Top 10 scholarships in China for international students
Ten scholarships for studying in China, including Schwarzman, Yenching, Peking University, Tsinghua, Tongji and USTC, with funding, eligibility and deadlines checked on official pages.
China funds more international students than many people realise. The Chinese Government Scholarship is offered through dozens of universities, provinces and cities add their own awards, and some of the country’s best-known universities run fully funded programmes in English.
These ten scholarships for studying in China were checked on the official pages of the universities and programmes.
The list at a glance
| # | Programme | Where | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schwarzman Scholars | China | Not announced yet |
| 2 | Yenching Academy of Peking University | China | November 30, 2026 |
| 3 | Peking University Scholarships for International Master’s and PhD Students | China | December 25, 2026 |
| 4 | Tsinghua University Chinese Government Scholarship for International Graduate Students | China | Not announced yet |
| 5 | Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) at Tsinghua University | China | Not announced yet |
| 6 | Tongji University Chinese Government Scholarship High Level Postgraduate Program | China | December 20, 2026 |
| 7 | USTC Scholarships for International Master’s and PhD Students | China | January 20, 2027 |
| 8 | Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship at Tongji University | China | Not announced yet |
| 9 | Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program (Type A) at Beijing Language and Culture University | China | Not announced yet |
| 10 | Xiamen University Scholarship for New International Students | China | April 30, 2027 |
1. Schwarzman Scholars
One-year Master of Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The programme covers tuition, fees, room and board, travel to and from Beijing, study tours, course books, health insurance and a personal stipend.
- Who can apply: Applicants aged at least 18 and under 29 on 1 August of the enrolment year who hold or will finish an undergraduate degree by then. Non-native English speakers need an accepted test score such as IELTS 7 unless they studied in English for two years.
- Deadline: For the class of 2028 to 2029, applications run April to September 2027 for U.S. and global applicants, and March to May 2027 for Chinese citizens. The exact closing date is not yet published.
- Funding: Fully funded
2. Yenching Academy of Peking University
A two-year interdisciplinary China studies programme at Peking University where every admitted scholar receives a fellowship. The first-year fellowship covers tuition, housing in Yenching Academy House, a monthly stipend, basic medical insurance, research costs and one round trip to Beijing.
- Who can apply: Open to non-Chinese citizens and applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan with a bachelor’s degree in any field (or finishing one by August of the entry year) and English proficiency such as IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100. There is no strict age limit, but the Academy says no one over 29 has been admitted outside its Zhuoyue Scholarship.
- Deadline: For the 2027 cohort, applications opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time (international and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan applicants).
- Funding: Fully funded
3. Peking University Scholarships for International Master’s and PhD Students
Applicants to 2027 PKU master’s and PhD programmes can be considered for the Chinese Government Scholarship Type B (full or partial tuition waiver, free accommodation, monthly living expenses and medical insurance), the Beijing Government Scholarship (Types A to C) or the PKU Scholarship for New International Students. The application fee is 800 RMB per programme.
- Who can apply: Non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport; master’s applicants need a bachelor’s degree and PhD applicants a master’s degree (bachelor’s holders may apply to science and engineering PhDs only).
- Deadline: The 2027 application window runs from 26 October 2026 to 25 December 2026 (Beijing time); second-round exams are held January to March 2027.
- Funding: Fully funded
4. Tsinghua University Chinese Government Scholarship for International Graduate Students
Full CGS covers tuition, a free dormitory or accommodation subsidy, a stipend and comprehensive medical insurance; partial CGS covers some of these. Type B is applied for through Tsinghua after pre-admission; the Beijing Government Scholarship (tuition and insurance for one year) is also offered.
- Who can apply: Non-PRC citizens under 35 (master’s, bachelor’s holders) or under 40 (PhD, master’s holders), with HSK 4 for Chinese-taught programmes and a school recommendation.
- Deadline: Tsinghua 2027 graduate applications are generally open from September 2026 to February 2027, with deadlines varying by programme; the 2027 scholarship page is marked coming soon.
- Funding: Fully funded
5. Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) at Tsinghua University
Bai Xian Asia Institute scholarship for one or two years of a Tsinghua master’s degree, covering tuition and a living allowance that includes accommodation and books; recipients attend the BXAI Summer Program.
