Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027/2028 – Bachelor’s, Master’s & PhD in China (Fully Funded)
The Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS/CSC), administered by the China Scholarship Council under China’s Ministry of Education, is one of the largest fully funded scholarship programmes in the world — funding roughly 15,000 new international students every year at over 280 designated Chinese universities, including many top-ranked institutions like Tsinghua, Peking, and Fudan.
What it covers: Full tuition, on-campus accommodation (or a housing allowance), basic medical insurance, and a monthly stipend of roughly 2,500–3,500 RMB (about $350–500) depending on degree level and funding type.
Deadline: The CSC portal typically opens in December and closes between January and April, with individual host-university and embassy deadlines varying — always confirm your specific route’s exact date.
Detailed Eligibility Checklist
- Non-Chinese citizen, in good physical and mental health
- Not currently receiving another Chinese government scholarship
- Bachelor’s applicants: completed high school with strong results
- Master’s applicants: hold a Bachelor’s degree; PhD applicants: hold a Master’s degree
- Chinese-taught programmes require HSK Level 3–4; English-taught postgraduate programmes typically require IELTS 6.0+ instead
Type A vs Type B: Choosing Your Application Route
Type A (Embassy/Bilateral) runs through your home country’s Chinese embassy or a government ministry with a bilateral agreement with China — several African education ministries use this route. Type B (University Programme) is the direct-to-university path, where you apply through one of 280+ CSC-designated universities and the university itself nominates you. Type B generally gives you more control over your choice of university and programme, while Type A can be simpler if your country runs an established bilateral channel.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Decide on Type A (embassy) or Type B (direct university) based on what your home country offers.
- Register on the CSC online system at campuschina.org once it opens (typically December).
- Secure a pre-admission letter or notice from your target Chinese university — required before final submission.
- Submit notarized transcripts, degree certificates, a study plan or research proposal, and language test results.
- Await joint review by your university and the CSC; results are typically announced by July for a September start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to speak Chinese to apply? Not for postgraduate programmes taught in English — but Bachelor’s programmes are generally Chinese-taught, so HSK proficiency matters more at that level.
Which route is better for African applicants? Check first whether your country has a bilateral Type A channel through your Ministry of Education — several African nations do — since it can simplify document submission considerably.