For the academic year 2023-2024, a comprehensive guide on Scholarships in China 2023 is presented, which will cover not only tuition and accommodation fees during your study period, but you will also benefit from a monthly amount for your personal expenses.
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This article provides a comprehensive guide to Scholarships in China 2023 for the academic year 2023-2024. Although it necessitates considerable forethought, I believe it is an opportunity not to be passed up. In most cases, Chinese Scholarships will cover not only tuition and living expenses during your study period, but also a monthly amount for personal expenses.
Here you will find some hints to assist you in determining which scholarship is best for you, as well as the steps and documents required to apply for them. Best wishes and cheers!
What type of Scholarships in China are available to study in China?
There are three most popular scholarships to study in Chinese universities:
- Chinese Government Scholarships
- Scholarships from the Provincial Governments of China
- Confucius Institute Scholarships (governmental entity for the teaching of the Chinese language to foreigners)
In China, these scholarships are available to everyone. Citizens from almost every country are eligible to apply for these scholarships, which are determined by bilateral educational agreements. There aren’t many application requirements for these scholarships. These economic endowments are quite generous due to the expensive university education in the eastern country.
Of course, there are many other scholarships available, such as inter-university scholarships, scholarships provided by private organizations, scholarships provided by Chinese universities, and others provided by educational institutions in your country. However, in this article, I will only cover the most popular and widely available scholarships in China.
Which type of Scholarships in China 2023 is suitable for me?
This is a difficult question. The first question you must address is what you intend to study. You basically have two choices: study Chinese language (which will earn you a university diploma of advanced studies) or pursue a degree (Bachelor’s Degree, Master of Science, or PhD). Then you must consider which city you want to study in, as this will also influence the selection of your scholarship.
To give you an idea, the organizations that award the scholarships have agreements with many universities across the country (in China everything belongs or is connected in some way to the government). After all, the government includes both the sections of the government that provide scholarships, such as the Confucius Institute and various universities body.
These agreements result in a number of scholarship quotas that each financier grants to each university based on the type of course. Students from all countries are eligible to apply for Chinese government scholarships, resulting in intense competition.
That is why, once you have decided what you want to study and in which city or university you want to study, you must investigate the following points university by university:
- If they offer scholarships to study what you want (master’s degree, Chinese course, etc.)
- How many scholarships each entity grants to the type of course you choose?
The research can be done online, but not all universities have made this information available on their websites (especially in the English version), so I recommend contacting them directly via email. And this sweep is absolutely necessary if you want to receive scholarships to fund your studies in China.
Now I’ll give you a series of hints about scholarships in China that I hope will help you figure out which type of Chinese scholarship is best for you, such as the Chinese Government Scholarship or the Confucius Institute Scholarship.
Scholarships to Learn Chinese Language in China
The research can be done online, but not all universities have made this information available on their websites (especially in the English version), so I recommend contacting them directly via email. And this sweep is absolutely necessary if you want to receive scholarships to fund your studies in China.
Now I’ll give you a series of hints about scholarships in China that I hope will help you figure out which type of Chinese scholarship is best for you, such as the Chinese Government Scholarship or the Confucius Institute Scholarship.
It is not necessary to have previously studied the language in order to apply for national and provincial government scholarships to study Chinese. These scholarships, however, are much more sought after, making them somewhat more difficult to obtain. The Chinese government scholarships provide more grants for Chinese language courses at a greater number of universities. However, not all provincial governments provide scholarships for Chinese studies. You’ll have to look into each university individually.
In conclusion, if you have previously studied Chinese, I strongly advise you to apply for the Confucius Institute scholarship to study Chinese in China. If you meet all of the requirements (which I explain in detail in the corresponding section), it is very likely that you will be awarded a scholarship to the university of your choice.
If you have never studied Chinese or are not a Confucius Institute student, you must apply to the Chinese government or the provincial government that corresponds to the city in which you wish to study. My advice is to request the first, because the offer is larger and you will have a better chance of receiving a scholarship at the location of your choice.
