How to Get a Fully Funded Scholarship in China (2027 Step-by-Step Guide)

If you want to know how to get a fully funded scholarship in China, start with this: China funds thousands of international students every year, and many of those awards are fully funded, with no tuition, a free room or a housing allowance, a monthly stipend and medical insurance. The catch is that there is no single application. There are several scholarship families, two application routes and a lot of paperwork.

This guide walks you through the whole process for September 2027 entry, from choosing a scholarship to landing in China with the right visa. It covers bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study.

We checked every figure against official notices on 10 October 2026. The 2027–28 calls for most scholarships are not published yet, so the dates below come from the 2026–27 cycle and are marked as such. Always follow the notice of the embassy or university you apply to.

Key facts at a glance

Main scholarship	Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), run by the China Scholarship Council
Other fully funded options	CAS-ANSO, city and provincial scholarships, university scholarships, MOFCOM, International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship
Study levels	Bachelor’s, master’s and PhD (plus non-degree programmes)
CSC monthly stipend	2,500 CNY (bachelor’s), 3,000 CNY (master’s), 3,500 CNY (PhD)
Also covered by CSC	Tuition, free dormitory or accommodation subsidy, medical insurance (800 CNY a year)
Application routes	Type A (embassy or national agency) and Type B (directly through a Chinese university)
Official portal	campuschina.org (Chinese Government Scholarship Information System)
2027–28 deadlines	Not announced yet. Last cycle: university deadlines from December 2025 to April 2026, embassy deadlines mostly in February 2026
New for bachelor’s applicants	CSCA test score required for CSC bachelor’s applications
Studies begin	September 2027

Types of fully funded scholarships in China

Most students apply for more than one of these. Start with the CSC, then add the others that fit your level and profile.

1. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

This is the largest programme. It is funded by China’s Ministry of Education and managed by the China Scholarship Council. In the 2026–27 call, a full CSC award covered:

• Tuition fees
• A free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy
• A monthly stipend (see the table below)
• Comprehensive medical insurance: 800 CNY per person per year (400 CNY for programmes shorter than six months)

Study level	Monthly stipend (CNY)	Yearly total (CNY)
Bachelor’s	2,500	30,000
Master’s (and general scholars)	3,000	36,000
PhD (and senior scholars)	3,500	42,000

Return flights are not part of the standard award, although a few country-specific embassy quotas include them. The scholarship can also add one year of Chinese language study before a Chinese-taught degree. Read more on our Chinese Government Scholarship page and in the detailed CSC Scholarship application guide.

2. CAS-ANSO Scholarship

Offered with the Chinese Academy of Sciences for master’s and PhD study at USTC, UCAS and CAS institutes. In the 2026 call it paid 3,000 CNY a month for master’s students and 6,000 to 7,000 CNY a month for PhD students, plus a tuition waiver and insurance. You need a host supervisor before you apply. The 2026 call opened on 15 October 2025 and closed on 31 January 2026 (see the official ANSO scholarship notice). See our CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027 listing and application guide.

3. City and provincial government scholarships

Many cities and provinces fund international students at their own universities. The Shanghai Government Scholarship is a good example. Its Category A award is a full scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses and medical insurance, while Category B is partial. Shanghai says applications are generally accepted from February to April through each university. Other regions run similar schemes, and you usually apply through the university’s own portal.

4. University scholarships

Most large universities have their own awards. Some are fully funded, some cover tuition only, and some are renewed year by year after a review. Check the exact benefits before you accept. Our pages on Tsinghua University scholarships and Peking University scholarships are a good starting point.

5. MOFCOM Scholarship

China’s Ministry of Commerce funds English-taught master’s and PhD degrees for professionals from developing countries. In 2026, applicants had to be under 45 with at least three years of work experience. The award covered tuition, free accommodation, 36,000 CNY a year for master’s students or 42,000 CNY for PhD students, insurance, a one-off 3,000 CNY settlement fee and international airfare. You apply through the Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s Office of the Chinese embassy in your country, which closed applications between late April and early June 2026 depending on the country.

6. International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (CLEC)

Run by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and often promoted through Confucius Institutes. It suits students and teachers of Chinese aged 16 to 35 (45 for serving teachers). It covers tuition, accommodation, a stipend (2,500 CNY a month for undergraduates and one-year students, 3,000 CNY for master’s, 3,500 CNY for PhD) and insurance. Decisions are based mainly on HSK and HSKK scores. For September 2026 entry the deadline was 15 May 2026.

7. Schwarzman Scholars and Yenching Academy

These are highly selective, one-year or two-year master’s programmes at Tsinghua University and Peking University, with their own applications and deadlines. See Schwarzman Scholars and the Yenching Academy Scholarship.

One rule to remember: a CSC award cannot be combined with another scholarship from Chinese government bodies or universities (one-off prizes aside), and the Shanghai scholarship has a similar rule. University notices for the 2026–27 CSC warned that students who hide double funding lose the award, must repay it and can be barred from applying for three years.

