Do you want to study in China? Are you looking for schools with fully funded scholarships for international students in China? You’ve found it.
There are many fully funded scholarship opportunities for international students in China. They are offered by different schools, private establishments, nonprofits, international organisations, and even the government. These opportunities open every year between March and May. As the season draws closer, we will share a few with you.
Why Study in China?
China may not be a popular study destination like other countries, especially in Europe. The first deterrent for many international students is the language barrier. However, China has a lot of value to offer to international students. They include:
1. Affordable Tuition and Scholarships
The cost of studying in China as an international student is affordable compared to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other western countries. That does not compromise their standard of education in any way. You are guaranteed quality education at an affordable price. And there are many scholarship opportunities up for grabs.
2. Learn in the English Language
You don’t need to know how to speak Mandarin to study in China. China may not be a major English-speaking country, but it makes room for international students from English-speaking countries. Chinese universities offer English-taught programs that you can leverage. That’s why the Chinese proficiency test is not a mandatory requirement for admission.
3. Opportunity to Work and Study
The new visa policy by the Chinese government allows international students to work part-time or take on internships while studying. Now, you can make money and pay your bills while studying.
4. Minimal Cost of Living
Although China is a growing economy, the cost of living is relatively affordable. It’s even cheaper if you live on campus as you only pay accommodation fees while enjoying water, electricity, and gas at little or zero cost to you.
5. Explore Chinese Culture
Studying in China is an opportunity to explore a new culture. You get to enjoy their delicious and spicy cuisine, like Beijing Duck, Hot Pot, Chow Mein, Wonton Soup, Kung Pao Chicken, and Dumplings. You can learn a little Mandarin and visit exotic locations.
READ: List of Schools with Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students in Finland
Now we have convinced you that China is a great place to study, let’s get into the crux of the matter.
Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students in China for International Students
To help you navigate the pool of opportunities, we have compiled a comprehensive list of fully funded scholarships for international students in China. Be sure to bookmark this page because we will be updating it from time to time.
1. Jiangsu Provincial Government Scholarships
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Jiangsu Provincial Government
Top on our list of schools with fully funded scholarship for international students in China is the Jiangsu Provincial Government Scholarship. This scholarship is for brilliant international students enrolled full-time in any university or college in Jiangsu. It also includes non-degree programs and exchange students. This follows the educational exchange agreements and MOUs between the Jiangsu Provincial Government and the governments of other states, institutions, universities, and international organizations.
It’s a fully funded scholarship that covers your tuition, registration, laboratory experiments, internship, basic textbooks, accommodation, and medical insurance expenses. In addition to all these, you still get a monthly stipend for your living expenses. Isn’t that amazing?
Undergraduates get to enjoy this for four academic years, while for master’s students, it covers three academic years.
2. Anhui Government Scholarship for International Students
Scholarship Value: Partial Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Anhui Government
Anhui Government Scholarship Program is for International Students who want to study and research in any higher institution of learning in Anhui. This scholarship program aims to give international students access to quality education and strengthen mutual understanding between the people of Anhui and other parts of the world.
The scholarship value varies according to your level of study. Here’s a breakdown below:
- Bachelor’s Degree: ¥20,000 per year
- Master’s Degree: ¥30,000 per year
- Doctoral degree: ¥50,000 per year
3. Shanghai University International Student Scholarship
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded
Target Program: Graduate and Postgraduate Study
Awarding Institution: Shanghai Government
Shanghai University is one of the top schools offering fully funded scholarship to international students in China. It is sponsored by the Shanghai government and specially designed for international students enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral program. The scholarship includes; a tuition waiver, free on-campus dormitory accommodation, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend.
Here’s a breakdown of the scholarship duration:
- Bachelor’s Degree: 4 to 5 years
- Master’s Degree: 2 to 3 years
- Doctoral Degree: 3 to 4 years
4. Beijing Government Scholarships (BGS) for International Students
Scholarship Value: Full and Partial Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Beijing Municipal Government
The Beijing Municipal Government created this scholarship to provide full and partial tuition to international students studying or applying to study in Beijing. Many international students are lucky to be recipients every year.
The scholarship is open to international students at all levels. It covers four years of study and one year for exchange students and those enrolled in a Chinese language course or specialised training.
