MS in China: study plan and recommendation letter rules
A master's applicant must write a study or research plan of no less than 1000 words/characters and submit two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. These rules come from section VI, items 8 and 9, of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, published by the China Scholarship Council (Campus China). Everything taken from that guide is a condition of that scholarship, and it is not a general admission rule for self-funded students.
Study or research plan (item 8)
Section VI, item 8 lists "a study or research plan written in Chinese or in English" as an application document. For postgraduates, the plan is "no less than 1000 words/characters". For undergraduates the minimum is "no less than 200 words/characters", and for scholars it is "no less than 500 words/characters".
Item 8 gives no upper limit. Item 8 states no format and no template.
Suggestion, not a requirement: because the item sets only a minimum, count the words or characters in the form in which the plan will be read, and check that the plan is complete at that length.
Recommendation letters (item 9)
Section VI, item 9 says that an applicant for a postgraduate program or for academic education as a senior scholar "shall submit two recommendation letters in Chinese or in English from professors or associate professors". A master's programme is a postgraduate programme, so the rule applies to a master's applicant.
Item 9 sets the number at two. It allows Chinese or English. It names professors and associate professors as the writers.
Neither item 8 nor item 9 states a format, a template or an upper length. Item 9 sets no upper length for a letter.
Pre-admission document (item 7)
Section VI, item 7 says that "all applicants must provide a pre-admission document issued by the universities applying." The item gives two examples: a pre-admission notice issued by the international students' admission department, and an invitation letter from the schools or professors. The item then ends with "etc.", so the two examples are not presented as a complete list.
Who these conditions apply to
Items 7, 8 and 9 sit in section VI of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, which states conditions of that scholarship. Section VI does not apply items 7, 8 or 9 to self-funded applicants. For a self-funded applicant, these items are conditions of the scholarship only.
Questions people ask
Is there a maximum length for the study plan?
Section VI, item 8 gives no upper limit. Its only stated figure for postgraduates is no less than 1000 words/characters.
Can the recommendation letters be written in English?
Yes. Section VI, item 9 allows letters "in Chinese or in English".
How many recommendation letters does a master's applicant submit?
Section VI, item 9 requires two letters from professors or associate professors.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship (China Scholarship Council, Campus China)
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. If the official text differs from this page, the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail.