Looking for undergraduate, masters and PhD scholarships in China for international students? You’ve found it.
Scholarships in China open every year between March and May. These scholarships are offered to international students by the Chinese Government as well as provincial governments. Chinese Ministries and international organizations located in China also offer numerous scholarships.
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There were almost 500,000 international students enrolled in Chinese universities in 2018. China has almost met its target of hosting 500,000 foreign students by 2020. These improved numbers are likely partly thanks to the Chinese government’s boosted scholarship scheme, with nearly 59,000 foreign students receiving a scholarship in 2017. Another powerful draw for international students is the increasing number of English-taught programs, with the number available increasing by 63 percent in the last five years.
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Cost of living in China
Inevitably for an economy that is growing so quickly, the cost of living in China is not quite as cheap as it used to be. But tuition fees are relatively low, around US$2,000-4,000 depending on the university and study level. And the cost of living in Shanghai, China’s most expensive city, is estimated to be roughly half that of New York.
With accommodation costing between US$200 and US$300 per month (depending on the city), and transport a handful of small change, you’ll be spared the financial turmoil of students elsewhere.
Apply to universities in China
To apply for a place at a university in China, international students can use the centralized CUCAS (China’s University and College Admission System) website, or apply directly to the university. International students can also choose to apply for a Chinese Government Scholarship Program, and will find information about this on the CUCAS site.
China visa requirements
After being offered a place at a Chinese university, you’ll need to head to your local Chinese embassy, and apply for a visa appropriate for your length of stay. Chinese visa requirements state that for a stay of six months or more, you will need a study visa (or X1 visa). For less than six months, an X2 visa will do. If you do not receive your admission package in time, you may be able to apply for a tourist visa (L-visa) and convert this to a student visa when you arrive.
When applying for a visa to study in China, you should submit the following documents:
- Application form
- Passport
- Acceptance letter from your chosen university
- Recent photograph
- For X2 applicants only – a JW201 or JW202 form
Scholarships in China for International Students – Fully Funded
To help you navigate the pool of opportunities out there, we have put together a comprehensive list of Chinese scholarships for international students. Be sure to bookmark this page because we will be updating it from time to time.
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1. Jiangsu Provincial Government Scholarships
This scholarship will be provided to the excellent overseas students or scholars to undertake full time study in universities and colleges of Jiangsu. It will also include those non-degree program students and exchange students in accordance with educational exchange agreements and MOUs between the Jiangsu Provincial Government and the governments of other states, institutions, universities and international organizations.
Application Deadline: 15th April
Number of Awardees: Not specified
Value of Scholarship: Full fee waiver of tuition, registration, laboratory experiments, internship, and basic textbooks; Accommodation, Monthly stipend, Medical insurance and more
There are also partial scholarships for CNY30000 for one year and the awardees will receive the scholarship half by half in two semesters.
Duration of Awards:
- Full Scholarship
Bachelor’s candidate: 4 academic year
Master’s candidate: 3 academic year
- Partial Scholarship
Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorial Candidate: 1 academic year
2. Anhui Government Scholarship for International Students
Anhui Government Scholarship Program for International Students is established to attract more international students to study and research in Anhui higher education institutions, improve international student education quality, strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between Anhui people and people from the rest of the world and expand the international influence of Anhui’s education.
Application Deadline: Deadline to be determined by participating schools.
Value of Scholarship:
- Applicants for bachelor’s degree: 20,000 yuan/year
- Applicants for Master’s degree: 30,000 yuan/year
- Applicants for Doctoral degree: 50,000 yuan/year
3. Shanghai University International Student Scholarship
This scholarship, provided by Shanghai government for international students studying in Shanghai, is in two types: Master’s or Doctoral degrees (full scholarship) and degrees (partial scholarship)
Application Deadline: 15th April
Number of Awardees: Not specified
Value of Scholarships:
Full Scholarship:
- a waiver of tuition fee
- free on-campus dormitory accommodation
- Stipend
- Comprehensive Medical Insurance and Protection Scheme for International Students in China.
Partial Scholarship:
- A waiver of tuition fee
- free on-campus dormitory accommodation
- Comprehensive Medical Insurance and Protection Scheme for International Students in China
Duration of Scholarship:
- Bachelor’s Degree Program: 4 to 5 years
- Master’s degree programs: 2 to 3 years
- Doctoral degree programs: 3 to 4 years
4. Beijing Government Scholarships for International Students
The Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS) was established by Beijing Municipal Government, aiming to provide tuition fees fully or partially to the international students studying or applying for studying in Beijing.
Application Deadline: All application materials should be handed to the relevant university or college before the end of February every year
Number of Scholarships: several
Value of Scholarship The Beijing Municipal Government Scholarship for International Students only covers tuition fees.
