Recommendation letters for Chinese universities: who must provide them
Item 9 requires two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. It applies to an applicant for a postgraduate program or for academic education as a senior scholar. The rule is a condition of the Chinese Government Scholarship, as set out in section VI of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship published by the China Scholarship Council.
Who the rule applies to
Item 9 names two groups of applicants: an applicant for a postgraduate program, and an applicant for academic education as a senior scholar. It does not mention undergraduate applicants. It does not mention general scholars.
Who may write the letters
Item 9 names professors and associate professors as the writers of the letters. It names no other ranks.
Language of the letters
Item 9 allows the letters to be written in Chinese or in English.
What item 9 does not set
Item 9 sets no format for the letters. It sets no length. It gives no deadline for submitting them.
Scope of the rule
Item 9 states a condition of the Chinese Government Scholarship. It does not state a rule for other kinds of application.
Suggestion, not a rule
Ask each letter writer early. Check the admissions brochure of the university you are applying to for any format or other requirements it sets for its own applicants.
Questions people ask
Do undergraduate applicants need recommendation letters under item 9?
Item 9 does not mention undergraduate applicants. It applies to applicants for a postgraduate program and to applicants for academic education as a senior scholar.
Can the letters be written in English?
Yes. Item 9 allows the letters to be written in Chinese or in English.
How long should each letter be?
Item 9 sets no length and no format.
Who may write the letters under item 9?
Item 9 names 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. The official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.