Chinese Government Scholarship for South African students: the DHET nomination process for 2026/2027
Sources checked · Unofficial summary
South African candidates for the Chinese Government Scholarship are nominated by the Department of Higher Education (the Department), not by the universities they apply to. For the 2026/27 intake the notice describes two stages: applicants sent a DHET application form and supporting documents to the Department for screening by 30 September 2025, and candidates who met the minimum requirements were to be told how and where to apply on the Chinese Government's CSC online portal once it opened in November 2025.
Everything below comes from that one notice, published on the Department's international scholarships platform. Its dates belong to the 2026/27 call and have passed. The notice does not describe a later call, and it does not say when one would open or whether the terms would be the same; check the Department's platform for any newer notice.
Who received the applications
The Department received them. The notice states that the Department "is responsible for nominating candidates" and calls the first stage initial screening of the DHET application form and supporting documents. It does not say how many places were available for this intake.
Submission was by email to the address printed on the Department's page, with the subject line "Chinese Scholarship Application, [Your Surname]", by 30 September 2025. Documents had to be PDFs, clearly named — the notice gives the examples SurnameNamePassport, SurnameNameMatric and SurnameNameAcademicRecord — and photographs of documents were not accepted. The notice gives no agency number for the Chinese Government's portal and does not ask for paper copies.
On screening, the notice says all applications were reviewed by the Department "to determine eligibility based on the minimum requirements". Applicants who met them were to be informed and given further instructions, including how and where to submit on the CSC online portal, once it opened in November 2025. Applicants who did not meet the minimum criteria were notified by email; the notice adds that individual feedback was not provided to unsuccessful applicants.
Who was eligible
The notice lists four criteria:
- South African citizenship and good health, with a medical check required for successful applicants
- A strong academic record with a minimum 60% average in previous studies
- Availability to study in China from September 2026
- Demonstrated interest in China and commitment to the development of South Africa
It then states that postgraduate applicants, previously disadvantaged individuals, and applicants in priority fields were to receive preference.
Levels and language of study
The scholarship covered undergraduate (Bachelor's) studies, postgraduate (Master's or PhD) studies in a variety of fields, and non-degree Chinese language studies. Bachelor's programmes were taught in Chinese, but the notice says a Chinese language proficiency certificate was not a requirement to apply. Postgraduate programmes were taught in English.
Fields listed as priorities
The notice gives these as priority fields, "including but not limited to": agriculture; biotechnology; Chinese language studies; computer science; environment and climate change; engineering sciences; food science; hydrogeological engineering; maritime studies; natural and physical sciences; nuclear and renewable energy; space science and technology; telecommunications.
Education requirements and age limits
Age was calculated as of September 2026.
| Programme | Education requirement as printed | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese language studies (non-degree) | National Senior Certificate (or equivalent) with a minimum of 60%; applicants with a post-school qualification were to be given priority | Under 35 |
| Bachelor's degree | National Senior Certificate (or equivalent); the notice says a minimum 60% average "is recommended" | Under 25 |
| Master's degree | Bachelor's degree or NQF 7 qualification with a minimum of 60%; the notice states an Honours degree is not needed to apply | Under 35 |
| Doctoral degree | Master's degree with a minimum of 60% | Under 40 |
The notice adds two points for Bachelor's and Chinese language applicants: the 60% average excluded Life Orientation, and marks in prerequisite subjects for the chosen field were to be reviewed separately. For Master's and PhD applicants whose degrees were obtained outside South Africa, SAQA verification was required.
How long the scholarship lasted
| Programme | Length of programme | Preparatory Chinese language course | Length of scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese language studies | 1 year | None | Up to 2 years |
| Bachelor's degree | 4–5 years | 1–2 years | 4–7 years |
| Master's degree | 2–3 years | 1–2 years | 2–5 years |
| Doctoral degree | 3–4 years | 1–2 years | 3–6 years |
What the scholarship covered
The notice splits coverage into two parts. The Chinese government provided the following, printed as RMB per year:
| Programme | Tuition | Accommodation | Stipend | Medical insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese language studies | 20,000–27,000 | 8,400 | 30,000 | 800 |
| Bachelor's degree | 20,000–27,000 | 8,400 | 30,000 | 800 |
| Master's degree | 25,000–34,000 | 8,400 | 36,000 | 800 |
| Doctoral degree | 33,000–45,000 | 12,000 | 42,000 | 800 |
The South African government provided, as listed without amounts: return economy airfare; midterm economy airfare; a monthly stipend or allowance; a once-off settlement allowance; visa costs; a compulsory orientation programme before departure; a psychosocial support service; and research support.
