In order to subsidize students and scholars from foreign countries for studying and carrying out research in Chinese universities and colleges, enhance the understanding and friendship between people of China and foreign countries and develop the exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries in the spheres of education, science, technology, culture, economy and trade, Chinese government has set up Chinese Government Scholarships. The Ministry of Education is responsible for providing Chinese Government Scholarships in accordance with the agreement or plan concluded between Chinese Government and foreign governments or international organizations, and has entrusted the China Scholarship Council (hereinafter referred to as “CSC”) with the administration on enrollment and routine affairs of the foreign students which study in China with the subsidy from Chinese Government Scholarships (hereinafter referred to as “Scholarship Students”). With a view to strengthening the administration on Chinese Government Scholarships and Scholarship Students, these Provisions are hereby formulated.

1. Categories, Object, Term and Application Conditions of Chinese Government Scholarships

On the basis of the categories of students, Chinese Government Scholarships fall into undergraduate scholarship, master degree candidate scholarship, doctoral degree candidate scholarship, Chinese language training student scholarship, ordinary training student scholarship and advanced training student scholarship. On the basis of projects, Chinese Government Scholarships fall into Great Wall Scholarship, Excellent Student Scholarship, HSK Winner Scholarship, Short-term Training Project for Foreign Chinese-language Teacher and Chinese Cultural Research Project.

Undergraduate scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which apply for studying in Chinese universities and colleges for bachelor’s degree, and its term is 4 academic years (5 academic years for medical majors). The applicants shall have the educational qualifications equivalent to those of Chinese secondary school graduates, perform excellently in study and pass the Chinese university entrance examination or be admitted by Chinese universities or colleges free from examination on the basis of recommendation. The age of applicants shall be below 25 years.

Master degree candidate scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which apply for studying in Chinese universities and colleges for master’s degree, and its term is 2 to 3 academic years. The applicants shall have obtained the bachelor’s degree and perform excellently in study. If applying outside of China, each applicant shall be recommended by two professors or associate professors; if applying within China, each applicant shall have been admitted by a Chinese university or college. The age of applicants shall be below 35 years.

Doctoral degree candidate scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which apply for studying in Chinese universities and colleges for doctoral degree, and its term is 3 academic years. The applicants shall have obtained the master’s degree and perform excellently in study. If applying outside of China, each applicant shall be recommended by two professors or associate professors; if applying within China, each applicant shall have been admitted by a Chinese university or college. The age of applicants shall be below 40 years.

Chinese language training student scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which are not graduated from Chinese language major or have no foundation of Chinese language and apply for studying Chinese language in Chinese universities and colleges, and its term is 1 to 2 academic years. The applicants shall have the educational qualifications equivalent to those of Chinese secondary school graduates, and their age shall be below 35 years.

Ordinary training student scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which apply for studying their original majors in Chinese universities and colleges, and its term is 1 to 2 academic years. The applicants shall at least be sophomores in university or college, or shall have the study abilities equivalent to those of undergraduate. The age of applicants shall be below 45 years.

Advanced training student scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which apply for advanced training on certain theme under Chinese advisor in Chinese universities and colleges, and its term is 1 to 2 academic years. The applicants shall have the educational qualifications equivalent to those of Chinese master degree holder, and shall be recommended by two professors or associate professors. The age of applicants shall be below 50 years.

☆ In principle, the applicants of the above-mentioned Chinese Government Scholarships shall possess the corresponding skills of Chinese language (except for the Chinese language training students and the foreign students which apply for taking foreign languages as teaching language); the remediation in Chinese language for up to 2 academic years may be arranged for those whose Chinese language skills fail to meet the study needs. The term of scholarship granted to undergraduate, master’s degree candidates and doctoral degree candidates which need remediation in Chinese language shall be prolonged accordingly, and the Chinese language remediation period of training students shall be included in the specified term of scholarship.

Great Wall Scholarship: This scholarship is provided to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the students under this scholarship are classified as ordinary training students and advanced training students. The object, term and application conditions of this scholarship are the same as those of ordinary training student scholarship and advanced training student scholarship.

Excellent Student Scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which have finished the original plan for study in China, have been enrolled as master degree candidate or doctoral degree candidate in the same year, and perform excellently in study. The term and application conditions of this scholarship are the same as those of master degree candidate scholarship and doctoral degree candidate scholarship.

HSK Winner Scholarship: This scholarship is provided to the foreign students which have obtain high score in the Chinese language skill examination (“HSK”) outside of China and apply for majoring in Chinese language in Chinese universities and colleges, and its term is no more than one academic year. The age of applicants shall be below 40 years.

Short-term Training Project for Foreign Chinese-language Teacher: This project is to subsidize foreign full-time Chinese language teachers for obtaining short-term training in China. There are 4 weeks of classes and 2 weeks of charge-free teaching travel which may be participated in on voluntary basis; the applicants shall have the educational qualifications equivalent to graduation from undergraduate course and have been engaged in Chinese language teaching for at least three years, and their age shall be below 50 years.

