Chinese Government Scholarship: the four programme types and where each application goes
You file a Chinese Government Scholarship application with the body named for your program type. Section I of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship sets out four types: the Bilateral Program, the University Program, the Designated Scholarship Programs and the Student Exchange Program. Everything taken from that guide in this article is a condition of that scholarship.
Who administers the scholarship
The guide's introduction says the Chinese government sets up these scholarships so that talented students and scholars can pursue higher education or conduct research in Chinese universities. The China Scholarship Council (CSC), entrusted by China's Ministry of Education, is responsible for the admission, enrollment and administration of Chinese Government Scholarship recipients.
I. Scholarship Categories and Application
(I) Bilateral Program
This program accords with cooperation and exchange agreements, or consensus reached, between the Chinese government and the governments and institutions of other nations. It is open to undergraduates, postgraduates, general and senior scholars. Under section I(I), an applicant shall file an application with the dispatching department of their home country.
(II) University Program
Section I(II) states that the program finances international students who are recommended by designated Chinese universities. The student categories it supports vary and are subject to the requirements of each of these universities. An applicant shall file an application with the Chinese universities undertaking this program.
(III) Designated Scholarship Programs
These programs are set up in accordance with cooperation agreements between China and international organizations and institutions. An applicant shall file an application with the international organizations and institutions concerned. Section I(III) lists five designated programs in a table:
| Program | Target group | Supporting categories | Receiving agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Wall Program | Students and scholars from developing countries | Postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars | National Commission for UNESCO in the home country |
| EU Program | Students and scholars from EU member states | Undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars | Office for Education and Culture, Mission of the PRC to the EU |
| AUN Program | Students and scholars from ASEAN member states | Postgraduates | AUN Secretariat |
| PIF Program | Students and scholars from Pacific Island countries | Undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars | Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat |
| WMO Program | Aspiring international students and scholars in meteorological research | Undergraduates, postgraduates | WMO |
Section I(III) gives no amount and no deadline for any of the five programs.
(IV) Student Exchange Program
This program is launched in accordance with exchange and cooperation agreements between Chinese universities and foreign partners. It is designed to support general and senior scholars for a training session of no more than 12 months. An applicant shall file an application with Chinese universities and their foreign partners.
V. Application Process
Section V sets out seven numbered steps, in this order:
- Learn about the designated Chinese universities and the majors they offer, for example through the Campus China website or other means, and identify the preferred scholarship program, designated university and major.
- Reach the designated university for admission documents.
- Reach an application receiving agency for a recommendation.
- Fill in and submit the Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship online through the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System.
- The application receiving agency submits the recommended candidates list and the application documents.
- The CSC organizes designated universities and experts concerned to examine applicants' eligibility and academic performance before finalizing the short-list of candidates.
- The CSC notifies the admission results to the application receiving agency, which then has the applicant informed.
The documents an applicant must submit are set out in section VI of the guide. The age, HSK, CSCA and other document requirements in section VI belong to this scholarship.
Suggestion, not a requirement: before you contact any body, confirm which of the four program types your case falls under, because section I ties the body you file with to that type.
Sources
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, and it is not legal advice. The official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.