5. Jiangsu University (JSU) Presidential Scholarship
Scholarship Value: Partial and Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Jiangsu University (JSU)
Jiangsu University offers scholarships to international students applying for an English-taught degree program. The scholarship’s value depends on your education level, as seen below.
- Bachelor’s Degree: ¥10,000 on tuition in the first year
- Master’s Degree: ¥20,000 on tuition every year
- Doctoral Degree: Full tuition and accommodation
6. Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (JUST) Scholarships
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (JUST)
This scholarship is for international students at all levels of education; bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs. It covers your tuition, accommodation, and monthly allowance.
READ: List of Schools with Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students in Portugal
7. Xiamen University Scholarships for New International Students
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Xiamen University (XMU)
Xiamen University Scholarship is for outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate international students. It covers your full tuition and monthly living allowances. The scholarship is awarded to only a selected few, as seen below.
- Undergraduate Students: 5
- Master’s Students: 11
- Doctoral Students: 8
That’s a total of 24 students. You may be one of them if you try hard enough. The scholarship covers full tuition and a monthly allowance of ¥3500. Ideally, this scholarship lasts 4-5 for undergraduate students, 2-3 years for a master’s degree, and four years for a doctoral program. However, your scholarship will only be renewed yearly if you meet the required academic standard.
8. Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGC) for International Students
Scholarship Value: Partial and Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Shanghai Government
The Shanghai government scholarships for international students are in two forms. The first is a full scholarship for Master’s students, while the second is a partial scholarship for doctoral students.
In addition to full/partial tuition waivers, the scholarship offers comprehensive medical insurance, accommodation, and a monthly stipend. The duration of the scholarship is as follows:
Bachelor’s Degree Program: 4 to 5 years
Master’s Degree Program: 2 to 3 years
Doctoral Degree Program: 3 to 4 years
9. UNESCO/ People’s Republic of China (The Great Wall) Co-Sponsored Fellowship for Students from Developing Countries
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Levels
Awarding Institution: UNESCO and the People’s Republic of China Government
This scholarship scheme is a collaboration between the government of the People’s Republic of China and UNESCO. It is open to international students from developing member countries in Africa, Asia–Pacific, Latin America, Europe, North America, and Arab. It is awarded to 75 international students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The scholarship is accessible at a selected number of Chinese universities. It is aimed at international students who want to pursue advanced studies or undertake individual research for one year under the periodic guidance of an assigned supervisor in China. The scholarship covers a full tuition waiver, accommodation, medical insurance, and monthly stipends.
10. Chinese Government/African Union (AU) Scholarship for African Students
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Chinese Government and Africa Union (AU)
This school is for international students from member states under the African Union (AU). It is accessed through the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology. The goal is to pave the way for Africans to study in China. The scholarship covers your tuition and administrative fees, and living expenses. It is renewed throughout your period of study.
READ: List of Schools with Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students in Spain
11. The Schwarzman Scholars Program for International Students
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded
Target Program: Graduate and Postgraduate Degree
Awarding Institution: Schwarzman Scholars
The Schwarzman Scholars Program is awarded to over 200 international students who have completed their undergraduate studies. To qualify, you must have excellent academic records, a high intellectual quotient, leadership potential, entrepreneurial skills, and great charisma. You must also be proficient in English.
The scholarship covers all expenses incurred during your academic program. We are not kidding. It covers your travel expenses, tuition fees, in-country study tour, course materials, books, learning resources, and health insurance. You also get a Lenovo laptop, smartphone, and monthly allowance. Now, that’s the definition of fully funded! However, you only get to enjoy this for one year of your graduate or postgraduate program.
12. Yenching Academy of Peking University, Master of China Studies Program
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded
Target Program: Postgraduate
Awarding Institution: Yenching Academy
The Yenching Academy residential postgraduate program offered to international students in interdisciplinary Humanities and Social Sciences courses. It is a fully funded 12-month program that can be extended for a second year in Beijing. It is awarded to approximately 125 students every year. The scholarship covers your tuition fees, accommodations, travel stipend, and monthly allowance for your living expenses.
13. Chinese Government-Chinese University Scholarships
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition Waiver
Target Program: Graduate and Postgraduate Degree
Awarding Institution: Chinese Government
Chinese University Program provides a full scholarship to recruit outstanding international students for graduate studies in China. It is only available in selected Chinese universities and provincial education offices in certain provinces or autonomous regions.