The notice does not break these amounts down further or say how they were paid.
What the Department said about obligations
Successful applicants were required to sign a contract and to return to South Africa on completion of their studies. Studies had to be completed within the duration of the scholarship, as specified in the Admission Notice. The Department stated that it would provide no additional financial support beyond what is listed above, that applicants had to research programmes and institutions themselves and were responsible for ensuring the qualifications would be recognised in South Africa, and that the sponsor's information supersedes the notice if the two differ.
Documents for the DHET stage
The notice's general checklist, all in PDF format:
- Completed DHET application form
- Copy of a South African ID
- Copy of a passport valid until at least 1 December 2026; applicants without a valid passport could still apply, but a passport was required for submission to the Chinese Government when the call opened later in the year
- Academic records or transcripts
- Degree certificates, for Master's or PhD applicants
- A motivational letter of one page
- Two reference letters from teachers or supervisors
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form, for health clearance
- A non-criminal record report issued within the last six months
The notice then repeats the documents by programme. For each column it lists the application form, the South African ID, the passport home page (with validity later than 1 December 2026), a motivation letter of at most one page, and a non-criminal record report issued by the local public security authority, usually within six months before submission. Two items differ by programme:
| Document | Bachelor's or Chinese language programmes | Master's programmes | PhD programmes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference letters | Two, signed, on official letterhead, with a contact number and email address; at least one from a schoolteacher, the second from a teacher or a work supervisor | Two, same format; at least one from a lecturer or professor, the second from a lecturer or a work supervisor | Same as the Master's column |
| Admission documents from the applied university | — | Admission notices, pre-admission letters or invitations from professors; applicants with admission documents were to obtain priority in nomination | Same wording as the Master's column |
Both sets of reference letters had to give a substantiated assessment of the applicant's reliability, integrity, academic excellence and overall suitability for an international scholarship. The per-programme columns also list official transcripts of all previous university studies and a research proposal in Chinese or English, with a minimum of 1,000 words; the notice's column layout does not show which programme each of those two items belongs to.
Dates as printed
The page shows the date "10 October 2026" under its title, while its text describes the 2026/27 intake, with studies starting in 2026. This article reports both as they appear and does not treat the call as open.
- 30 September 2025 — deadline for the DHET application form and documents
- November 2025 — the Chinese Government's CSC online portal was to open, with further instructions sent to candidates who met the requirements
- September 2026 — the month from which applicants had to be available to study in China, and the month used to calculate age
- 1 December 2026 — the passport validity the notice asked for
Questions people ask
Did the DHET application replace the CSC application?
No. The notice describes DHET screening as the first stage of the process, and says shortlisted candidates were to receive instructions on how and where to submit their application on the Chinese Government's CSC online portal once it opened in November 2025.
Was a Chinese language certificate needed for a Bachelor's degree?
The notice says Bachelor's programmes were taught in Chinese, and that a Chinese language proficiency certificate was not a requirement to apply.
How many places were available?
The notice does not say. It gives levels, durations and coverage, but no number of awards.
Who paid for travel?
The South African government side of the award included return economy airfare and midterm economy airfare, along with a monthly stipend or allowance, a once-off settlement allowance and visa costs. The notice gives no amounts for these items.
Did successful applicants have to come home afterwards?
Yes. The notice says successful scholarship applicants were required to sign a contract and return to South Africa upon completion of their studies.
Sources
- CHINA: Chinese Government Scholarship 2026/2027 — Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), South Africa (internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za) Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary and is not published by the Department of Higher Education and Training or any other body named here; if this summary and the official notice differ, the official notice prevails.