Chinese Government Scholarship (2026) Apply for Fully Funded CSC Awards

November 2, 2024
by
Abdul Wahab

The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2026 provides full financial support for international students to pursue higher education. This program funds students who enroll in bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees at over 270 Chinese universities. The China Scholarship Council administers the program to promote global educational cooperation.

The scholarship covers tuition fees, on-campus housing, and comprehensive medical insurance. Successful applicants receive a monthly living stipend to manage their personal costs in China. The award supports various academic fields, such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, and social sciences.

Applicants must submit their materials through the official Campus China portal to be considered for an award. The selection committee evaluates candidates based on their academic transcripts, study plans, and language proficiency scores. You must provide two recommendation letters, if you apply for a postgraduate program.

Scholarship Summary

Level of Study: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees.
Location: China.
Institution(s): 270+ participating universities, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Zhejiang University.
Program Period: 3 to 7 years, depending on the degree level and language requirements.
Course Offered: All academic disciplines approved by the Ministry of Education.
Deadline: February 15, 2026 (for most Embassy Type A tracks) and April 30, 2026 (for University Type B tracks).

Scholarship Coverage

The CSC scholarship offers a complete funding package to remove financial barriers for international students. The program provides a full tuition waiver and free university dormitory accommodation. If you live off-campus, you receive a monthly housing subsidy of 700 to 1,000 yuan.

The monthly living stipend varies by the academic level of the recipient:

2,500 yuan for undergraduate students.
3,000 yuan for master’s degree students.
3,500 yuan for doctoral degree students.

Recipients also receive comprehensive medical insurance valued at 800 yuan per year. The scholarship covers the cost of Chinese language preparatory courses, if your program requires them. You must pass an annual review of your academic performance to maintain this funding.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship, you must meet these specific requirements:

Nationality: You must be a non-Chinese citizen and possess a valid foreign passport.
Health: Applicants must be in good physical and mental health as verified by an official medical exam.
Age Limits: Candidates for bachelor’s degrees must be under 25 years old. Master’s applicants must be under 35, and doctoral candidates must be under 40.
Education: You must hold a high school diploma for undergraduate study or a bachelor’s degree for master’s programs.
New Requirement: Undergraduate applicants must submit a China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) score report, if they apply for the 2026 intake.

Application Process

Follow these detailed steps to submit a successful CSC scholarship application:

Select a Category: Choose Type A to apply through your local Chinese embassy or Type B to apply directly through a Chinese university.
Find an Agency Number: Obtain the specific five-digit code for your chosen embassy or university to use on the application portal.
Register Online: Create an account on the CSC Information System (https://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn) and fill out the personal information form.
Upload Documents: Provide scanned copies of your notarized highest diploma, academic transcripts, and a non-criminal record report.
Submit a Study Plan: Write a detailed research proposal or study plan of at least 800 to 1,000 words.
Medical Form: Upload the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, which must be signed and stamped by a physician within the last 6 months.

Deadline

You must adhere to the specific timelines set by your application receiving agency:

January to February 2026: General deadline for Type A (Embassy Track) applications.
March to April 2026: General deadline for Type B (University Track) applications.
February 8, 2026: Specific deadline for several Silk Road and high-level postgraduate programs.