UNIPROFI
Funding a degree in China
Grants and scholarships

Funding a degree in China Tuition, housing and up to ¥3,500 a month

The four main scholarships for international students: what each pays for, who gets it and when to apply. Figures are from the official 2026 terms.

Monthly allowance
up to ¥3,500
Full scholarship
tuition, housing, insurance
Next deadline
31 October 2026
Check what I can apply for
Or message us directly

Send your transcript or degree, your average grade and your language level. We'll tell you which programmes suit you and which don't.

Find your scholarship in a minute

Photo: 颜邯 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Next deadline

Applications for the Chinese-language scholarship close on 31 October

This is the intake for study from March 2027: a semester or a year of Chinese paid for by China. You need HSK 3 and to be aged 16 to 35.

Make the deadline

Which scholarship fits you

Four questions, checked against the official 2026 terms. The committee decides, but you will see straight away where you stand a chance.

1 / 4

What are you applying for?

China's four scholarships

What each one pays for, who gets it and how you apply. Terms of the 2026 intake.

Full scholarshipMaster'sPhD

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), university programme

China's main government scholarship. You apply through the university you choose, and it selects its own candidates.

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Allowance
  • Insurance
Master's
¥3,000a month
PhD
¥3,500a month

When. Winter: for the 2026 intake, for example, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics took applications from 16 November to 28 February.

Conditions and how to apply

How to apply. An application to the university and on the CSC system; after a conditional offer the university nominates you for the scholarship.

  • Master's: a bachelor's degree with an excellent record, usually under 35
  • PhD: a master's degree, usually under 40
  • English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80 or Duolingo 110
  • Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 5 with at least 180

Our advice: Apply to two or three universities at once: each nominates its own candidates, and the chances add up.

Terms checked October 17, 2026Apply with us
Full scholarshipBachelor'sMaster'sPhD

Shanghai Government Scholarship

The city's scholarship for Shanghai universities, in two forms: full (Type A) and tuition only (Type B).

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Allowance
  • Insurance
Bachelor's
¥2,500a month
Master's
¥3,000a month
PhD
¥3,500a month

When. Spring: in 2026, for example, the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology took Type A applications from 1 January to 30 April.

Conditions and how to apply

How to apply. Through the Shanghai university you are applying to. Which levels qualify for Type A is up to the university.

  • Type A: tuition, a dormitory place (two to a room), a monthly allowance and insurance
  • Type B: tuition and insurance
  • Paid 12 months a year: ¥2,500 for bachelor's, ¥3,000 for master's, ¥3,500 for PhD

Our advice: A good second line to the CSC: it is a separate application and often brings at least free tuition.

Terms checked October 17, 2026Apply with us
Full scholarshipLanguageBachelor'sMaster'sPhD

International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship

A year, a semester or a degree in Chinese paid for by China. The best route for anyone who wants the language first.

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Allowance
  • Insurance

When. Four deadlines a year: 15 April, 15 May, 15 September and 31 October 2026 (the next one is for study from March 2027).

Conditions and how to apply

How to apply. An online application on the programme's site and at the chosen host university, often with a Confucius Institute recommendation.

  • Aged 16–35 (up to 45 for working Chinese teachers)
  • A year of language study: HSK 3 with at least 210
  • A semester: HSK 3 with at least 180
  • Bachelor's: HSK 4 with 210, master's: HSK 5 with 210, PhD: HSK 6 with 200

Our advice: With HSK 3 already in hand this is the most attainable grant: the bar is lower than the CSC's and it covers everything.

Terms checked October 17, 2026Apply with us
PartialLanguageBachelor'sMaster'sPhD

Universities' own scholarships

Many universities fund strong international students themselves, from a tuition discount to full cover.

  • Tuition
  • Housing
  • Allowance
  • Insurance

When. With the university's intake, usually in winter and spring.

Conditions and how to apply

How to apply. Through the university itself, often together with the admission application. Each university sets its own terms.

  • Good grades and a strong statement
  • Sometimes a separate scholarship form
  • The amount and what it covers are up to the university

Our advice: Even a partial university scholarship takes a real share of the cost off the family, with less competition than the CSC.

Terms checked October 17, 2026Apply with us

When to apply for scholarships in China

Universities announce their 2027 dates in winter. Until then, go by the dates of the 2026 intake.

  1. 31 October 2026

    Chinese-language scholarship

    Last day to apply for study from March 2027.

  2. November – February

    CSC through a university

    In 2026, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics took applications from 16 November to 28 February.

