Study plan for China: how long it must be at each level
Under section VI, item 8 of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, the minimum length of your study or research plan depends on your level: no less than 200 words/characters for undergraduates, no less than 500 words/characters for scholars, and no less than 1000 words/characters for postgraduates. These are conditions of the Chinese Government Scholarship.
Minimum length by applicant group
| Applicant group | Minimum length (item 8) | Language allowed (item 8) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduates | no less than 200 words/characters | Chinese or English |
| Scholars | no less than 500 words/characters | Chinese or English |
| Postgraduates | no less than 1000 words/characters | Chinese or English |
Source: Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, section VI, item 8.
What item 8 says and does not say
Item 8 requires a study or research plan written in Chinese or in English. It sets the minimum lengths in the table above.
Item 8 gives no upper limit. Item 8 gives no template and no required headings. Item 8 does not say how words or characters are counted. Item 8 does not define "scholars" or the other applicant groups it names.
Where the rule applies
Item 8 is one of the application documents listed in section VI of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship. The length rule belongs to that scholarship.
Suggestion, not a requirement
Item 8 does not ask for any content. As a planning suggestion only, you could state your study or research goal in the first paragraph, explain why you chose the university and the major, and set out how you would carry out the work. Count your words or characters in the same unit that item 8 uses before you submit.
Questions people ask
How long must a postgraduate study plan be?
Section VI, item 8 says no less than 1000 words/characters for postgraduates. Item 8 gives no upper limit.
Can I write the study plan in English?
Yes. Section VI, item 8 allows a study or research plan written in Chinese or in English.
Does item 8 give a template for the plan?
No. Section VI, item 8 gives no template and no required headings.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, published by 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, and is not legal advice; if the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case differ, the official text and that notice prevail.