Chinese Government Scholarship for a master's degree: age 35, HSK Level 4 and a 1,000-word study plan
Sources checked · Unofficial summary
A master's applicant needs a bachelor's degree and to be under 35 at the time of applying, according to the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship published by the China Scholarship Council. If the programme is taught in Chinese, the guide requires a pass in HSK (Level 4); for programmes taught in another language, it defers to each university's own language and academic entry requirements. The application also calls for a study or research plan of no less than 1,000 words and two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors.
Everything below comes from that one guide. Where the guide does not state something, this page says so rather than filling the space from another programme's rules.
What the guide requires of a master's applicant
The eligibility section lists the conditions in eleven numbered items. Only some of them apply to a master's application; the others cover undergraduates, doctoral candidates or scholars.
- Citizenship of a country other than the People's Republic of China, and good mental and physical health.
- An academically excellent bachelor's degree or its equivalent, with the applicant under the age of 35 when applying.
- HSK (Level 4) passed, for a Chinese-taught master's programme.
- For a programme taught in a language other than Chinese, satisfaction of the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others.
The guide does not say how "academically excellent" is measured, and it gives no grade-point threshold. It also does not set a separate work-experience requirement for master's applicants.
Language: what the guide says about HSK Level 4
The eligibility list assigns HSK levels by programme type, and the level for postgraduate study is the highest of the three it names.
| Applicant type in the guide | Requirement stated |
|---|---|
| Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme | Passed HSK (Level 4) |
| Chinese-taught general scholar programme (excluding Chinese language majors) | Passed HSK (Level 3) |
| Chinese-taught senior scholar programme | Passed HSK (Level 3) |
The documents section restates this as paperwork: applicants for master's, doctoral, general scholar and senior scholar programmes taught in Chinese must submit a valid HSK score report that meets the corresponding requirement.
For programmes taught in other languages, the same item asks for relevant language proficiency certificates, "such as IELTS or TOEFL score reports", in accordance with the requirements of each university. The guide does not name a minimum IELTS or TOEFL score, and it does not say which programmes are taught in languages other than Chinese.
Note also what the guide does not attach to master's applications: the CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) score report is listed as a requirement for bachelor's degree applicants only.
Study plan and recommendation letters
The documents section sets length thresholds that differ by student category. For postgraduates — the group a master's applicant falls into — the study or research plan must be no less than 1,000 words or characters, written in Chinese or in English. The same section uses 200 words for undergraduates and 500 words for scholars, which is why copying another applicant's instructions will produce the wrong length.
Recommendation letters follow their own rule. An applicant for a postgraduate programme must submit two letters in Chinese or in English, and both must come from professors or associate professors. The guide does not specify a template, a word count, or whether the referees must be at a Chinese institution.
The rest of the master's application file
The other items in the documents list apply to master's applicants too, so they belong in the same plan:
- Complete the online Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship.
- Upload a clear scan of the information page of your ordinary passport. If the passport expires less than 12 months from the expected start date of study, renew it first and apply with the new one.
- Provide a notarised photocopy of your highest diploma. If you are still a student, submit your university's certificate of expected graduation or student status instead.
- Provide academic records. Records in a language other than Chinese or English need a notarised translation into Chinese or English.
- Obtain a pre-admission document from the university you are applying to — for example a pre-admission notice from its international student admission department, or an invitation letter from a school or professor.
- Add your own works, such as videos or paintings, if you are applying for an arts or design programme.
- If you will study in China for more than six months, submit a photocopy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. It must be the form printed by Chinese quarantine authorities, filled in in English, covering every listed item, and signed, stamped and sealed with your photograph; the results are valid for six months.
- Submit a valid Certificate of Non-Criminal Record (or Police Clearance Certificate) from your local public security authority, usually issued within six months before you apply.
Applicants under 18 must also submit legal documents of their guardian in China. That item appears in the guide without reference to a particular programme category.
Stipend and other coverage for master's students
Section III lists the scholarship coverage, and master's students share a line with general scholars.
| Item | Coverage stated for master's students |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Tuition fees |
| Accommodation | Free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy |
| Stipend | CNY 3,000 per month |
| Medical insurance | Comprehensive medical insurance |
For comparison, the same section puts undergraduates at CNY 2,500 per month and doctoral students and senior scholars at CNY 3,500 per month. Medical insurance is stated as CNY 800 per person per year, or CNY 400 per person for programmes lasting less than six months. The guide does not state how long master's funding runs, nor whether it covers the whole degree programme.
Which programme routes accept postgraduates
Section I divides the scholarship into four routes, and they do not all accept master's applicants. "Postgraduates" is the category used in the guide; it is the group a master's applicant belongs to.
- Bilateral Program — based on cooperation agreements between the Chinese government and other governments or institutions. Open to undergraduates, postgraduates, general scholars and senior scholars. Apply through the dispatching department in your home country.
- University Program — finances international students directly selected and recommended by designated Chinese universities; the supporting student categories vary and are subject to each university's own requirements. Apply directly to a participating Chinese university. (In the saved text of this page, one word of this sentence is masked; this summary does not guess it.)
- Designated Scholarship Programs — set up under agreements between China and international organisations or institutions. Apply through the organisation concerned.
- Student Exchange Program — supports general and senior scholars for training of no more than 12 months. Apply through Chinese universities and their foreign partners.
Within the designated programs, the accompanying table names target groups and supporting categories individually:
| Program | Who it targets | Does it list postgraduates? | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Wall Program | Students and scholars from developing countries | Yes | National Commission for UNESCO in the home country |
| EU Program | Students and scholars from EU member states | Yes | Office for Education and Culture, Mission of the PRC to the EU |
| AUN Program | Students and scholars from ASEAN member states | Yes — postgraduates only | AUN Secretariat |
| PIF Program | Students and scholars from Pacific Island countries | Yes | Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat |
| WMO Program | Those in meteorological research | Yes | WMO |
The AUN Program is the narrowest of those rows: postgraduates are the only supporting category it lists. The usual way to reach most of these routes is through the receiving agency named in each row, not directly.
Two further points sit outside these four routes. The Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship has its own categories on this site, and the general steps common to applications are set out in the how-to-apply page. For a master's application under one of the CGS routes, see Chinese Government Scholarship.
Questions people ask
Is 35 a hard cut-off, or does it mean "usually under 35"?
The guide states the condition as being "under the age of 35 when applying for a Master's program", alongside the other eligibility items in the same numbered list. It does not describe exceptions or discretion for applicants above that age.
Does every master's programme require HSK Level 4?
Only the Chinese-taught ones, per item 10 of the eligibility list. Programmes taught in another language fall under item 11, which refers to the language proficiency and academic requirements of the university of preference instead.
How many words does the study plan need to be?
At least 1,000 words or characters for postgraduates, written in Chinese or English. Applicants sometimes use the 500-word scholar threshold by mistake; that one belongs to a different category.
Who can write the recommendation letters?
Professors or associate professors, and you need two of them. The letters may be written in Chinese or in English. The guide does not ask for them to be from a particular institution.
Does the master's stipend differ from the undergraduate one?
Yes. The coverage section lists CNY 3,000 per month for master's students and general scholars, against CNY 2,500 per month for undergraduates.
Can I apply if I am still finishing my bachelor's degree?
The documents list allows a current university student to submit a certificate of expected graduation or student status issued by their university in place of the diploma.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, China Scholarship Council (Campus China, campuschina.org)
Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by the China Scholarship Council, Campus China or any university, and if it differs from the official notice, the official notice prevails.