The Chinese Government Scholarships 2025/2026 are scholarships funded by the Government of China to support international students who are willing to study in China for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree courses in Chinese Universities. Some of the scholarships are fully funded while some are partially funded.
There are over 274 universities in China that participates in the Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS) scheme, offering scholarships to international students every year. The list of such universities is always available on the official CGS website for interested applicants to go through.
These scholarships are awarded to students through agencies like:
(1) Chinese government scholarships through participating universities.
(2) Chinese embassies in other countries having diplomatic ties with China.
Interested applicants can prepare their application materials and submit same to their university of choice directly. However, applications through the Chinese embassy are received through the Higher Education Institute and are referred to as the ‘Bilateral Education Agreement’ Chinese government scholarships.
Equally, Check: Government of UK Chevening Scholarships 2025 | Fully Funded
Chinese Government Scholarships 2025-2026 | Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the government scholarship, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a citizen of a country other than the People’s Republic of China, and be in good health both mentally and physically.
- Be a high school graduate under the age of 25 when applying for undergraduate programs.
- Be a bachelor’s degree holder under the age of 35 when applying for master’s programs.
- Be a master’s degree holder under the age of 40 when applying for doctoral programs.
- Be a high school graduate (at least) under the age of 45 when applying for general scholar programs.
- Be in possession of a master’s degree or an associate professor (or above) under the age of 50 when applying for senior scholar programs.
- Have obtained the Chinese proficiency of HSK Level 3 when applying for Chinese-taught undergraduate or general scholar programs (studying Chinese language are exempted).
- Have obtained the Chinese proficiency of HSK Level 3 when applying for Chinese-taught senior scholar programs.
- Obtained the Chinese proficiency of HSK Level 4 when applying for Chinese-taught master’s or doctoral programs.
- Must meet the admission requirements of the applied universities in terms of academic ability, language proficiency and other relevant criteria.
Scholarship Types
CSC Scholarship is a fully funded program supporting foreign students to study bachelor degree programs, master degree programs, and doctoral degree programs in Chinese Universities.
There are several scholarship supported by the Chinese Scholarship Council under Chinese Government Scholarships (CGS) programs. They include:
- Chinese Government Scholarship-Great Wall Program
- Chinese Government Scholarship-EU Program
- Chinese Government Scholarship-AUN Program
- Marine Scholarship of China
- Chinese Government Scholarship-WMO Program
- Chinese Government Scholarship-PIF Program
- Chinese Government Scholarship-Chinese University Program
- Chinese Government Scholarship-Bilateral Program
- MOFCOM Scholarship
Applicants can submit application for the CSC Scholarship 2025-2026 in more than one University at the same time. It is however advised not to apply for more than three universities. You will have to fill separate CSC scholarship online application form for CSC scholarship and University Application form for admission and then submit it separately to each university.
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: Interested applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarships 2025-2026 are to visit the official CGS website for information concerning the Chinese universities and the scholarship available. They are to visit their choice university, complete the pre-admission documents and submit same online on or before the application deadline.
Applicants can also visit the Chinese embassy in their home country to submit their applications using the bilateral education agreement route.
Supporting Documents:
- Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship (in Chinese or English).
- Copy of Passport Home Page: Applicant shall submit a clear scanned copy of his/her ordinary passport with validity later than March 1, 2025.
- Notarized highest diploma. Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with notarized Chinese or English translations.
- Academic transcripts: Transcripts in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with notarized Chinese or English translations.
- Language qualification certificates. Applicants for Chinese-taught programs must submit valid HSK reports in accordance with the corresponding Chinese proficiency requirements. Applicants for other language-taught programs shall provide relevant language proficiency certificates according to the universities’ requirements, like IELTS or TOFEL report.
- Pre-Admission Documents. All applicants must provide a pre-admission document issued by their university of choice.
- A Study Plan or Research Proposal in Chinese or English. (A minimum of 200 words for undergraduates, 500 words for non-degree students, and 800 words for postgraduates.)
- Recommendation letters.
- Example of Art. To apply for art or design related majors.
- Applicants under the age of 18 should submit the valid documents of their legal guardians in China.
- Applicants who plan to stay in China in a period exceeding 6 months must submit a photocopy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form duly completed in English.
- Non-criminal record report.