CSC Scholarship 2027–28 in China: Eligibility, Benefits, Documents and How to Apply

The Chinese Government Scholarship, widely known as the CSC Scholarship, is China’s main scholarship for international students. It funds bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study at hundreds of Chinese universities and is managed by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for China’s Ministry of Education. Applications for September 2027 entry are expected to open in December 2026 or January 2027.

This guide explains the two application routes, what the scholarship pays for, who can apply, the documents you need, the usual timeline and how to apply step by step. Dates for 2027 are estimates based on the previous cycle, because embassies and universities set their own deadlines. It was last checked on 4 October 2026.

CSC Scholarship 2027–28 at a glance

What is the CSC Scholarship?

The scholarship is paid by the Chinese government to bring international students to Chinese universities. It supports degree study at all three levels and can include a year of Chinese language preparation before the degree starts. Programmes are taught in Chinese or in English, depending on the university and subject.

The two ways to apply: Type A and Type B

This is the first decision you make, because it sets your deadline, your documents and the number you enter in the form.

• Type A, through a dispatching authority: you apply through the Chinese embassy in your country or the government body your country has named. They select candidates and recommend them to CSC.
• Type B, through a Chinese university: you apply directly to a university that takes part in the programme. The university selects candidates and nominates them to CSC.

Each embassy and each university has its own agency number. You must enter the correct one in the online form, or your application goes to the wrong place.

What does the CSC Scholarship cover?

• Tuition fees
• Free on-campus accommodation, or an accommodation allowance
• A monthly living stipend
• Comprehensive medical insurance

CSC’s published stipend rates in recent years have been 2,500 CNY a month for bachelor’s students, 3,000 CNY for master’s students and 3,500 CNY for PhD students. Confirm the current rates when the 2027 call opens. Some awards are partial and cover only part of these costs, so read the offer from your university or embassy carefully. International flights are generally not included.

Who can apply?

• You are not a Chinese citizen and you are in good health.
• Bachelor’s applicants are usually under 25 and hold a high school diploma.
• Master’s applicants are usually under 35 and hold a bachelor’s degree.
• PhD applicants are usually under 40 and hold a master’s degree.
• You meet the language requirement of your programme, in Chinese or English.

Universities and embassies can add their own conditions, such as minimum grades, so always check the notice of the route you choose.

Documents you need

• CSC online application form, printed after you submit it
• Degree certificates and transcripts, notarised
• Study plan or research proposal
• Two recommendation letters for master’s and PhD applicants
• Foreigner Physical Examination Form, completed by a doctor
• Passport copy
• Pre-admission or acceptance letter from a Chinese university or professor, if you have one

Notarisation and the medical form take time, so start them before the application opens. An acceptance letter is not always required, but it strengthens a university-route application for master’s and PhD study. Our guide on how to email professors for CSC and ANSO scholarships includes a template.

Expected timeline for 2027

These dates follow the pattern of earlier years. Your own deadline is the one published by your embassy or university.

How to apply for the CSC Scholarship, step by step

1. Choose your route. Decide between Type A (embassy or government) and Type B (university).
2. Choose your universities and programme. Use the Campus China website to find universities that take part and the subjects they offer.
3. Contact professors. For master’s and PhD study, write to potential supervisors and ask for an acceptance letter.
4. Prepare your documents. Notarise certificates, write your study plan, arrange recommendation letters and complete the medical form.
5. Fill in the online form. Register on the CSC application system, choose Type A or B, and enter the agency number of your embassy or university.
6. Submit and print. Submit the form online, download it and keep a copy.
7. Send documents if required. Follow the instructions of your embassy or university. Some also have their own online application.
8. Wait for the result. Results are usually announced in summer.

How CSC scholars are selected

Dispatching authorities and universities review the applications they receive and nominate candidates. CSC then reviews the eligibility and academic performance of the nominated candidates and approves the final list of scholarship recipients. This means your embassy or university makes the first decision, so their requirements matter most.

Tips to strengthen your application

• Write a study plan that names the programme, your research interest and why that university suits it.
• Send each professor a short, personal email that refers to their research.
• Apply early in the window. Do not wait for the final week.
• Keep every document clear, complete and in English or Chinese.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Entering the wrong agency number.
• Sending one generic email to many professors.
• Using another country’s embassy deadline.
• Uploading certificates that are not notarised.
• Leaving the medical form until the deadline week.

How to write the CSC study plan

The study plan, or research proposal for PhD applicants, is the document reviewers use to judge whether you are ready for the programme. Keep it focused and specific:

• Start with your background: your degree, your strongest subjects and any project or thesis.
• State what you want to study: the programme, the specialisation and, for research degrees, the question you want to work on.
• Explain why this university: a course, a laboratory or a professor whose work matches yours.
• Give a timeline: what you will do in each year, including the Chinese language year if your programme has one.
• Finish with your plans after graduation and how they connect to your home country.

Bachelor’s and master’s applicants usually write 200 to 800 words, and PhD applicants more, but follow the limit in your application form. Our study plan template and research proposal template give a structure for each.

How to contact professors

For master’s and PhD applicants on the university route, a supervisor’s acceptance letter makes your application stronger, and some universities ask for it. Start two to three months before the deadline:

1. Find professors in your field on the university’s department pages and read their recent papers.
2. Send a short, personal email with your CV. Say who you are, what you want to research and why their group fits.
3. Write to one professor at a time, and avoid Chinese public holidays and university breaks.
4. If there is no reply after about a week, send one polite follow-up, then move on to the next professor.
5. When a professor agrees, ask for the acceptance letter in the university’s format.

Our guide on emailing professors includes a template and timing advice.

After you are selected

Successful candidates receive an admission notice and a visa application form for study in China from their university or embassy. You use these to apply for a student visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country. After you arrive, you register with the university, complete the health check it requires and apply for a residence permit. Keep copies of your notarised documents, because the university will ask to see the originals.

Frequently asked questions

Is IELTS required for the CSC Scholarship?

It depends on the programme and university. English-taught programmes ask for proof of English, and Chinese-taught programmes ask for Chinese proficiency. Check the requirement of each university you apply to.

Do I need an acceptance letter?

Not always. It is optional on many routes, but it helps master’s and PhD applicants who apply through a university.

What is the agency number?

It is the code of the embassy or university handling your application. You enter it in the online form. Each one has a different number.

When is the CSC Scholarship deadline?

There is no single date. Deadlines usually fall between January and April and are set by each embassy and university.

Is the CSC Scholarship fully funded?

Most awards cover tuition, accommodation, a stipend and medical insurance. Some are partial, so check what your offer includes.

Where to apply

Find programmes and the application system on the official Campus China website. For benefits, eligibility and the expected deadline in one place, see our CSC Scholarship page. You can also use our academic CV template, statement of purpose guide and recommendation letter guide.