Duration of Scholarships:
- Applicants for Bachelor, Master’s and Doctoral Degrees: 4 years.
- Applicants for Chinese language training or relevant advanced studies: one year.
- Scholars and international students for specialized training: one year.
- Exchange students or students with outstanding contributions to international education in Beijing: one year.
5. Jiangsu University (JSU) Presidential Scholarship
In order to further develop the education of international students, Jiangsu University provides scholarship for international students getting registered for English-taught degree education at Jiangsu University.
Application Deadline: 10th August
Number of Awardees: Not specified
Value of Scholarship:
Partial Scholarship
- PhDs: Full tuition and accommodation
- Masters: 20,000 CNY on tuition every year
- Bachelors: 10,000 CNY on tuition in first year
6. Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (JUST) Scholarships
Applications are open for the Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (JUST) Scholarships for International students to study in China. Scholarships are available to pursue undergraduate, master and doctoral degree programme. All degree specialties and disciplines of JUST, delivered in Chinese, are available to overseas applicants, while only the listed programs are available to overseas applicants.
Application Deadline: 20th June
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award: Scholarship award will cover tuition, allowance and accommodation.
Duration of Program(s):
7. Xiamen University Scholarships for New International Students
XMU itself offers scholarships to doctoral, master’s and undergraduate candidates. Moreover, XMU provides monthly living allowances for outstanding masters or doctoral candidates in accordance with the standards of Chinese Government Scholarships. The awardees’ academic performance will be assessed each year and only those achieving the required standard will have their scholarship renewed for the following year.
Application Deadline: 1st February to April 30
Number of Scholarships: 24 (including 8 for doctoral candidates, 11 for master’s candidates and 5 for undergraduate candidates)
Value of Scholarships:
- The first-class scholarships for doctoral and master’s candidates will have their tuition covered (a maximum of 4 years for doctoral programmes, 2 or 3 years for master’s programmes) and offer monthly living allowance (RMB 3,500 for each doctoral student; RMB 3,000 for each master’s student).
- Undergraduate candidates will not be provided with the first-class scholarship.
- The second-class scholarships will have the awardees’ tuition covered (a maximum of 4 years for doctoral programmes, 2 or 3 years for master’s programmes, 4 or 5 years for undergraduate programmes).
Duration of Scholarship:
- Bachelor’s degree students 4-5 years
- Master’s degree students 2-3 years
- Doctoral degree students 4 years
8. Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGC) for International Students
This scholarship, provided by Shanghai government for international students studying in Shanghai, is in two types: Master’s or Doctoral degrees (full scholarship) and degrees (partial scholarship).
Application Deadline: 30th April
Value of Scholarship: The scholarship covers tuition waiver and comprehensive medical insurance for bachelor’s students; it covers tuition waiver, accommodation, stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance for master’s students and doctoral students.
Duration of Scholarship:
- Bachelor’s Degree Program: 4 to 5 years
- Master’s degree programs: 2 to 3 years
- Doctoral degree programs: 3 to 4 years
9. UNESCO/ People’s Republic of China (The Great Wall) Co-Sponsored Fellowship for Students from Developing Countries
The Government of the People’s Republic of China has placed at the disposal of UNESCO for the next academic year seventy-five (75) fellowships for advanced studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These fellowships are for the benefit of developing Member States in Africa, Asia–Pacific, Latin America, Europe and North America and Arab region. Tenable at a selected number of Chinese universities, these fellowships are intended for scholars who plan to pursue advanced studies or undertake individual research with periodic guidance from the assigned supervisor in China for duration of one year.
Application Deadline: 9 April
Number of Awards: 75
Value of Scholarship: The Program provides a full scholarship which covers tuition waiver, accommodation, stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance.
Duration of Scholarship: 1 year
10. Chinese Government/African Union Scholarship for African Students
The Government of the People’s Republic of China has made scholarship offers to the AU through the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology, to enable Africans to study in China.
Application Deadline: 30th June
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Scholarship: The scholarship will cover the cost related to teaching and the administration of the university and the living expenses of the students from the fund of the foreign aid, supervising thesis.
Duration of Scholarship: Period of study
11. The Schwarzman Scholars Program for International Students
Every year, up to 200 Schwarzman Scholars will represent the world’s next generation of leaders — high-caliber individuals with open minds and limitless potential. Schwarzman Scholars will be selected on the basis of not only their academic aptitude and intellectual ability, but also their leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, ability to anticipate and act on emerging trends and opportunities, exemplary character, and desire to understand other cultures, perspectives and positions. All qualified candidates will have successfully completed their undergraduate degrees prior to enrollment and must be proficient in English
Application Deadlines: 28th September
Number of Awardees: Up to 200
Value of Scholarship: Semi-finalist interview expenses will be arranged and covered by the program. Expenses for successful SchwarzmanScholars are also FULLY covered by the program. It will include Tuition and fees, Room and board, Travel to and from Beijing at the beginning and end of the academic year, an in-country study tour, required course books and supplies, Lenovo laptop and Smartphone, Health insurance, and A modest personal stipend.
