2026 Scholarships Round-Up for International Students in China

This round-up collects scholarship programmes for international students in China that were announced or open for the 2026 cycle. It is time-sensitive: some windows close in October, others open in the new year. Treat the figures below as reported, then confirm the current status with the university before you apply.

Deadlines move. A few of these windows are already in the past relative to publication. Always check the university's international student office for the live cycle before preparing documents.

Peking University — Beijing Government Scholarship (current students)

This track is for full-time international degree students already enrolled at PKU. It splits into three tiers by how much it covers:

Tier	What it covers
Type A	Tuition waiver + accommodation + medical insurance + living stipend
Type B	Tuition waiver + accommodation + medical insurance
Type C	Tuition waiver + medical insurance

Results are notified by email in October 2026. Evaluation weighs GPA, attendance, academic performance and Chinese-language level — a weak or incomplete record is the usual reason files are passed over.

Central University of Finance and Economics — Beijing Government Scholarship

The 2026 application closed at 17:00 on 16 October 2026 (Beijing Time). The key rule for this municipal award: you cannot submit duplicate applications across different Beijing universities in the same academic year. Pick one institution and one file.

Chengdu University — Chengdu ‘Belt and Road’ Government Scholarship

Awarded to students from Belt and Road countries, with academic performance as the core criterion. The amounts are:

Level	Amount
Undergraduate	RMB 20,000 / academic year
Master's	RMB 25,000 / academic year
Non-degree students	RMB 1,000 / month

Sun Yat-sen University — provincial + university + CSC

SYSU runs a layered system for new and continuing students: the Guangdong Provincial Scholarship, the University Scholarship and the CSC High-Level Graduate Scholarship.

Award	Coverage
First-class University Scholarship	Bachelor RMB 30,000/yr, Master RMB 36,000/yr, PhD RMB 42,000/yr; tuition waived. Accommodation and insurance are at the student's own cost.
CSC High-Level Graduate Program	Usual deadline around 15 February annually; covers tuition, accommodation, insurance and living stipend.

There are two application rounds per year. Prepare transcripts, recommendation letters, a personal statement and your residence permit in advance. Full details: SYSU International Student Office.

Southern Medical University — scholarships for international medical students

SMU's package includes the Guangdong Provincial Scholarship, the President Scholarship, the New Student and Outstanding Continuing Student Scholarships, plus the CSC High-Level Graduate Program and the Silk Road Program.

The CSC window typically runs from December of the previous year to March of the current year. Medical majors are competitive: some programmes require proof of clinical experience and language certificates (HSK or English). Details: SMU International Education.

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

The national programme has two application routes:

Route	How to apply
Type A	Via a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad; window is generally November to February of the following year.
Type B	Directly to your host university through the CSC online system.

When awarded, the monthly living stipend is set by level:

Level	Monthly stipend
Undergraduate	RMB 2,500 / month
Master's	RMB 3,000 / month
Doctoral	RMB 3,500 / month

See the full funding map on our Scholarships page for government, provincial and university routes.

General application tips

Required: passport, Chinese residence permit, stamped bilingual transcript, language certificate (HSK / IELTS / TOEFL).
Supporting: personal statement, recommendation letters; a study plan may be required for some programmes.
Rule: in most cases you cannot hold multiple government scholarships at once — declare accurately.
Fraud alert: no legitimate scholarship review asks for a deposit or service fee. Watch for scams.

One document that derails more files than grades. A stamped, bilingual transcript with the correct name order is the piece applicants most often get wrong. Sort it before the window opens, not during it.

The residence-permit and visa steps that follow an award are covered in our X1 visa: first 30 days guide.

The pattern

Scholarships reward early, complete files — not just strong grades. Match the tier to your level and status (new vs continuing), watch the duplicate-award rules, and start the transcript and reference work well before the deadline. And remember the caution the original sources stress: every applicant's case is different, so confirm the live requirement with the awarding body before you act.

Independent guidance, not official advice. EduTourChina is not a government agency or university admissions office. Visa, scholarship and insurance rules change and are applied locally — always confirm the current requirement with the university, the awarding body or the immigration authority before you act.

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