Scholarships in China for Undergraduate or Postgraduate Studies
Many people choose to study in China, whether for an undergraduate, master’s, or doctorate degree in Chinese or English. In this case, as in the previous one, you must first investigate which universities offer your desired course and, second, determine whether such universities offer government scholarships to students (national or provincial). Click here to start your search .
Once this is established, contact the university to learn how many students have been admitted to both the Chinese government scholarship and the provincial government scholarship (this specific information is difficult to find on the internet). It is worth noting at this point that there are two ways to apply for the Chinese government scholarship (national). The first is through authorized agencies (basically the Chinese embassy in your country or some international organizations in your area of membership, such as the European Union, etc.), and the second is through the destination university directly.
Both routes have the authority to award Chinese government scholarships, and each has a different scholarship quota. Furthermore, if you apply, say, through the Chinese embassy in your country, you will only be competing with students of your own nationality. If, on the other hand, you decide to apply for this scholarship directly at the destination university, you will be competing with students from all over the world because the university accepts applications from all five continents. Because of this, and because the scholarship quota awarded directly by the university is lower, obtaining the Chinese government scholarship is more difficult if you choose this route (if you are already in China, for example).
On the other hand, there are provincial government scholarships. The only way to apply for this scholarship is to deliver the required documentation to the destination university. This means that you must be in China to request them (you can also ask someone to do it for you or send the documentation by mail, but this last option I do not recommend).
Obviously, this requirement reduces competition significantly, as few candidates arrive in China before beginning their studies. Provincial government scholarships, on the other hand, require that you already have an official Chinese or HSK diploma (normally 4 for a degree and 5 for a master’s or doctorate, depending on the university).
This final requirement is very advantageous for those who already have the required Chinese qualification. There aren’t many people with this level of Chinese proficiency, and even fewer who are already in China during the application period. In short, depending on your situation and background, play the card that will most likely result in scholarship. In general, if you are in your country of origin and do not speak Chinese, I recommend applying for a Chinese government scholarship through your country’s embassy.
This scholarship also includes funding for a two-year Chinese language course, allowing you to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies in Chinese. You can also choose an English-taught program, but applicants will multiply exponentially for this opportunity. If you are already in China and have HSK4 or higher, applying for the provincial government grant will clearly give you a better chance of receiving this funding. Check to see if the university accepts scholarship students for the course you wish to pursue.
Finally, consider the following:
- If you apply to a prestigious university with a higher ranking, keep in mind that it will also be the first choice of a larger number of people, so you will be competing with many more candidates.
- In the case of the two government scholarships, decide whether you want to apply for full or partial funding (more information in the corresponding sections). A partial scholarship is much easier to obtain.
If you are still unsure, my advice is to apply for as many scholarships as possible (as long as you meet the minimum requirements). Although you cannot receive two scholarships in the same year (this applies to both the government and the Confucius Institute), you can apply to as many as you want, increasing your chances of receiving a scholarship.
Popular Scholarships in China 2023
Now I will present a complete guide about the popular scholarships in China. Step by step procedure to apply for these scholarships is also presented.
1. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC Scholarship)
Chinese government scholarship finance undergraduate, postgraduate, and Chinese language study programs, as well as research stays throughout the country.
Regarding the type of funding, the Chinese government scholarships are divided into:
- Total or type A Scholarship: Includes registration fees, accommodation (in a university residence in a shared room with another person), basic medical insurance and a monthly allowance for personal expenses (between 2,500 and 3,500 Yuan per month, approximately 350 and 500 USD respectively).
- Partial or type B Scholarship: It usually covers the same as the total, except for the monthly allowance for personal expenses.
- Type C Scholarship: Another type of partial scholarship that indifferently includes some of the benefits of the total scholarship.
2. Chinese Provincial Government Scholarships
Scholarships of this type are awarded by provincial governments, including the governments of four Chinese cities known as “municipalities under central jurisdiction” (Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, and Shanghai), which function as provinces in their own right.