  3. January – April

    Shanghai Government Scholarship

    In 2026, the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology took Type A applications from 1 January to 30 April.

  4. 15 April and 15 May

    Chinese-language scholarship

    In 2026 these were the deadlines for study from July and from September.

  5. Spring and summer

    Decisions and moving

    Universities announce results. Then the admission letter, the visa and the tickets.

Why scholarships get turned down

The five mistakes we find most often in applications people put together alone.

01

One application, one university

Each university nominates its own CSC candidates. Applying to three gives you three chances instead of one.

02

One letter for all

A committee spots a template at once. The study plan and the statement are written for the programme at that university.

03

No certificate by the deadline

HSK and IELTS results take time to arrive. Sit the exam before the intake opens.

04

Copies without certification

Diplomas and transcripts are needed as notarised copies with a translation into Chinese or English.

05

Recommendations from anyone

For a master's or PhD the CSC asks for two letters from professors or associate professors. A letter from an acquaintance does not count.

We will go through your profile

Send us your grades and certificates. We will tell you which scholarships and universities you qualify for and which deadlines to work to.

Check what I can apply for

Already studying on a scholarship

Our students who won a scholarship in China.

With the right support, it turns out to be a manageable path, without the horror I'd imagined
SofiaZhejiang University — scholarship
It was one of the most intense and happiest periods of my life
VictoriaXiamen University — scholarship
Thanks to UNIPROFI I got a grant that fully covered tuition, housing, and even a small stipend
AnnaDalian University of Foreign Languages — grant
Admission to China with mentor support really isn't that hard
MatveyTsinghua University — government scholarship
With UNIPROFI's support I received a full government grant
ArinaShanghai International Studies University — full grant
Studying in China is an incredible experience, and the UNIPROFI team is always there to help
PolinaBohai University, Liaoning — grant
Reviews

Applying for a bachelor's? Check whether CSCA applies to you

From the 2026/2027 intake, bachelor's applicants to 306 designated universities must take the CSCA. It is planned to extend to all international bachelor's applicants by 2028. Master's and PhD applicants aren't affected. We'll check your university against the list and prepare you in language and subject sections: 15 or 30 hours.

More on CSCA prep

How we help you win a scholarship

  1. 01

    Your profile

    We look at your grades, languages and goals, and tell you plainly which scholarships you qualify for.

  2. 02

    Universities and scholarships

    We pick up to five scholarships and universities with the best odds and put the deadlines in a calendar.

  3. 03

    Documents and letters

    Study plan, statement, recommendations, translations. We check every field of the form.

  4. 04

    Applying and moving

    We file the applications, follow the universities' replies and help with the visa and the move.

Scholarship matching

Up to five scholarships that fit you and a step-by-step plan: documents and deadlines.

$119Check what I can apply for

Applying to a university

We prepare and file the application for a place and a scholarship. The university's own fee is paid separately, on its invoice.

3+ universities −5%, 5+ −10%, 10+ −15%
$370per university
How applying works
Deadlines and amounts change every year. We only publish terms we have checked, with the date of the check, and compare them with the new intake's rules before anyone applies.

Frequently asked questions about grants

Does a CSC grant fully cover the cost of studying?

The CSC scholarship comes in two types. Type A is full coverage: tuition, campus housing, medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Type B is partial — for example, tuition only or housing only. Which type is realistically available to you depends on the competition and the university — we'll advise on this during the strategy stage.

Do I need a high level of Chinese for a grant?

For English-taught programs a high HSK score isn't required, but knowing Chinese noticeably strengthens your application even for English-taught programs. Chinese-taught programs usually require HSK 4–5 or higher.

Can I apply for a grant again if I already applied and wasn't admitted?

Yes, there's no restriction on reapplying. A second attempt is often stronger than the first — we review what could be improved before you apply again.

Is the CSCA exam mandatory for a CSC grant?

It depends on the university. From the 2026/27 intake, everyone applying for a bachelor's at one of 306 designated universities sits the CSCA, with or without a scholarship. Master's and PhD applicants do not. We will check your university against the list by name.

What if the grant isn't approved — can I still enroll as a paying student?

Yes, the grant application and a self-funded application are separate processes that often run in parallel. We always prepare a backup self-funded plan so you're never left without options.

When will I find out the grant result?

Results are typically announced in April–June for programs starting that fall — exact timing depends on the university and is posted in the applicant's account on the official portal.

More on China

Universities
Grants and scholarships
Language and examsServices and cost

Write to us

Tell us where you'd like to study and what you're interested in. We'll suggest where to start and how we can work together.

Message usTelegram