Fully funded PhD in China: the official scholarship routes

A doctoral degree in China can be funded through the Chinese Government Scholarship, applied for on one of four programme routes. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance. Every rule below is taken from the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship and is a condition of that scholarship, not a general rule for self-funded admission.

The four scholarship programmes and where to apply

The scholarship has four categories (Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Section I).

• Bilateral Program accords with the cooperation and exchange agreements or consensus reached by the Chinese government and the governments and institutions of other nations. It is open to undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars and senior scholars. An applicant shall file an application with the dispatching department of their home country (Section I(I)).
• University Program finances the study of talented international students in China who are recommended by designated Chinese universities. The supporting student categories vary and are subject to the requirements of each university. An applicant shall file an application with the Chinese universities undertaking this program (Section I(II)).
• Designated Scholarship 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)).
• Student Exchange Program is launched in accordance with exchange and cooperation agreements between Chinese universities and foreign partners, and supports general and senior scholars for a training session of no more than 12 months. An applicant shall file an application with the Chinese universities and their foreign partners (Section I(IV)).

A doctoral applicant may use the Bilateral Program, the University Program or a Designated Scholarship Program. The Student Exchange Program supports general and senior scholars only (Section I(IV)).

Designated programs that support postgraduates

Several designated scholarship programs are open to postgraduates (Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Section I, the Scholarship Programs table).

All five support postgraduates. Their supporting categories are: Great Wall (postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars); EU (undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars); AUN (postgraduates); PIF (undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars); WMO (undergraduates, postgraduates).

What the scholarship covers

The scholarship coverage is (Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Section III):

1. Tuition fees;
2. Free university dormitory or accommodation subsidy;
3. Stipend — doctoral students and senior scholars: CNY 3,500 per month;
4. Comprehensive medical insurance — CNY 800 per person per year, or CNY 400 per person for programs lasting less than six months.

Eligibility for a doctoral applicant

For a doctoral applicant, the Application Guide sets these eligibility conditions (Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Section IV):

1. Be a citizen of a country other than the PRC and in good health both mentally and physically (Section IV, item 1).
2. Be an academically excellent holder of a Master's degree or its equivalent under the age of 40 when applying for a doctoral program (Section IV, item 4).
3. Have passed HSK (Level 4) when applying for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral program (Section IV, item 10).
4. Meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others, when applying for a program taught in a language other than Chinese (Section IV, item 11).

Application steps in order

The Application Guide lists seven steps (Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Section V):

1. An applicant shall learn about designated Chinese universities and majors they offer by visiting websites (campuschina.org) or other means, and identify the preferred scholarship program, designated university and major.
2. An applicant shall reach the designated university for admission documents.
3. An applicant shall reach an application receiving agency for a recommendation.
4. An applicant shall fill in and submit the Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship online via the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (campuschina.org).
5. The application receiving agency shall submit the recommended candidates list and their application documents.
6. The CSC will organize designated universities and experts concerned to examine applicants' eligibility and academic performance before finalizing the short-list candidates.
7. The CSC will notify the admission results to the application receiving agency that will subsequently have the applicant informed.

Questions people ask

Which route should a doctoral applicant choose?

A doctoral applicant may apply through the Bilateral Program, the University Program or a Designated Scholarship Program. The Student Exchange Program is for general and senior scholars only (Section I(IV)).

Is the Chinese Government Scholarship only for Chinese-taught study?

No. Item 11 of Section IV states that for a program taught in a language other than Chinese, the applicant must meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others.

Sources

• Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China)

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary, is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, is not legal advice, and the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.