Chinese Cultural Research Project: This project is to subsidize the foreign scholars which engage in research of Chinese culture for carrying out short-term research in China jointly with Chinese scholars under Chinese advisors. The term is no more than 5 months. The applicants shall have the doctoral degree or assume the post at least equivalent to associate professor, and have published paper or thesis relating to Chinese language, culture or history. The age of applicants shall be below 55 years.

2. Contents of Chinese Government Scholarships

(1) Chinese Government Scholarships fall into full-amount scholarship and partial scholarship.

(2) The contents of full-amount Chinese Government Scholarships are as follows:

Registration fee, tuition, experiment fee, internship fee, basic teaching material fee and accommodation fee are exempted;

Free medical services equivalent to those provided to Chinese students are provided;

Living allowance and lump-sum settling allowance under scholarship are provided;

One semi-cushioned seat train ticket (semi-cushioned berth ticket for overnight train) from the city where the port of entry is located to the city where the relevant university or college is located or from the city where the relevant university or college is located to the city where the port of exit is located will be provided respectively at the beginning of the study and upon graduation.

In principle, the international travel expenses of Scholarship Students shall be borne by the organizations which dispatch them, unless otherwise specified in the relevant agreement.

Some scholarships only give one or several benefits mentioned above.

Great Wall Scholarship: The benefits under this scholar are the same as those under full-amount ordinary training student scholarship and advanced training student scholarship.

Excellent Student Scholarship: The benefits under this scholar are the same as those under full-amount master degree candidate scholarship and doctoral degree candidate scholarship.

HSK Winner Scholarship: The benefits under this scholar are the same as those under full-amount Chinese language training student scholarship.

Chinese Cultural Research Project: Registration fee, research fee, accommodation fee and emergency medical fee are exempted, research allowance are given on a monthly basis, and a lump-sum material fee and academic travel allowance in certain amount are provided.

Foreign Chinese-language Teacher Short-term Training Project: Registration fee, tuition, accommodation fee and emergency medical fee are exempted, and a lump-sum living allowance is given; those who participate in collective teaching travel will be exempted from accommodation fee and traffic expenses, and be entitled to meal allowance in certain amount.

Chinese Government will, from time to time, adjust the standard of scholarships. For detailed information, please refer to the Guideline for Enrollment of Foreign Students under Chinese Government Scholarships printed by CSC.

(3) The scholarship-related living allowance will be given on a monthly basis from the date on which the Scholarship Students are enrolled in universities and colleges. In case a new student is registered no later than the 15th date of a month, the scholarship-related living allowance for such month shall be given in full amount; in case a new student is registered later than the 15th date of a month, the scholarship-related living allowance for such month shall be given in half amount. For graduates, the scholarship-related living allowance shall be given until the half month after the graduation date determined by universities and colleges. In case a Scholar Student suspends his/her study, drops out of study or ceases his/her study and return to his/her country, the provision of scholarship-related living allowance shall be ceased from the next month. During the holidays determined by universities and colleges, the scholarship-related living allowance shall be given as normal; in case any Scholarship Student fails to duly collect the scholarship-related living allowance within the holidays owing to leaving the university or college for spending holiday, such living allowance may be paid after he/she returns to the university or college. Should any Scholarship Student fail to get himself/herself registered with the university or college on time without application in advance, or leave the university or college or be absent from class for health-irrelative reasons, and the time of such delay, leave or absence exceeds one month, the scholarship-related living allowance for such months shall be cancelled.

In case any Scholarship Student requires to carry out any experiment or practice beyond the teaching plan, the expenses necessary shall be borne by such student.

In case any Scholarship Student, after coming to China, is found suffering from any disease with respect to which the entry is prohibited by the laws of China, such student shall immediately leave China, and the expenses arising therefrom shall be borne by such student.

(4) In case any Scholarship Student suffers from diseases during his/her study period, such student shall be treated at the hospital of his/her university or college. If necessary, such student may be transferred to a hospital designated on the basis of the introduction of the hospital of his/her university or college. The expenses arising from artificial tooth mounting, tooth repair, tooth extraction, glasses, childbirth, artificial abortion, correction of physiological defect and purchase of nutriments, other expenses which go beyond the scope and standard of free medical services, and the expenses arising from medical treatment for chronic diseases suffered from by Scholarship Students before they come to China shall be borne by Scholarship Students themselves.

In case an injury accident occurs owing to violation of law and university discipline by any Scholarship Student, the medical expenses and other relevant expenses arising therefrom shall be borne by such student.

(5) In case any Scholarship Student needs to suspend his/her study owing to any serious disease, such student shall return his/her country for rehabilitation, and all expenses arising therefrom shall be borne by such student; where the suspension of study is approved by the university or college, the term of his/her qualification to enjoy scholarship may be extended by up to one year, provided that no scholarship-related living allowance will be given during the study suspension period. In case any Scholarship Student suspends his/her study for any other reason, his/her qualification to enjoy scholarship will not be reserved.

