International Students

In 2021, more than 440 000 foreign students from 205 countries and regions are studying in 1004 universities, research institutes and other teaching institutions in China. China has become the largest destination country for overseas study in Asia.

Continent	Year 2013	Year 2014	Year 2015	Year 2016	Year 2017	Year 2018	Year 2019
Asia	219 960	225 490	240 154	264 976	293 222	295 043	240 154
Europe	61 674	67 475	66 745	71 319	75 064	73 618	66 746
Africa	33 511	41 677	49 792	61 594	74 244	81 562	49 792
America	36 720	36 140	34 934	38 077	39 203	35 733	34 934
Oceania	4 634	6 272	6 009	6 807	7 439	6 229	6 009
Total	356 499	377 054	397 635	442 773	489 172	492 185	397 635

Notes: The latest number from 2020 to 2022 are not yet released caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

---

Language Advantage

The Chinese language is spoken by the largest number of people in the world, more and more foreigners are learning Chinese in order to understand Chinese culture and civilization, or trade with China. It’s very clear that people who can speak Chinese and have firsthand experience of living in China are going to have a great advantage in many areas.

Employment Advantage

China has been the world’s fastest growing country for the past 30 years and now it’s the 2nd super power in the world. China is the second largest foreign investor in the world and there are 135 Chinese enterprises in the world’s top 500 enterprises. —— Ranking 2021 by the “Fortune”.

Affordable

Studying and living in China is cheaper than studying and living in European countries, the U.S., Japan, South Korea and many other countries. In China, the tuition fees per year are generally no more than 3000 U.S. dollars. The living expense per month is no more than 500 U.S. dollar.

---

Academic programs of Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Economics, Law, Management, Education, History, Literature, Philosophy and Arts in 252 designated Chinese universities are available to scholarship winners.

In 2021, 49 022 people from 182 countries received scholarships from the Chinese government, accounting for 11% of the total number.

Notes: The latest number from 2019 to 2020 are not yet released caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

---

1. Bilateral Program

This includes full or partial scholarships in accordance with educational exchange agreements or MOUs between the Chinese government and governments of other countries, institutions, universities and international organizations. It supports undergraduate programs, master’s programs, doctoral programs, general scholar programs and senior scholar programs.

Applicants shall apply to the dispatching authorities for overseas study in their home countries.

2. Chinese University Program

A full scholarship to support Chinese universities in specific provinces or autonomous regions to recruit outstanding international students for graduate studies in China. It only supports master’s programs and doctoral programs.

Applicants shall apply to the designated Chinese universities undertaking this program.

3. Great Wall Program

A full scholarship for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to sponsor students and scholars in developing countries to study and research in China. It only supports general scholar programs and senior scholar programs.

Applicants shall apply to the National Commissions for UNESCO in their home countries.

4. EU Program

A full scholarship to encourage students from EU member countries to study and research in China in order to promote mutual understanding between China and EU members. It supports undergraduate programs, master’s programs, doctoral programs, general scholar programs and senior scholar programs.

Applicants shall apply to the Office for Education and Culture, Mission of P. R. China to the European Union.

5. AUN Program

A full scholarship for ASEAN University Network (AUN) to enhance the academic exchange and mutual understanding between China and ASEAN members. It only supports master’s programs and doctoral programs.

Applicants shall apply to AUN Secretariat.

6.PIF Program

A full scholarship to encourage students from Pacific island countries to study in China. It supports undergraduate programs, master’s programs, doctoral programs, general scholar programs and senior scholar programs.

Applicants shall apply to Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat.

7.WMO Program

A partial scholarship (including a tuition fee waiver, free on-campus accommodation and Comprehensive Medical Insurance and Protection Scheme) to sponsor international students to study and research in meteorology, hydrology, and water resources supervision and management in China. It only supports undergraduate programs and graduate programs.

Applicants shall apply to World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

---

Full Scholarship

● A fee waiver of registration, tuition, laboratory experiments, internship.

Cost of experiments or internships beyond the program curricular is at student’s own expense.

Cost of books or learning materials  is at student’s own  expense.

● Free on-campus dormitory accommodation.

● A living allowance at the following rates (per month):

Undergraduates: CNY 2,500;

Master’s students & general scholars: CNY 3,000;

Doctoral students & senior scholars: CNY 3,500.

● Outpatient medical service and Comprehensive Medical Insurance and Protection Scheme.

Partial Scholarship

● One or some items of the full scholarship.

---

• Short-term student 

Secondary High school graduate or the equivalent (e.g. A-level, successful completion of Year 12, etc).

HSK level: No Requirement

• Language student 

Secondary High school graduate or the equivalent (e.g. A-level, successful completion of Year 12, etc).

HSK level: No Requirement

• Undergraduate or associate student

Secondary High school graduate or the equivalent (e.g. A-level, successful completion of Year 12, etc).

HSK level: 4-6 (for Chinese-medium programs)

• Master’s degree student 

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree, at least two letters of recommendation from professors.

HSK level: Above 5 (for Chinese-medium programs)

• Doctoral student 

Possession of a Master’s degree, at least two recommendations from professors.

HSK level: Above 5 (for Chinese-medium programs)

• Transfer Student

Student who is studying at another Chinese university should provide a sealed transfer letter from the Foreign Students’ Office of current university; and meet other requirements according to degree level.

HSK level: Depending

---

HSK stands for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi,  translated as Chinese Proficiency Test. HSK is China’s only standardized test of Standard Chinese language proficiency for non-native speakers such as foreign students and overseas Chinese.

The test is administered by Hanban, a non-government organization affiliated with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. The HSK test approximates the English TOEFL, and an HSK certificate is valid without any limitation in China. The test aims to be a certificate of language proficiency for higher educational and professional purposes.

Based on the test’s original format, a rank of between 3 and 8 was needed to enroll in a Chinese university, depending on the subject being studied. A score of 9 or higher was a common business standard.