Chinese Government Scholarship programmes: the four routes and who takes your application
Sources checked · Unofficial summary
The Chinese Government Scholarship is not one application. The official guide published on Campus China sets out four routes: the Bilateral Program, the University Program, the Designated Scholarship Programs and the Student Exchange Program. Each route has its own receiving body, and that body, not the China Scholarship Council (CSC), is where your application starts.
The CSC is entrusted by China's Ministry of Education with the admission, enrolment and administration of scholarship recipients. It reviews candidates after the receiving body has recommended them.
The four routes at a glance
| Route | Who it is for | Where the application goes |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral Program | Applicants covered by an agreement between the Chinese government and another country's government or institutions | The dispatching department of your home country |
| University Program | International students recommended by a designated Chinese university | The Chinese university that runs the programme |
| Designated Scholarship Programs | Groups named in agreements between China and international organisations | The organisation concerned (see the next table) |
| Student Exchange Program | General and senior scholars on an exchange between a Chinese university and its foreign partner, for no more than 12 months | The Chinese university and its foreign partner |
The five Designated Scholarship Programs
| Programme | Target group | Study categories | Receiving body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Wall Program | Students and scholars from developing countries | Postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars | National Commission for UNESCO in the home country |
| EU Program | Students and scholars from EU member states | Undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars | Office for Education and Culture, Mission of the PRC to the EU |
| AUN Program | Students and scholars from ASEAN member states | Postgraduates | AUN Secretariat |
| PIF Program | Students and scholars from Pacific Island countries | Undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars, senior scholars | Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat |
| WMO Program | International students and scholars in meteorological research | Undergraduates, postgraduates | World Meteorological Organization |
What the routes share
The guide gives one set of rules for all four routes:
- Study categories. The scholarship sponsors undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars and senior scholars. Not every route takes every category, as the tables show.
- Coverage. Tuition, a free dormitory place or an accommodation subsidy, a monthly stipend and comprehensive medical insurance. The amounts are in what the scholarship pays.
- Eligibility. Age limits by study level, HSK levels for Chinese-taught programmes and the CSCA test for bachelor's applicants. See age limits, HSK and CSCA.
- Pre-admission. Every applicant must provide a pre-admission document issued by the university applied to.
For the University Program the guide does not list study categories. It says they vary and depend on each university's requirements.
Questions people ask
Can I apply to the CSC directly for the Chinese Government Scholarship?
Not under these four routes. The guide's process has you obtain admission documents from the university, go to an application receiving agency for a recommendation, and fill in the online application form. The receiving agency then submits the list of recommended candidates, and the CSC notifies that agency of the results.
Which route covers bachelor's study?
The guide lists undergraduates under the Bilateral Program and, among the designated programmes, the EU, PIF and WMO Programs. The Great Wall Program and the AUN Program do not list undergraduates. For the University Program, the categories depend on the university.
Does the guide give a deadline?
No. The guide states no application dates. Deadlines are set by the receiving body for each route, so ask the body that will take your application.
Source: Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, Campus China (China Scholarship Council). Checked 10 October 2026. This page is an unofficial summary and is not published by the CSC.