3. Channel, Time and Method of Application

As for undergraduate scholarship, master degree candidate scholarship, doctoral degree candidate scholarship, Chinese language training student scholarship, ordinary training student scholarship and advanced training student scholarship, foreign students may apply with the government departments of their countries in charge of dispatching students abroad, or the relevant institutions or Chinese embassies in their countries. Generally, the time for application is from February to April of each year. As for other special scholarships, the channels and methods of application are detailed as follows:

Great Wall Scholarship: The application may be made through the branch of UNESCO in their countries to the headquarters of UNESCO, and the time for application is from February to April of each year;

Excellent Student Scholarship: The application may be made through their universities (colleges) to CSC, and the time for application is from April to June of each year;

HSK Winner Scholarship: The application may be made through the organizations which organize HSK or Chinese embassies/consulates to CSC, and the time for application is from February to April of each year;

Chinese Cultural Research Project: The application may be made at any time through Chinese embassies/consulates or any university or scholar which cooperates with China to CSC;

Short-term Training Project for Foreign Chinese-language Teacher: The application may be made through Chinese embassies/consulates to CSC, and the time for application is from February to April of each year.

The International Exchange & Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Education is responsible for examining and approving the scholarship application mentioned above.

For the purpose of applying for Chinese Government Scholarships, the following materials shall be submitted:

(1) Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship (printed unitedly by CSC)

(2) Duly-notarized certificate for highest education received and score sheet; in case an applicant is a student or has obtained employment, such applicant shall submit the study certificate issued by his/her university or college or the employment certificate issued by his/her employer.

(3) Foreign students whose study period in China is no less than six months shall submit the Physical Examination Record for Foreigners (printed unitedly by the health & quarantine departments of China)

(4) Plan for study or research in China (no less than 200 words)

(5) In case an applicant applies outside of China for study in Chinese university or college for master’s degree or doctoral degree, or applies outside of China for acting as an advanced training student, such applicant shall present the recommendation letters given by two professors or associate professors; In case an applicant applies within China for study in Chinese university or college for master’s degree or doctoral degree, such applicant shall present the admission notice issued by a Chinese university or college

(6) The applicants for music major shall submit their relevant works.

(7) In case an applicant applies outside of China for undergraduate study in science, engineering, agricultural or medical major, such applicant shall also submit the score sheet of the examination on level of mathematics, physics and chemistry organized by Chinese embassy or the score sheet of graduation examination issued by his/her secondary school; in case an applicant applies outside of China for undergraduate study in economic or management major, such applicant shall submit the score sheet of the examination on level of mathematics; while the application mentioned above is made within China, the applicant shall submit the score sheet of the entrance examination and the admission notice issued by the relevant university or college.

(8) The applicant for Chinese Cultural Research Project shall submit the catalog of his/her published works or papers.

4. Admission and Entry into China of Scholarship Students

CSC shall make arrangement for Scholarship Students to study in the universities and colleges designated by the Ministry of Education. After reviewing the application materials submitted by applicants, CSC will, on the basis of the applicants’ conditions and by reference to the applicants’ wills, forward the application materials to the relevant universities and colleges. Such universities and colleges will decide on whether to admit such students.

As for the Scholar Students which apply from outside of China for studying in undergraduate course, master degree candidate course or doctoral degree candidate course, the relevant universities and colleges will enroll them as probation students, with the probation period of one year. The students will be changed to formal students only after they have passed the entrance examination or the relevant course examination during the probation period, and their score obtained during the probation period will be included into their total score. As for any Scholar Student which needs to get remediation in Chinese language before the study of his/her major, such student may begin the study in major only after he/she has passed the entrance examination or the relevant course examination during the Chinese language remediation period. Should any student fail to pass the examination within the time limit specified, such student shall leave China as a training student which has finished the training.

Generally, CSC will, by July 30 of each year and through diplomatic channels, forward the name list of Scholarship Students enrolled, the Chinese Visa Application Form for Foreign Students (Form JW201), the Admission Notice issued by universities and colleges and other relevant documents to the student dispatching departments in foreign countries, and such departments will then inform the students.

The Scholarship Students enrolled shall, by presenting the valid ordinary passport, the Chinese Visa Application Form for Foreign Students, the Admission Notice and the Physical Examination Record for Foreigners (only applicable to the students whose study period is more than 6 months), apply with Chinese embassies/general consulates for visa, and shall, after entering into China, go through the formalities for registration with the relevant universities and colleges by presenting the documents mentioned above.

5. Major Change, Transfer and Study Period Extension of Scholarship Students

In principle, no Scholarship Student, after coming to China, may change his/her major, transfer to another university or college or extend his/her study period. In case it is necessary for any Scholarship Student to change his/her major, transfer to another university or college or extend his/her study period under any special circumstance, the dispatching department of such student shall apply with CSC, and CSC will make arrangement therefore. Should any Scholarship Student change his/her major, transfer to another university or college or extend his/her study period without authorization, such student shall be deprived of the qualification to enjoy Scholarship.

6. Scholarship Annual Review

In order to bring the incentive role of Chinese Government Scholarship into full play, the relevant universities and colleges will, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Measures for the Annual Review of Chinese Government Scholarship formulated by the Ministry of Education, annually carry out a comprehensive review on Scholarship Students whose study period is more than one academic year, so as to decide on whether he/she is still entitled to Chinese Government Scholarship.

 

International Exchange & Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China

July, 2001