Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

Full award covers tuition, accommodation (dormitory or subsidy), comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly living allowance of roughly CNY 2,500 to 3,500 depending on level. International flights are not included for most routes. Check the current rates in your embassy notice.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• You must be a non-Chinese citizen with a valid foreign passport and be in good physical and mental health.
• Age limits are usually under 25 for a bachelor's, under 35 for a master's and under 40 for a doctorate. Senior scholar categories have higher limits.
• You need the matching prior education: senior high school for a bachelor's, a bachelor's for a master's, a master's for a doctorate.
• Bachelor's applicants must take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and upload a score report.
• You must meet your target university's language requirement: HSK for Chinese-taught programs, or IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79 for English-taught programs at some universities.
• You cannot hold another Chinese government scholarship at the same time.

Opens around October to December and closes between January and February, set by each embassy or university. The 2026/27 round closed early February 2026 in most countries. The 2027/28 round dates are not published yet, check campuschina.org and the Chinese embassy for your country.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Online application form and CSC application form
• Passport information page and passport-style photo
• Highest diploma and transcripts, notarised or verified
• Study plan or research proposal (about 3,000 words for a master's and 6,000 for a doctorate at some universities)
• Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors (graduate applicants)
• Language certificate (HSK, IELTS or TOEFL, or an English-medium certificate)
• Non-criminal record certificate and physical examination form, each dated within six months
• Pre-admission document from a target university, and the CSCA score report for bachelor's applicants

1. 1

   Step 1: Pick your category and universities

   Bilateral Program places are nominated through your home country's education authority or the Chinese embassy. Chinese University Program places are applied for through the university. Choose programs and check each university's own deadline.
2. 2

   Step 2: Get a pre-admission or invitation letter

   Many universities require you to apply to them first and may issue a pre-admission document before you submit the CSC form. Some have earlier deadlines, such as 12 January or 12 February.
3. 3

   Step 3: Complete the CSC online application

   Apply at campuschina.org using the Agency Number your institution or embassy gives you. The program category and agency number must match. The CSC says the portal is the only official route, with no authorised agents.
4. 4

   Step 4: Submit university forms and documents

   Upload the documents to the university system if it asks, and send paper documents to the embassy only when your embassy requires it.
5. 5

   Step 5: Review and result

   The university and then the CSC review the application, with an interview at some universities. Results appear on the portal around July and August, then you collect the admission notice and visa form.

• You may not hold another Chinese government scholarship at the same time. Hiding other funding can lead to cancellation, repayment and a three-year ban from applying.
• You must meet the university's academic and language progress requirements to keep the award.

• Use only campuschina.org and your embassy or university. The CSC does not authorise intermediaries, and paid agents are a common scam.
• Book the CSCA early if you want a bachelor's place. Test dates are limited and fall before the January to February deadlines.
• Contact your target university's international office first. Each university sets its own deadline, language rule and extra documents inside the CSC framework.
• I could not find a Nigeria-specific 2026/27 notice. Confirm the quota, deadline and route with the Chinese Embassy in your country.

Checked against these official pages on 17 Oct 2026.

• Embassy of China, 2026/2027 Chinese Government Scholarship application (Medan notice, programme rules) (opens in a new tab)
• Embassy of China in Bangladesh, CGS/CSC Type A announcement (benefits) (opens in a new tab)
• Sun Yat-sen University, 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program guide (opens in a new tab)
• Embassy of China in Ireland, 2026/27 notice (official portal and agents warning) (opens in a new tab)