ⅠA Brief Introduction of Chinese Government Scholarship Programmes

In order to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people from the rest of the world, and to enhance cooperation and exchanges in the fields of education, science & technology, culture, economics and trade between China and other countries, the Chinese government has set up a series of scholarship schemes to sponsor international students and scholars to undertake studies and research in Chinese institutions of higher education.

The Ministry of Education of P. R. China (MOE) is responsible for the provision of Chinese government scholarships, and entrusts China Scholarship Council (CSC) to administer the recruitment of international students and the routine management of Chinese Government Scholarship Programmes.

International students under Chinese Government Scholarship Programmes will be placed in 94 Chinese institutions of higher education designated by the MOE. There are over 300 subjects in sciences, technology, agronomy, medicine, economics, law, management, education, history, liberal arts and philosophy available for international students in these institutions.

We welcome outstanding students, scholars and teachers from all over the world to come to study or undertake research in institutions of higher education in China.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES AND APPLICATIONS

1. The Chinese Government Scholarship Scheme
Established by the MOE in accordance with educational exchange agreements or MOUs reached by the Chinese government and governments of other countries or international organizations, it provides both full and partial scholarships for international students and scholars. The scheme supports students to study in China as undergraduates, postgraduates, Chinese language students, visiting scholars and senior visiting scholars. Applicants may apply for scholarship through education authorities, designated institutions or Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries.

2. CHINA/UNESCO the Great Wall Fellowship Scheme
It is a full scholarship scheme established by the MOE for candidates recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Only visiting and senior visiting scholar candidates are eligible. Applicants may apply either to UNESCO headquarters or to the UNESCO national committee in the applicants' home countries.

3. Distinguished International Students Scholarship Scheme
It was established by the MOE to sponsor outstanding international students who have accomplished their previous studies in China and are enrolled by designated Chinese institutions as Master's or Doctoral degree candidates in the next academic year. It includes full or partial scholarships. Applicants may apply for scholarships to the CSC through the recommendation of their Chinese hosting institutions.

4. HSK Winner Scholarship Scheme
It is a full scholarship scheme established by the MOE to support international students who are the winners in the HSK test (Chinese Proficiency Test) held overseas to study Chinese in China. Applicants may apply to the CSC through the HSK test organizing institutions or Chinese diplomatic missions.

5. Chinese Cultural Research Fellowship Scheme
This scheme was established by the MOE to sponsor overseas scholars and specialists in Chinese culture to conduct short-term research in China. Applicants may apply to the CSC directly, or through the recommendation of relevant Chinese institutions, professors or Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries.

6. The short-term Scholarship Scheme for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language
This is established by the MOE for foreign teachers who teach Chinese language as a second language to undertake short-term research and improvement in China. Applicants may apply to the CSC through Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries.

DETAILS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

1. Full scholarship: A Chinese government full scholarship covers tuition (or research) fees, Medical Insurance for International Students, basic learning materials costs, accommodation, living allowance, a one-time settlement subsidy and one inter-city travel allowance.
2. Partial scholarship: One or some items of the full scholarship.
3. International air travel: Applicants are expected to meet their own international travel costs unless there are bilateral agreements or arrangements.

For detailed information about the above scholarships, please refer to the attached Scholarship Application Procedures.

II. HOW TO APPLY CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

1. Application Approach and Recruitment Time
The period for recruiting international student under Chinese Government Scholarship Programmes is normally from the beginning of January to the end of April. Details on application procedures are determined by the consultation between Chinese diplomatic missions and the relevant authorities in the applicants' home country. Applicants may contact the relevant authorities or Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries for details.

2. Scholarship Applications
Applicants should meet the basic qualifications prescribed in the Application Procedures, and must fill in the application forms correctly as required. They also need to provide relevant application documents including notarized photocopies of diplomas, transcripts, study plans, health certificates and recommendation letters. Application documents for scholarships must reach the CSC before the deadline as specified in the Application Procedures via their Embassies in China or Chinese diplomatic missions in the applicants' home country. Application documents which arrive after the deadline will not be accepted. Please refer to the attached Application Procedures for details.
Application documents will not be returned whether the applicants are admitted by Chinese institutions or not. Documents such as original diplomas and original Foreigner Physical Examination Form must NOT be sent as application documents.

3. Selection of Higher Education Institutions and Specialties
Applicants for Chinese Government Scholarships must choose their host institutions and specialties from the institutions of higher education designated by the Ministry of Education of China. Please check the Directory of Chinese Institutions Admitting International Students under the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme or the website of CSC (http://www.csc.edu.cn) for details.

4. Language of Instruction
The Chinese institutions of higher education generally use Chinese as the language of instruction. Applicants with no command of Chinese are generally required to take Chinese language courses for 1-2 years before pursuing their major studies. In some institutions, some courses set for visiting, senior visiting sholars and postgraduate students can be conducted in English. Please refer to Directory of the Chinese Institutions Admitting International Students under Chinese Government Scholarship Programme for details.

III. RECRUITMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

CSC will review all the application documents received from the designated authorities to make necessary adjustments on the proposed institutions. Applications will not be processed if they are not compliant with recruitment regulations or the application documents are incomplete. Qualified applications will be forwarded to different institutions and the final decision whether to admit the applicants or not will be made by the institutions. Finalized placements, specialties and duration of studies are in principle not to be changed. If the applicant has been contacted by or admitted by an institution (listed in the Directory) prior to application, the applicant is requested to enclose relevant admission letters for the reference of the host institution.
Scholarship applicants accepted by Chinese institutions will be officially confirmed as Chinese Government Scholarship students with endorsement from the Ministry of Education of China.

CSC will send the List of Admitted Students, Admission Notice and Visa Application Form for Study In China (JW201) to the relevant dispatching authorities by July 31, so as to have the documents forwarded to the students.

IV. VISA APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION IN CHINA

1. Visa Application
Students under the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme should apply for a visa to study in China at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General with the original documents and one set of photocopies of the Admission Notice, Visa Application for Study In China (JW201) and Foreigner Physical Examination Form, and a valid ordinary passport.
Scholarship students who are going to stay in China for more than 6 months will need to apply for "X" visa, while those who will stay less than 6 months will need to apply for "F" visa. The scholarship students must enter China with the original copies of the above documents. A person coming to China with other types of passports, visas or without the original documents will not be able to register with the institution, nor will they be able to apply for residence in China.

2. Registration
International students must arrive at and formally register in the institution at the time specified in the Admission Notice. Those who are unable to register before the specified time must ask for permission from the institution directly. Those who fail to register without the prior consent of the institution will be considered as voluntarily giving up their enrollment, and the scholarship will automatically be withdrawn.

3. Health Verification and Residence Registration
Health verification:
Scholarship students who are going to stay for more than 6 months must bring their passports, Admission Notice, and the original copies of Foreigner Physical Examination Form and the Blood Test Report to the local quarantine office within the time set to have their medical examinations verified. International students whose Foreigner Physical Examination Forms do not meet the requirements will have to re-take their medical examinations. Those who refuse to re-take the medical examination or are diagnosed as suffering from diseases that are not permitted to enter China under Chinese laws and regulations will be required to leave China. The costs of the medical examination and the international traveling expenses will be borne by the international students.

Residence registration:
After the health verification, scholarship students must apply for residence permission from the local police authority with their passports, Admission Notice and Foreigner Physical Examination Form.

TRANSIT SERVICE

1. The Transit Service Section for Chinese Government Scholarship Students will provide free transit service for new scholarship students who have to make a stopover in Beijing between August 28th and September 18th.
Embassies in China, the Chinese diplomatic missions concerned or individuals are requested to inform the Transit Service Section of the arrival date of the international students, as well as the numbers of flight or train one week in advance.
Address of the Transit Service Section for Chinese Government Scholarship Students are as follows:
International Students' Office
Beijing Language University
No. 15 Xueyuan Avenue, Haidian District
Beijing, 100083
P. R. China
Tel: 86-10-82303057
Fax: 86-10-82303923

2. Those who arrive in Beijing before or after the above-mentioned period of time or who have to make a stopover in cities other than Beijing will have to make their own arrangements to reach their universities. The universities shall reimburse the scholarship students for the cost of the hard-berth railway tickets between the entry port and the city where the university is located according to existing regulations.

THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

In accordance with the Measures for the Annual Review of Chinese Government Scholarship Status, scholarship students who have been approved to study in China for more than one year must participate in the Annual Review. The institutions will undertake the review comprehensively, including aspects of study performance, attitude towards study, attendance, behavior, award or penalty, etc. Those who pass the Annual Review will be qualified to have the scholarship for the following academic year. Those who fail in the Annual Review will be suspended from their scholarship for the following academic year or terminated. Please refer to the attached Measures for the Annual Review of Chinese Government Scholarships for details.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

The Chinese Government Scholarship scheme was established by the Ministry of Education of China in accordance with educational exchange agreements or understandings reached by the Chinese government and governments of other countries, educational organizations, institutions and relevant international organizations. The Chinese Government Scholarships provide both full and partial scholarships to international students and scholars. The China Scholarship Council (CSC) administers the recruitment of international students and the daily management of the Chinese Government Scholarship scheme.

1.Categories of Applicants and Duration of Scholarship

Chinese Language Pre-sessions are arranged prior to major studies. If the major courses for Doctoral and Master's degree students are conducted in English, then Chinese Language Pre-sessions will not be arranged. The duration of scholarship is determined at the time of admission.