The scholarship covers three academic years for Master’s students and four years for doctoral students. Its valuation includes a tuition waiver, accommodation, monthly stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance.
14. USTC “Chinese Government Scholarship – Chinese University Program”
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: Graduate and Postgraduate Degree
Awarding Institution: China Ministry of Education (MOE) and The University of Science and Technology China (USCT)
The Chinese government has a lot of good scholarship opportunities for international students. This particular scholarship was established by the China Ministry of Education (MOE) in conjunction with the University of Science and Technology China (USTC). Like the scholarship mentioned above, it aims to recruit outstanding international students for graduate studies at Chinese universities in certain provinces or autonomous regions.
It is a full scholarship that covers tuition waiver, accommodation, stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance. If you’re a master’s student, you can enjoy all these for 2-3 academic years. For doctoral students, it’s 3-4 academic years.
15. Fujian Normal University President
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Fujian Normal University
Fujian Normal University is a notable mention on our list of schools with fully funded scholarship for international students in China. The Fujian Normal University President Scholarship is for high-performing international students enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate program at the school. However, preference is given to international students recommended by foreign schools, institutions, or postgraduate tutors who have a cooperative relationship with Fujian Normal University.
The Scholarship covers your tuition fee throughout your period of study. You will also receive ¥700 living allowance every month and an accommodation allowance for 11 months. The value of your accommodation allowance depends on your level of study, as seen below.
Bachelor’s Degree Program: ¥800 per month
Master Degree Program: ¥1000 per month
Doctoral Degree Program: ¥1200 per month
To renew your scholarship each year, you must meet the expected academic standard and attend the annual review, where the outstanding students will be announced.
16. MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce) Scholarships for Developing Countries
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded
Target Program: Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
Awarding Institution: Ministry of Commerce
The MOFCOM Scholarship was established by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. It aims to strengthen the international ties and relations between China and other countries. It also seeks to build and support exceptional talents from developing countries. The scholarship targets international students enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program. It covers 2-3 years of master’s studies and 3-4 years of doctoral studies.
The scholarship includes the following:
- Full tuition waiver.
- Cost of learning material and books.
- Dissertation guidance fee waiver.
- Cost of research and survey.
- Free on-campus accommodation.
- Monthly stipend.
- Medical insurance.
It also includes a one-time round-trip international airfare and ¥3000 one-off resettlement fee.
17. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)/The World Academy of Science (TWAS) President’s Ph.D. Fellowships
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: Doctoral Degree
Awarding Institution: The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
This scholarship is a collaboration between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). It aims for the advancement of science in developing countries. The scholarship sponsors up to 200 international students to study for their doctoral degrees in China for doctoral degrees.
It covers your college application fees and tuition for four years of your study. You will also receive a monthly stipend of ¥7000 to ¥8000 from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) for your accommodation, local travel expenses, health insurance, and other living expenses.
18. Qingdao Municipal Government Scholarship for International Students in China
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degree
Awarding Institution: Qingdao Municipal Government
The Qingdao Municipal Government Scholarship for International Students in China provides financial aid to brilliant international students who want to study or pursue scientific research in Chinese universities and colleges. The scholarship awards ¥30,000 to graduate students, ¥20,000 to undergraduate students, and ¥10,000 to long-term advanced students.
19. Tianjin University Full and Partial Scholarships for International Students
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Tianjin University
Tianjin University is one of the schools offering fully funded scholarships to international students in China. In fact, the school offers both full and partial scholarships to international students below 30 years who are applying for a bachelor’s degree and those below 40 who are applying for a master’s degree in China. The full scholarship covers one year of your tuition fees and monthly living allowances, while the partial scholarship only covers your tuition.
20. Harbin Engineering University (HEU) Full Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Scholarship Value: Full and Partial Tuition
Target Program: Master’s and Doctoral Degrees
Awarding Institution: Harbin Engineering University (HEU)
The Harbin Engineering University (HEU) Scholarship aims to promote educational development and attract brilliant international students to study at HEU. The first outstanding student receives a full tuition waiver, while the second outstanding student receives a 50% tuition waiver. It also provides ¥3000 monthly living expenses for master’s students and ¥3500 for doctoral students. The scholarship lasts for the duration of your academic program.
