Scholarships in China for international students in 2027 include Chinese Government Scholarship routes, provincial/municipal awards and university scholarships. The key to applying well is understanding that “CSC scholarship” is not one identical application with one worldwide deadline. The route, host university, degree level and applicant country can change the deadline and documents.
2027 status: As of 16 September 2026, broad 2027/28 Chinese Government Scholarship deadlines are not yet uniformly published across countries and universities. This guide therefore uses the latest official 2026/27 scholarship rules as the planning baseline and clearly separates confirmed current structure from dates that 2027 applicants must re-check.
1. Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS/CSC)
The Chinese Government Scholarship is administered through the China Scholarship Council, with CampusChina used as the official scholarship portal. An official Chinese embassy notice for 2026/27 states that CampusChina is the only official portal for CGS applications and Study in China information. Depending on the route, students may apply through a dispatching authority/embassy (commonly called Type A in many university guides) or through a designated university program (commonly Type B).
What a Full CSC Scholarship Can Cover
Current official university guides for full Chinese Government Scholarships commonly list tuition, free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy, comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Current benchmark stipend amounts are:
| Student category | Current published monthly stipend benchmark |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | RMB 2,500/month |
| Master’s / general scholar | RMB 3,000/month |
| Doctoral / senior scholar | RMB 3,500/month |
Travel is not universally covered. Some bilateral routes may include international travel while others do not. Applicants must read the exact scholarship notice instead of assuming all “CSC full scholarships” have identical benefits.
Current CSC Eligibility Pattern
Current 2026/27 guides typically require non-Chinese citizenship, good physical and mental health, academic eligibility for the selected degree and age limits that commonly use under 25 for undergraduate, under 35 for master’s and under 40 for doctoral applicants. Scholarship categories can have additional rules. For Chinese-taught study, HSK requirements apply; for English-taught programs, applicants must meet the host university’s English requirements.
2. Beijing Government and Peking University Scholarships
Peking University’s current international admissions information lists several funding routes. The Beijing Government Scholarship has categories that can include tuition waiver, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses depending on the award type. PKU’s own scholarship for international students can include full or partial tuition waiver, monthly living expenses and medical insurance. Availability and award level are determined under the applicable annual rules.
3. Shanghai Government Scholarship
Tongji University’s current Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship guidance illustrates the city-level model. Category A provides tuition, medical insurance, living allowance and on-campus accommodation or an accommodation subsidy; Category B covers tuition and medical insurance. Universities participating in the Shanghai scholarship publish their own application instructions and deadlines.
4. University Scholarships
Many universities fund international students directly in addition to government awards. Fudan University’s 2026 English-taught undergraduate program, for example, lists a Fudan International Students Scholarship awarded based on academic performance and admission evaluation. Peking University and other institutions maintain their own international-student awards as well.
University scholarships can be especially valuable as a backup when a national scholarship is highly competitive. Check whether the university automatically considers admitted applicants or requires a separate scholarship form.
5. Provincial and Special Scholarships
Universities can also participate in provincial, municipal, “Belt and Road,” ASEAN or field-specific awards. Zhejiang University’s 2026 graduate admissions information lists multiple funding sources with different deadlines, including Chinese Government Scholarship routes, Zhejiang Provincial Government scholarship and specialized awards. This demonstrates why China scholarship research must be university-specific.
2027 Undergraduate Applicants: CSCA Matters
For undergraduate applicants, one major change is the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA). The 2026/27 Chinese Government Scholarship embassy guidance states that bachelor’s scholarship applicants must take the CSCA and upload a valid score report. Multiple universities also require CSCA for their general international undergraduate admissions. Students targeting 2027 should plan for the relevant subjects early.
Documents Commonly Required
| Document | Why it is commonly requested |
|---|---|
| Passport | Identity and nationality eligibility |
| Highest diploma / expected-graduation proof | Confirms academic level |
| Academic transcripts | Academic evaluation |
| Language certificate | HSK or English evidence according to program |
| CSCA score for undergraduate routes where required | Academic assessment for international undergraduate admission |
| Study plan / research proposal | Academic purpose and research fit |
| Recommendation letters | Common for graduate scholarship routes |
| Foreigner Physical Examination Form | Health/document requirement in many guides |
| Non-criminal record | Required by many institutions/routes |
| Pre-admission/supervisor material where required | Some scholarship routes require or strongly use host-institution support |
How Type A and Type B Usually Differ
| Route | Typical application channel | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Type A / bilateral route | Home-country dispatching authority or Chinese embassy/consulate route | Country quota, agency number, local deadline, pre-admission expectations |
| Type B / university route | Selected Chinese university plus CSC/CampusChina system | University agency number, eligible majors, university deadline, scholarship quota |
The naming is widely used in university scholarship guides, but applicants should follow the exact program category displayed in the current official application system and notice.
When Should You Apply for 2027?
Use late 2026 as preparation season: finalize target universities, collect transcripts and notarized translations, prepare language results, arrange recommendations and monitor Chinese embassy/university announcements. The 2026/27 cycle shows why there is no universal deadline: embassy notices and university Type B programs closed on different dates, ranging from late 2025 through the first half of 2026 depending on route.
How to Improve Your China Scholarship Strategy
Apply only where your academic background matches the program. For graduate study, identify research fit and supervisors early when the university recommends or requires it. For undergraduate study, prepare CSCA seriously. Submit complete documents well before the deadline, and apply to university-level or provincial funding as backups where rules allow.
Scholarship Scams to Avoid
Do not pay a third party for a “guaranteed CSC slot.” Use CampusChina and the university/embassy official websites to verify the route. Be cautious of copied scholarship notices with altered bank accounts, deadlines or agency numbers. A legitimate scholarship can still require a normal university application fee, but payment instructions should be verifiable on the institution’s official domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CSC Scholarship 2027 open yet?
Not as one universal worldwide 2027/28 call as of 16 September 2026. Different embassies and universities publish their own schedules. Monitor the relevant Chinese mission, CampusChina and target university pages.
What does CSC Scholarship cover?
Full-scholarship examples currently cover tuition, accommodation/accommodation subsidy, comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Travel coverage depends on the route.
Can I apply for multiple China scholarships?
You can often submit applications to different opportunities, but scholarship rules generally prevent holding overlapping Chinese government awards at the same time. Read each program’s exclusivity rules before accepting an award.
Official Sources Used
Research sources: The figures and policy details in this guide were checked against official government, scholarship-provider, university, or ranking sources current as of 16 September 2026.
- Chinese Embassy – 2026/27 CGS Official Application Notice
- BLCU – 2026 CGS Type A Guide and Coverage
- Peking University – 2026 Graduate Scholarships
- Fudan University – 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship
- Tongji University – Shanghai Government Scholarship
- Zhejiang University – 2026 Graduate Admissions and Scholarship Deadlines
- Chongqing University – 2026 Undergraduate CSCA Requirement
