly the Confucius Institute Scholarship). It funds Chinese language study and degrees in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages, Chinese language and literature, Chinese history and Chinese philosophy.
| Classes begin | Apply before |
|---|---|
| July | 15 April |
| September | 15 May |
| December | 15 September |
| March | Mid-November |
Each province and big city funds its own international students. Competition is far lower than CSC, and the money often stacks with a university tuition waiver.
| Scholarship | Where | Usually covers | Typical application window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiangsu Jasmine Scholarship | Jiangsu (Nanjing, Suzhou, Zhenjiang, Wuxi) | Full or partial tuition, some with stipend | January – April |
| Shanghai Government Scholarship | Shanghai | Type A: tuition, accommodation, insurance, stipend. Type B: tuition | December – March |
| Beijing Government Scholarship | Beijing | Partial to full tuition | January – April |
| Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship | Zhejiang (Hangzhou, Ningbo) | Tuition, sometimes accommodation | January – April |
| Guangdong Provincial Scholarship | Guangdong (Guangzhou, Shenzhen) | Partial to full tuition | February – May |
| Shandong Government Scholarship | Shandong (Jinan, Qingdao) | Tuition and partial living costs | January – April |
| Tianjin Government Scholarship | Tianjin | Tuition, some with accommodation | February – May |
| Chongqing Mayor Scholarship | Chongqing | Tuition and monthly allowance | February – May |
| Hubei Provincial Scholarship | Hubei (Wuhan) | Partial to full tuition | January – April |
| Fujian / Xiamen municipal awards | Fujian (Xiamen, Fuzhou) | Tuition, occasionally accommodation | February – May |
Almost every partner university funds its own students on top of the national schemes. These have the shortest processing time and the fewest applicants.
Full or partial tuition waiver awarded on academic merit, sometimes including free on-campus accommodation.
Research-based master’s and PhD places funded from a professor’s project budget. Email the supervisor early.
Partial tuition reduction for the first year, usually renewable if your grades stay above the threshold.
Annual award for continuing students with strong grades, attendance and conduct.
Reductions for language students who progress to a degree at the same university.
Targeted places for students from Belt and Road partner countries, run through selected universities and provinces.
The official CSC application system and university directory.
The Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship portal and rules.
Policy on international students and recognised institutions.
Fill the application form and a counsellor reviews your documents within 24 hours. Prefer to talk first? Message us on WhatsApp or join the student group where we post new scholarships, deadlines and admission results.