21. Chinese Government Scholarship – Bilateral Program for International Students
Scholarship Value: Full and Partial Tuition
Target Program: All Levels
Awarding Institution: Chinese Ministry of Education
The Chinese Ministry of Education established the Bilateral Program for International Students following the educational exchange agreements or consensus between the Chinese government and governments of other countries, institutions, universities, or international organisations. It provides complete and partial scholarships for international undergraduate students, graduate students, general scholars, and senior scholars.
However, you must register for a Chinese-taught credit course to qualify as an undergraduate student. If it is a graduate or non-degree program, you can apply for either a Chinese-taught or English-taught program.
Here’s a breakdown of the scholarship duration.
- Undergraduate Students: 4-7years
- Master’s Students: 2-5 years
- Doctoral Students: 3-6 years
- General Scholars: up to 2 years
- Senior Scholars: up to 2 years
22. Zhengzhou University President Scholarships for International Students
Scholarship Value: Full and Partial Tuition
Target Program: Postgraduate Degree
Awarding Institution: Zhengzhou University
The Zhengzhou University President Scholarship aims to enhance international exchange and cooperation with other countries. It also seeks to encourage more exceptional international students to study at Zhengzhou University.
The scholarship sponsors international postgraduate students to pursue their doctorate degrees at Zhengzhou University. The scholarship duration varies from 3-4 years according to the duration of your full-time master’s and doctorate program. It covers a full or partial tuition waiver, accommodation, monthly stipend, registration fee, textbooks, thesis defense, medical insurance, residence permit, and other living expenses.
23. Siemens China Scholarship at Tsinghua University for International Students
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition worth ¥40,000
Target Program: Postgraduate Degree
Awarding Institution: Siemens Ltd
The Siemens China Scholarship is sponsored by Siemens Ltd. It is a full scholarship offered to high-performing international students pursuing their postgraduate degrees at Tsinghua University. Preference is given to postgraduate international students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Academy of Arts & Design, School of Software, and other related departments or schools at Tsinghua University.
The scholarship covers your annual tuition fee worth ¥40,000. You will also receive a yearly living allowance worth ¥160,000 to cover your accommodation, transportation, books, learning materials, and medical insurance. It lasts for four years of your postgraduate program.
24. Masters in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) Scholarships
Scholarship Value: Full Tuition
Target Program: Master’s Degree
Awarding Institution:
This is last but not the least on our list of schools with fully funded scholarships for international students in China. The Masters in Research and Innovation in Higher Education (MARIHE) Scholarship is a sub-set of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship. It is a fully funded scholarship offered to international students. It covers two years of tuition fees and all educational expenses you may face while studying in China.
How to Apply to Universities in China
Now, you know the list of schools with fully funded scholarships for international students in China. The next step is to apply to study at a Chinese university. The first step is to meet the specific requirements of the school and provide the application documents, which include the following:
- Academic Transcript from Your Previous School.
- Certificate/Diploma from Your Previous School.
- Proof of Chinese or English Language Proficiency.
- Proof of Funds.
- Medical Fitness Certificate.
- Valid International Passport.
- Photocopy of Your Valid Visa.
- Certification of No Criminal Record.
- Passport Photograph.
- Personal ID Card.
- Letter of Guarantee
- Letter of References
More documents may be required depending on the specific demands of the university or study program. After gathering all the required documents, you can apply through one of the following options.
1. Online Application
You can apply online through the school’s website. It is the easiest and most convenient application method.
2. Apply through CUCAS
CUCAS is short for China’s University and College Admission System. It is a self-paced online application platform that allows you to apply to any Chinese university. This centralised platform acts as an intermediary between you and your preferred university. If you want to apply for any scholarship program for international students sponsored by the Chinese government, you will find all the information you need on the CUCAS website.
3. Apply through CUAC
The China University Application Centre (CUAC) is another platform where you can apply to study at a Chinese University. On the site, you will also get access to professional guides and support to help you make the right decision regarding your studies in China.
4. Direct Application
Do you have any friends or relatives living in China or studying at your preferred Chinese University? If yes, you can ask them to help submit your application directly to the school. They can also make enquiries at the admissions office and get all the necessary information about the school and its admission process.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a large pool of scholarships for international students in China. And you have a higher chance of winning them as China is less competitive than other study destinations. You don’t have to worry about the language barrier as many Chinese Universities offer English-taught programs. The onus now falls on you to seize the opportunity and make the most of it. If you need further guidance on applying for a scholarship in China, schedule a call with our career advisors today.