2.Application Approach and Time
Applicants may apply to Chinese diplomatic missions or local authorities in charge of sending students abroad in their home countries. Application usually starts in January and ends in the middle of April.

3. Eligibility
1). Applicants must be non-Chinese nationals in good health.
2). Education qualifications and age limits:
a. Applicants for Undergraduate studies must have completed high schools with good grades, and be under the age of 25.
b. Applicants for Master's degree studies must be Bachelor's degree holders, and be under the age of 35.
c. Applicants for Doctoral degree studies must be Master's degree holders, and be under the age of 40.
d. Chinese language students must have finished high schools and be under the age of 35.
e. Visiting scholar candidates must have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies, and be under the age of 45.
f. Senior visiting scholar candidates must have a Masters degree or above, or hold academic titles of Associate Professor or above, and be under the age of 50.

4. Scholarship Standards
1). Full scholarship:
a. －－Exemption from registration and tuition fees, free basic learning materials, and accommodation.
b. －－Medical Insurance for International Students
c. －－Monthly living allowance is paid to the students from the institution at the following rates (in RMB yuan per month):
Undergraduates: 800
Chinese Language students: 1,100
Master' degree students and Visiting Scholars: 800 (undergraduates who have completed at least two years or university graduates: 1,100)
Doctoral degree students and Senior Visiting Scholars: 1,400
d. －－ Settlement subsidy (one-time and after registration)
RMB 300 yuan for new students studying in China for no more than six months
RMB 600 yuan for new students studying in China for one or more academic year(s)
2). Partial scholarship: one or some of the above-mentioned items of the full scholarship (one-time settlement subsidy and one-time inter-city travel allowance are not included).

5. Application documents
The applicants must fill in and provide the following documents genuinely and correctly.
1). Application Form for a Chinese Government Scholarship (printed by CSC). One original and one photocopy, in Chinese or in English
2). Notarized highest diploma photocopy. If applicants are university students or already employed, they should also provide documents proving they are university students or on-post employees. Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with Chinese or English translations.
3). Applicants for undergraduate studies must provide a notarized copy of high school transcripts. Applicants for other categories need to provide relevant notarized transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with Chinese or English translations.
4). A study or research plan in Chinese or English (no less than 200 words for undergraduates, no less than 400 words for visiting scholars, no less than 500 words for postgraduates).
5). Applicants for Master's or Doctoral degree studies and Senior Visiting Scholars must submit two letters of recommendation in Chinese or English by professors or associate professors. Applicants who apply in China for Master's or Doctoral degree studies must submit the Admission Notice of the Chinese higher education institutions.
6). Applicants for music major are requested to submit one cassette recording of the applicants' own work. Applicants for the fine arts must submit six colored photographs of personal works (two sketches, two colored paintings and two other types of works).
7). Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form (printed by Chinese quarantine authority) filled in English. The medical examinations must cover all the items listed in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Incomplete records or those without the signature of the attending physician, official stamp of the hospital or sealed photographs of the applicants are invalid. The medical examination results will be valid for 6 months. All applicants are advised to take this into consideration while determining when to take the medical examination.

The above documents should reach CSC by April 30th 2004 via either Chinese diplomatic missions in the applicants' home countries or the embassies of the applicants' home countries in China. CSC does not accept individual applications.

6.Selection of Institutions and Specialty
Applicants may choose 3 institutions and 1 specialty as personal preferences from the 94 Chinese Scholarship institutions designated by the Ministry of Education of China. Please look up the Directory of the Chinese Institutions Admitting International Students under the Chinese Government Scholarship (hereinafter referred to the Directory) or the website of CSC (http://www.csc.edu.cn) for details. Applicants are required to fill in their preferences of institutions and specialties only from the ones listed in the Directory.

7. Recruitment and Notification
CSC will review all the application documents and forward the qualified ones to the applied institutions according to the applicants' preference. The applied institutions will decide whether to admit the applicants. If the applicant has contacted and accepted by an institution (listed in the Directory) prior to application, please enclose the relevant admission letters as the reference to the host institution.

Applications will be seen as invalid and will not be processed if the applicants are not qualified according to the recruitment regulations or the application documents are incomplete. Usually, finalized placements, specialties and duration of studies cannot be changed.

Scholarship applicants accepted by Chinese institutions will be officially confirmed as Chinese Government Scholarship students with an endorsement from the Ministry of Education of China.

CSC will send the List of Enrolled Students, Admission Notice and Visa Application Form for Study In China (JW201) to the relevant dispatching authorities by July 31, so as to have these documents forwarded to the students.

8. Contact Information
China Scholarship Council
Address: No. 160 Fuxingmennei Street, Beijing 100031, P. R. China
Tel: 86-10-66413253, 66413132
Fax: 86-10-66413255
Http://www.csc.edu.cn
E-mail: laihua@csc.edu.cn