Duration of Scholarship: 1 year
12. Yenching Academy of Peking University, Master of China Studies Program
The Yenching Academy is a fully-funded residential program offering a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China within the Humanities and Social Sciences. Working closely with their academic mentors, Yenching Scholars have the flexibility to create their own study paths by choosing from six research areas and a variety of extracurricular activities.
Application Deadline: 15th January
Number of Awards: About 125
Value of Award: Yenching Academy provides a generous postgraduate fellowship covering tuition fees, a travel stipend for one round-trip journey between each Scholar’s base city and Beijing, accommodations, and a monthly living stipend.
Duration of Program: 12 months, with the option to extend for a second year in Beijing.
13. Chinese Government-Chinese University Scholarships
Chinese University Program is a full scholarship for designated Chinese universities and certain provincial education offices in specific provinces or autonomous regions to recruit outstanding international students for graduate studies in China. It only supports graduate students.
Application Deadline: 15th April
Number of Awards: Not specified
Duration of Awards: This scholarship only support master’s students for no more than 3 academic years or doctoral students for no more than 4 academic years.
Value of Scholarship: The Chinese University Program provides a full scholarship which covers tuition waiver, accommodation, stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance.
14. USTC “Chinese Government Scholarship – Chinese University Program“
Chinese Government Scholarship—Chinese University Program is a scholarship established by Ministry of Education (MOE) to support Chinese universities in specific provinces or autonomous regions to recruit outstanding international students for graduate studies in China. MOE authorized USTC to recruit full-time master and doctoral students under the Chinese Government Scholarship.
Application Deadline: 15th March
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award: The Chinese University Program provides a full scholarship which covers tuition waiver, accommodation, stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance.
Duration of Program:
- Master’s Degree Programs: 2-3 academic years
- Doctoral Degree Programs: 3-4 academic years
15. Fujian Normal University President Scholarship for Foreign Students
Fujian Normal University President Scholarship for Foreign Students announces scholarship to study or have already enrolled in our undergraduate and graduate students. Excellent foreign students recommended by foreign schools, institutions or postgraduate tutors who have a cooperative relationship with our school are preferred.
Application Deadline: 30th June
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Scholarship: The Scholarship provides tuition fee, accommodation allowance, living allowance.
- Students will receive 11 months’ accommodation allowance all together which is RMB700 per month.
- Students will receive 11 months’ living allowance all together which is granted by month. The allowance criteria per person are:
- Bachelor degree student, One-year-study: RMB 800 per month
- Master degree student: RMB 1000 per month
- Doctoral degree student: RMB 1200 per month
All the scholarship students should attend the Annual Review in May every year, those who are qualify in the review can continue to enjoy the scholarship.
Duration of Scholarship: Period of Study
16. MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce) Scholarships for Developing Countries
MOFCOM Scholarship is set up by Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China to further strengthen the communication and cooperation between China and other countries as well as to develop talents for developing countries.
Application Deadline: 30th April
Number of Scholarships: several
Value of Scholarship:
- tuition waiver;
- teaching material fee waiver;
- research and survey fee waiver;
- dissertation guidance fee waiver;
- one-off resettlement fee:
- 3000RMB per master student,
- 3000RMB per PhD student;
- on-campus accommodation;
- stipend:
- 3000RMB per month per master student,
- 3500RMB per month per PhD student;
- medical insurance
- one-time round-trip international airfare for all the students
Duration of Scholarship: Master’s program for 2-3 years or PhD program for 3-4 years.
17. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)/TWAS President’s PhD Fellowships
According to an agreement between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the advancement of science in developing countries, up to 200 students/scholars from all over the world will be sponsored to study in China for doctoral degrees for up to 4 years.
Application Deadline: 31st March
Number of Awardees: 200
Value of Scholarship: All awardees will be provided tuition and application fee waivers.
Duration of Scholarship: Up to 4 years
18. Qingdao Government Scholarship for International Students
To attract and encourage more international students to study in Qingdao and engage in scientific research, the Qingdao Municipal Government has established the “Qingdao Municipal Government Scholarship for International Students in China” (hereinafter referred to as “the scholarship”) to provide incentives for excellent overseas students studying in universities and colleges.