These scholarships are available for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies, as well as courses in Chinese. However, not all universities offer provincial government scholarships for all courses. You should carefully examine your case.
Registration fees, housing in a university residence (sharing a room and bathroom with another person), and health insurance are all covered by Chinese Provincial Government Scholarships. If you are awarded a full-coverage scholarship, you will also receive a handsome sum of money per month for personal expenses.
3. Confucius Institute Scholarship (CIS)
Students from all over the world apply for the Confucius Institute scholarship. It is a government organization whose mission is to spread knowledge of the Chinese language and culture around the world. It provides numerous study grants in a total of 150 universities each year.
Although it also offers scholarships for specific doctoral studies, research stays, participation in international conferences, and so on, I will only focus on the scholarships available for Chinese language and culture courses in this section because they are the most sought after.
Tuition and lodging fees (in a university residence, in a room shared with another person), basic medical insurance, and a monthly allowance for personal expenses are all included in Confucius Institute scholarships.
4. Scholarships for high school students in China
Although they are much less popular than the aforementioned scholarships, there is also the possibility of obtaining a scholarship to study a year of study in a Chinese high school. As far as we know, no general scholarships are available and therefore the only opportunity will be through bilateral agreements between China and your country.
5. Postdoctoral Scholarships in China 2023
One of the unique features of the Chinese research system is the postdoctoral degree, which means that if you receive a final postdoctoral scholarship, you must write a “postdoctoral” thesis and defend it in front of a faculty board. Because postdoctoral grants are typically managed directly by universities or research institutions, the requirements, procedures, and conditions can vary greatly. These points are discussed in more detail below.
Characteristics of Postdoctoral Scholarships in China
- Amount of the scholarships: It will depend on the province and the university in which they are offered. In most cases, apart from the base salary, you will receive financial assistance for house rent, the option to opt an apartment at the university at a very reduced price (with private bathroom and kitchen), basic medical insurance (usually covers 75% of all medical expenses in public hospitals), deposit for the purchase of a house (obtained upon graduation). The monthly salary is around 4,000 Yuan (including housing assistance).
- Number of scholarships awarded: Each university has a certain number of postdoctoral scholarships especially in areas related to science and technology.
- Duration of the scholarships: The postdoctoral scholarships usually have a duration of two years that can be extended a half or a year more.
Note: Having a postdoctoral fellowship is not incompatible with other national and international scholarships, in fact many universities have programs to retain talent that supplement the postdoctoral base salary.
Minimum Requirements of Postdoctoral Scholarships in China
Although the only requirement is usually to have a doctorate degree, each university has its own specific requirements.
Documents Required for Postdoctoral Scholarships in China 2023
- Application form duly completed: The University must provide you documents.
- Letter of acceptance from the principal investigator.
- Official medical form or Foreigner Physical Examination Form : This form must be completed and signed by an accredited doctor (may be from your country), and carry an official stamp of the hospital where you perform the checkup. Make sure that this stamp is stamped on the photo that you must attach.
- Doctorate degree. If this document is not written in English or Chinese, you may need to submit a sworn translation to either of the two languages.
- Research project written in English or in Chinese.
- Two letters of recommendation written in English or in Chinese by a tenured or associate professor.
- Curriculum Vitae: Publications and participation in conferences must be well specified.
Steps to Apply for Postdoctoral Scholarships in China 2023
- Place of application: The documentation must be sent directly to the university or research center.
- Date of application: Many universities usually allow you to apply at any time of the year.
- Application procedure: Varies a lot depending on the university.
Note: It is possible that when applying for postdoctoral programs, much of the information is not well specified (usually only in Chinese), and you are even asked to submit documents written partially in Chinese, so it is critical to seek assistance from the destination research group.
I hope that this article will assist you in determining which scholarships are the most popular for studying in China and will guide you in determining which scholarship is best for you. Although it may appear complicated, thousands of students from all over the world benefit from these grants each year.
If you meet the requirements and want to study in the Asian behemoth, I encourage you to start the application process. Good Luck!