Who can apply

These are the CSC rules from the 2026–27 call. Other scholarships are similar, but check their own notices.

• You are not a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and you are in good physical and mental health.
• Bachelor’s: high school graduate, under 25.
• Master’s: bachelor’s degree holder, under 35.
• PhD: master’s degree holder, under 40.
• Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 3 for bachelor’s, HSK 4 for master’s and PhD.
• English-taught programmes: IELTS, TOEFL or other proof, as each university requires.
• Bachelor’s applicants: a valid CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) score report.

The CSCA is new. It started in the 2026–27 cycle, and the official site, csca.cn, lists test dates on 14–15 November 2026, 19–20 December 2026 and 23–24 January 2027. Registration for the November test runs from 15 to 21 October 2026 (Beijing time). Ask your target university which subjects your major needs.

You can apply before you graduate. Final-year students submit official proof of student status instead of the degree. Keep your original certificates safe, because universities check them when you register.

Documents checklist

This list follows the 2026–27 CSC notice. Universities can add items, such as a CV or a separate portal form.

Document	What to know
CSC application form	Generated after you submit on campuschina.org, in Chinese or English
Passport	Clear scan of the information page. Renew it if it has less than 12 months’ validity from your start date
Highest degree certificate	Notarised. Final-year students give official proof of student status
Transcripts	Official copies. Documents not in Chinese or English need notarised translations. Many universities also ask for notarised transcripts
Study plan or research proposal	At least 200 words for bachelor’s and 800 words for postgraduate study. Some universities ask for more
Two recommendation letters	For master’s and PhD: from professors or associate professors, in Chinese or English
Pre-admission document	Pre-admission notice or a professor’s invitation (acceptance) letter. The 2026–27 notice required it from all applicants; some universities issue it during their own review
Language certificate	HSK for Chinese-taught programmes; IELTS, TOEFL or similar for English-taught ones
CSCA score report	Bachelor’s applicants only
Foreigner Physical Examination Form	Completed in English, with doctor’s signature, hospital stamp and sealed photo. Valid for 6 months
Non-criminal record	Issued by local police, usually within 6 months before you apply
Art portfolio	Art and design applicants only

Upload clear, colour scans. The CSC notice says applicants bear the consequences of unreadable files.

Type A vs Type B: which route should you take?

	Type A (bilateral or embassy route)	Type B (Chinese university route)
Where you apply	Chinese embassy or the agency your government names	A Chinese university that recruits CSC students
Who selects you first	The embassy or national agency	The university
Agency number	Your country’s number, for example 7521 for Sweden in 2026–27	The university’s number, for example 10335 for Zhejiang University
Extra portal	Sometimes a national form	Usually the university’s own portal as well
How many	As set by your embassy	Only one Type B application per academic year
Deadlines last cycle	Usually February 2026 in the notices we checked; some national agencies were earlier	From December 2025 to April 2026

The agency number is the code you type into the CSC form. It tells the system where to send your file. Copy it from the official notice of your embassy or university, never from a forum. A wrong number sends your application to the wrong place.

Many students apply through both routes in the same year: one Type A application through their embassy and one Type B application through a university. In Pakistan, for example, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) runs the Type A route and has set its own test and an earlier deadline in recent cycles, so check the HEC page early.

How to get a fully funded scholarship in China, step by step

1. Choose your level and scholarships. Bachelor’s applicants focus on the CSC (with the CSCA) and university awards. Master’s and PhD applicants can add CAS-ANSO, city scholarships and, if they qualify, MOFCOM.
2. Build an academic CV. It is longer than a job CV. Put education, research, thesis, publications, conferences, awards and relevant technical skills first. Leave out generic skills such as basic Office. Our research CV template helps.
3. Shortlist programmes and supervisors. Search campuschina.org for English-taught programmes in your subject, then read the department pages of each university.
4. Email professors for a pre-admission or acceptance letter. Bachelor’s applicants skip this step and get pre-admission from the admissions office instead.
5. Prepare your documents. Start notarisation, the medical form and the police certificate early, keeping the 6-month validity in mind.
6. Apply online. Fill in the CSC form on campuschina.org, choose Type A or B and enter the agency number. Then complete the university portal if asked.
7. Interviews and results. Some embassies and universities interview candidates. In the last cycle, Chang’an University said CSC shortlists would be out by 30 June 2026.
8. Admission and visa. Winners receive an admission notice and a JW201 or JW202 visa form, often in August. Apply for an X1 student visa (for stays over 180 days), then get a residence permit within 30 days of arriving in China.

How to find a supervisor

For master’s and PhD scholarships, a professor who agrees to take you is often the difference between success and silence.