Application Deadline: 15th June
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award: The scholarship is aimed mainly for newly enrolled foreign students in universities in Qingdao, including degree students and long-term advanced students (completing more than one semester). The funding standard for the scholarship for graduate students is 30,000 RMB per person, undergraduate students 20,000 RMB per person and long-term advanced students per person 10, 000 RMB.
19. Tianjin University Full and Partial Scholarships for International Students…
Tianjin University offers Full and Partial Scholarships for International Students. Applicants must be a citizen of a country other than the People’s Republic of China, and be in good health; The requirements for applicants’ degree and age are that applicants must:
- Be a high school degree holder under the age of 30 when applying for the bachelor’s programs;
- Be a bachelor’s degree holder under the age of 35 when applying for the master’s programs;
- Be a master’s degree holder under the age of 40 when applying for the PhD programs.
Application Deadline: 15th June
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award:
- Full scholarship: tuition ad living allowances
- Partial scholarship: tuition only
Duration of Programme:
- Undergraduate: 1 Year
- Masters: 1 Year
- PhD: 1 Year
20. Harbin Engineering University (HEU) Full Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Following the principle of “Fair, just and open”, Harbin Engineering University sets up the scholarship for international students in order to promote the development of education and to attract distinguished international students to study at HEU.
Application Deadline: 31st May
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award: Full Scholarship: including Tuition plus providing with living expenses.(Standard of Living expense: Master candidate: 3000yuan RMB /month; Doctoral candidate: 3500yuan RMB /month.)
- First Prize Scholarship: including Tuition.
- Second Prize Scholarship: including 50% Tuition fee.
Duration of Award: Duration of Programme
21. Chinese Government Scholarship – Bilateral Program for International Students
Bilateral Program includes a full or partial scholarship established by Chinese Ministry of Education in accordance with educational exchange agreements or consensus between Chinese government and governments of other countries, institutions, universities or international organizations.
The Bilateral Program supports undergraduate students, graduate students, general scholars and senior scholars. Undergraduate scholarship recipients must register for Chinese-taught credit courses. Graduate and non-degree scholarship students can register for either the Chinese-taught program or the English-taught program if applicable.
Application Deadline: 15th April
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award: The Bilateral Program provides both full scholarships and partial scholarships.
Duration of Program:
- Undergraduate students: 4-7years
- Master’s students: 2-5 years
- Doctoral students: 3-6 years
- General scholars: up to 2 years
- Senior scholars: up to 2 years
22. Zhengzhou University President Scholarships for International Students
To enhance international exchange & cooperation and encourage more excellent international students to study, Zhengzhou University hereby introduces “Zhengzhou University President Scholarship” . The scholarship aims to sponsor international postgraduate students to pursue their degree, especially the doctor degree, in Zhengzhou University. The duration of scholarship varies from 3-4 years according to duration of full time master and doctor program.
Application Deadline: 30th June
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Awards:
- Masters: Full or Partial tuition
- Doctor: Full tuition, Accomodation and stipend
Registration fee, textbooks, thesis defense, medical check-up, medical insurance, medical clinics, residence permit and other expenses are afforded by students themselves.
Duration of Award: The duration of scholarship varies from 3-4 years according to duration of full time master and doctor program.
23. Siemens China Scholarship at Tsinghua University for International Students
The Siemens China Scholarship at Tsinghua University is a full scholarship offered by Siemens Ltd., China to support outstanding international students to pursue Ph.D. degrees in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Technology, Academy of Arts & Design, School of Software, Department of Automation, Department of Electrical Engineering and other related departments or schools at Tsinghua University
Application Deadline: 1st March
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Award:
- Tuition fees: 40,000 RMB/year;
- Living allowance (including accommodation, medical insurance, books or other materials and transportation,etc.): 160,000 RMB/year in total.
Duration of Programme: 4 years
24. 200 TWAS/Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) President’s PhD Fellowships
According to an agreement between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the advancement of science in developing countries, up to 200 students/scholars from all over the world will be sponsored to study in China for doctoral degrees for up to 4 years.
Application Deadline: 31st March
Number of Awardees: 200
Value of Fellowship: Fellowship awardees will receive a monthly stipend (to cover accommodation and other living expenses, local travel expenses and health insurance) of RMB 7,000 or RMB 8,000 from CAS through UCAS/USTC. All awardees will also be provided tuition and application fee waivers.
Duration of Fellowship: Up to 4 years
25. Masters in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) Scholarships
The Masters in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) Scholarship Application Period for student intake in August (Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship) is offered for international students.
Application Deadline: 5th December
Number of Awards: Not specified
Value of Scholarship: Fully-funded. The Erasmus Mundus scholarship covers tuition fees and allows to cover all expenses that non-EU students normally face during their studies.
Duration of Scholarship: Two years. September 2019 – August 2020
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