StudyChina GraduateScholarship for a master's in China: coverage and eligibility at master's level
Sources checked
For a master's student, the Chinese Government Scholarship covers tuition, gives a free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy, pays a stipend of CNY 3,000 per month and provides comprehensive medical insurance at CNY 800 per person per year (section III, items 1–4 of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship). At master's level the applicant must be a citizen of a country other than the PRC and in good health, hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, be academically excellent and be under 35, and must meet the language condition set for the language the programme is taught in (section IV, items 1, 3, 10 and 11).
These are conditions of the scholarship itself. They are not general admission rules for students who fund their own studies.
What the scholarship covers at master's level
| Item | What the guide states | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Tuition fees | Section III, item 1 |
| Housing | Free university dormitory or accommodation subsidy | Section III, item 2 |
| Living costs | Stipend of CNY 3,000 per month for master's students and general scholars | Section III, item 3 |
| Health cover | Comprehensive medical insurance at CNY 800 per person per year | Section III, item 4 |
For programmes lasting less than six months the guide sets the insurance figure at CNY 400 per person (section III, item 4).
Who qualifies at master's level
| Condition | Provision |
|---|---|
| Citizen of a country other than the PRC, in good health both mentally and physically | Section IV, item 1 |
| Academically excellent holder of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent | Section IV, item 3 |
| Under the age of 35 when applying for a master's programme | Section IV, item 3 |
| HSK (Level 4) passed, when applying for a Chinese-taught master's programme | Section IV, item 10 |
| Where the programme is taught in a language other than Chinese: meets the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others | Section IV, item 11 |
The last row is the one that carries the most planning weight: for a programme taught in a language other than Chinese, the guide hands the language and academic test back to the university of preference, so the requirement you actually have to meet is the one that university publishes in its own admissions material.
How long the award lasts
The scholarship covers both major study and Chinese language (preparatory) study. The language courses last one year, and the duration of the scholarship for major study conforms to that as required (section II, part II).
Where the programmes are offered
Designated Chinese universities offer scholarship recipients programmes in science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics, law, management, education, history, literature, philosophy and fine arts, among others, and the guide directs readers to http://www.campuschina.org for the designated universities and the majors they offer (section II, part III).
The wording quoted on this page is this site's English rendering of the guide's text.
Questions people ask
Does the scholarship pay for housing?
It provides either a free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy; the guide lists the two as one item and does not say who receives which (section III, item 2).
How long does a master's scholarship last?
Major study is covered for the duration that study requires, and one year of Chinese language (preparatory) study is covered as well (section II, part II).
Do I need HSK 4 if my master's programme is taught in English?
The HSK (Level 4) condition is stated for Chinese-taught master's programmes (section IV, item 10). For a programme taught in a language other than Chinese, the condition is that you meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others (section IV, item 11).
Can I apply to any university with this scholarship?
No. The guide states that designated Chinese universities offer the programmes, and refers readers to its own site for the list of designated universities and majors (section II, part III).
One planning suggestion, not a rule: read the coverage table and the eligibility table as two separate checks, because the second one decides whether you can apply at all, while the first only tells you what the award pays once you hold it.
Sources
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China, campuschina.org)
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, CHSI or any university, and it is not legal advice; where the official text or the current notice of the university or authority handling your case differs from this page, that official text or notice prevails.