• Define your research interest. It is what you want to study next, not only what you studied before. Read five or six recent papers in a topic you enjoy and write two sentences on the question you want to explore.
• Use university websites. Look for “Faculty”, “People” or “Teachers” on the school or college pages. Official addresses usually end in .edu.cn.
• Use papers. Search Google Scholar or journal sites for your keywords and note authors based at Chinese universities.
• Check before you write. Confirm the professor is still at the university and still works in your area.

Writing the acceptance letter email

Keep it short, specific and personal. A good structure:

• Subject: “Prospective master’s student for CSC 2027: [your topic]”
• Opening: your name, degree, university and grades in one sentence.
• The match: one recent paper of theirs and how it connects to your interest.
• Your evidence: a project, thesis or publication and two relevant skills.
• The ask: would they consider supervising you and issuing an acceptance letter for the September 2027 intake?
• Attachment: your CV as a PDF, nothing else.

Send one email per professor, never a group email. Avoid China’s National Day week (early October) and the Spring Festival. If there is no reply after about a week, follow up once. Our full guide on how to email professors for China scholarships includes a template.

Study plan tips

• Start with your background: degree, strongest subjects and any project or thesis.
• Say exactly what you will study: programme, specialisation and, for research degrees, your research question.
• Explain why this university and supervisor: name a lab, course or professor.
• Give a year-by-year plan, including a Chinese language year if your programme has one.
• End with your goals after graduation and how they link to your home country.
• Meet the word count: at least 200 words for bachelor’s and 800 for postgraduate study under the CSC rules, or more if your university asks.

For a ready structure, use our study plan template or research proposal template.

Timeline for September 2027 entry

When	What to do	Status
October 2026	Register for the CSCA (15–21 Oct for the November test); build your CV; shortlist universities	CSCA dates confirmed on csca.cn
Mid-October 2026 to January 2027	CAS-ANSO call expected; last call ran 15 Oct 2025 to 31 Jan 2026	Expected, based on 2026 cycle
October to December 2026	Email professors; book the medical exam and police certificate; notarise documents	Your preparation
Late October 2026 to January 2027	CSC embassy and university calls expected to open	Expected, based on 2026–27 cycle
December 2026 to April 2027	CSC Type B deadlines (last cycle: Zhejiang 31 Dec 2025, USST 5 Mar 2026, Chang’an 28 Feb and 15 Apr 2026)	Expected
February 2027	Most CSC Type A embassy deadlines (last cycle: 8 to 22 February 2026)	Expected
February to April 2027	Shanghai Government Scholarship and many university awards	Expected
May to June 2027	MOFCOM and CLEC deadlines (last cycle: May to early June 2026)	Expected
June to August 2027	Results, admission notice and JW201/JW202	Expected
August to September 2027	X1 visa, travel, registration and residence permit	Expected

Common mistakes to avoid

• Entering the wrong agency number, or one copied from an old year.
• Submitting more than one Type B application in the same year.
• Applying for the CSC without a pre-admission document.
• Letting the medical form or police certificate expire before the visa stage.
• Bachelor’s applicants missing the CSCA registration window.
• Sending the same generic email to several professors in one department.
• Uploading blurry scans or certificates that are not notarised.
• Accepting a second Chinese government scholarship without declaring it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chinese Government Scholarship fully funded?

Yes, the full award covers tuition, accommodation or a subsidy, a monthly stipend of 2,500 to 3,500 CNY depending on level, and medical insurance. Some awards are partial, so read your offer.

Do I need IELTS to get a scholarship in China?

Not always. CSC rules leave English requirements to each university, and many accept other proof, such as an English-medium degree. Chinese-taught programmes need HSK instead.

Is an acceptance letter required?

For the 2026–27 CSC, embassy notices asked all applicants for a pre-admission document, which can be a professor’s invitation letter. CAS-ANSO also requires a supervisor.

Can I apply through Type A and Type B in the same year?

Yes, many students do. You may submit only one Type B application per academic year, though.

When is the 2027 CSC deadline?

It has not been announced yet. In the last cycle, university deadlines ran from December 2025 to April 2026 and the embassy deadlines we checked fell between 8 and 22 February 2026.

Can bachelor’s students get a fully funded scholarship in China?

Yes. The CSC funds bachelor’s degrees for applicants under 25, but you now need a CSCA score, and many bachelor’s programmes are taught in Chinese, so HSK matters.

Is there an application fee?

The CSC itself does not list one, but some universities charge a fee on their own portals. CAS-ANSO waives it.

Find your scholarship in China

Ready to start? Browse every China scholarship we track, with deadlines and eligibility, in our list of fully funded scholarships in China for 2027. Open calls now include the JUSTCOOL PhD programme at Fudan, SJTU and Tongji, which closes on 14 November 2026.

• Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027–28
• CAS-ANSO Scholarship 2027
• JUSTCOOL PhD Programme 2027
• Tsinghua University Scholarships
• Peking University Scholarships
• Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027
• Schwarzman Scholars 2028–29

Not sure how many to apply for? Read how many scholarships you should apply for, then build your shortlist this week.