- Who can apply: Non-Chinese citizens from Asia admitted to a Tsinghua international master’s programme (not Shenzhen International Graduate School), with strong academics, leadership potential and good English.
- Deadline: Tsinghua says the 2027 scholarship is coming soon; in the 2026 cycle scholarship materials were due to departments on 1 March.
- Funding: Fully funded
6. Tongji University Chinese Government Scholarship High Level Postgraduate Program
Covers full tuition, comprehensive medical insurance, free on-campus housing and a living allowance of 3,000 RMB per month (master’s) or 3,500 RMB per month (PhD).
- Who can apply: Non-Chinese citizens in good health, aged 35 or under for master’s and 40 or under for PhD, not holding another Chinese government scholarship.
- Deadline: Applications open 25 October 2026 and close 20 December 2026 at 23:59 Beijing time; the application fee is 600 RMB.
- Funding: Fully funded
7. USTC Scholarships for International Master’s and PhD Students
For 2027 entry, each award covers a tuition waiver, comprehensive medical insurance, a monthly stipend and a dormitory or housing subsidy (USTC Level B is a tuition waiver only).
- Who can apply: Non-Chinese citizens; CAS-ANSO requires under 30 (master’s) or under 35 (PhD), and CSC and USTC awards under 35 (master’s) or under 40 (PhD) on 1 September 2027.
- Deadline: The Chinese Government Scholarship (Type B) window is 25 October 2026 to 20 January 2027; CAS-ANSO and USTC Scholarship deadlines are to be announced. General applications close 31 March 2027.
- Funding: Fully funded
8. Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship at Tongji University
Category A covers full tuition, insurance, free on-campus housing and a monthly allowance of 2,500 RMB (bachelor’s), 3,000 RMB (master’s) or 3,500 RMB (PhD); Category B covers tuition and insurance.
- Who can apply: Non-Chinese citizens aged 25 or under (bachelor’s), 35 or under (master’s) or 40 or under (PhD); not for English-taught undergraduate programmes or holders of other scholarships.
- Deadline: For Fall 2027 entry, applications run from December 2026 to March 2027; exact dates follow each programme’s admission guidelines.
- Funding: Fully funded
9. Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program (Type A) at Beijing Language and Culture University
Free tuition and on-campus housing, medical insurance and a monthly allowance of 2,500 RMB (undergraduate), 3,000 RMB (master’s) or 3,500 RMB (PhD); BLCU issues a preliminary admission letter in about 7 working days.
- Who can apply: Non-Chinese citizens with no other scholarship, aged up to 25 (undergraduate), 35 (master’s) or 40 (PhD); HSK 4 generally needed for Chinese-taught graduate study.
- Deadline: The 2027 call was posted on 28 October 2026; deadlines are set by the embassy or dispatching authority in each country.
- Funding: Fully funded
10. Xiamen University Scholarship for New International Students
First-Class gives tuition plus a monthly allowance of 2,500 RMB (bachelor’s), 3,000 RMB (master’s) or 3,500 RMB (PhD); Second-Class gives tuition and Third-Class 50% of tuition.
- Who can apply: Admitted international students under 25 (bachelor’s), under 40 (master’s) or under 45 (PhD) on 1 September.
- Deadline: Applications open 1 December 2026 and close 30 April 2027 (Beijing time); apply only after being admitted.
- Funding: Partly funded
How we ranked them
This is an editorial selection, not a formula. We looked at how much each award pays (full funding ranks above fee reductions), how open it is to international applicants, and whether the official page is clear and current. Every detail was checked on the official page on October 30, 2026. No university or funder paid to be included.
In Hong Kong, see the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and the CityUHK Entrance Scholarship.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Chinese Government Scholarship?
It is a government scholarship offered through Chinese universities and embassies, in different routes such as the bilateral programme (Type A) and the university programme (Type B). Several entries on this list are routes into it.
Can I apply to more than one university?
Rules differ by route and university, so check each official page before applying.
Before you apply
Read how to write a scholarship motivation letter, check which English test you need in IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo, and see every upcoming date in the scholarship deadline calendar.