Most applicants pick a university and then hope for a scholarship. The candidates who get funded do it the other way round: they identify an award they are actually eligible for, then apply to a host university that can deliver it.
Answer these before you research universities. Getting them wrong is what produces the applications that never had a chance.
Type A through your embassy if you have no fixed university. Type B directly to a host university if you do. The same applicant can be competitive in one and not the other.
Compare the routes →Age 25 / 35 / 40. HSK 4–5 or an English certificate. Not already enrolled at the same level in China. These are filters, not preferences.
Check your eligibility →2,500 CNY goes far in Harbin and barely covers a dorm and canteen in Shanghai. The city choice is a funding decision, not just a lifestyle one.
Compare city costs →Most applicants only consider the top two. The middle tiers are where a realistic file gets funded.
| Route | Levels | What it covers | Difficulty | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSC — Type A | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Tuition, accommodation, insurance, stipend | Competitive — country quota | Dec–Apr via embassy |
| CSC — Type B | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Same as Type A | Competitive — university quota | Dec–Mar via university |
| Provincial / municipal | Bachelor / Master / PhD | 50–100% tuition, occasionally a stipend | Moderate — much less known | Jan–Apr via university |
| University merit award | All levels | 25–100% first-year tuition | Moderate — grades and interview | With the admission application |
| Research fellowship (ANSO, CAS-TWAS) | Master / PhD | Tuition, accommodation, insurance, allowance | Moderate — supervisor-led | Varies by institute |
| Schwarzman / Yenching | Master's only | Fully funded, including travel | Very competitive | Separate global cycle |
Difficulty is a general guide based on applicant volume relative to places, not a published statistic.
Stipend of 3,000 CNY per month against the realistic monthly total on the campus-life page. Bachelor's awards pay 2,500 and PhD 3,500.
| City | Dorm + food / month | Realistic total / month | Stipend (master's) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 800–1,800 / 1,200–2,200 | 2,500–4,700 | 3,000 | Tight — covers dorm and food only |
| Shanghai | 900–2,000 / 1,300–2,400 | 2,800–5,200 | 3,000 | Tight — covers dorm and food only |
| Shenzhen | 800–1,800 / 1,200–2,200 | 2,400–4,500 | 3,000 | Tight — covers dorm and food only |
| Guangzhou | 700–1,600 / 1,000–1,900 | 2,100–3,800 | 3,000 | Tight — covers dorm and food only |
| Hangzhou | 700–1,500 / 1,000–1,900 | 2,000–3,600 | 3,000 | Tight — covers dorm and food only |
| Nanjing | 600–1,400 / 900–1,700 | 1,800–3,200 | 3,000 | Tight — covers dorm and food only |
| Suzhou | 600–1,300 / 900–1,700 | 1,700–3,000 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Tianjin | 600–1,300 / 900–1,600 | 1,700–3,000 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Wuhan | 500–1,200 / 800–1,500 | 1,500–2,700 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Changsha | 500–1,100 / 800–1,400 | 1,400–2,500 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Xi'an | 500–1,100 / 750–1,400 | 1,400–2,500 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Chengdu | 500–1,200 / 800–1,500 | 1,500–2,600 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Chongqing | 450–1,100 / 750–1,400 | 1,300–2,400 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Harbin | 400–1,000 / 700–1,300 | 1,200–2,200 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
| Shenyang | 400–1,000 / 700–1,300 | 1,200–2,200 | 3,000 | Comfortable |
All figures in CNY per month for one student. The verdict assumes no rent beyond an on-campus dorm and no travel.
| Scheme | Where | Levels | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Government Scholarship | Beijing | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Full or partial tuition; a small number of full awards include a stipend |
| Shanghai Government Scholarship | Shanghai | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Type A full (tuition + accommodation + stipend + insurance), Type B partial tuition, Type C partial for outstanding students |
| Jiangsu Government Scholarship | Jiangsu | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Tuition waiver at 50–100% depending on level and ranking |
| Jasmine Jiangsu Scholarship | Jiangsu | Master / PhD | Full or partial funding for postgraduate study |
| Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship | Zhejiang | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Full or partial tuition |
| Guangdong Government Scholarship | Guangdong | Bachelor / Master / PhD | Tuition waiver, sometimes plus a living allowance |
All ten schemes are listed on the scholarship page.
Identify the route. For research degrees, email two or three potential supervisors now — this single step changes your odds more than anything else.
Assemble documents: notarised diploma and transcripts, two signed references, study plan, physical examination form.
CSC portals open. Type B university portals often close earlier than the national deadline.
Main submission window. Provincial calls appear and are usually announced with only a few weeks' notice.
Shortlists and interviews. Some universities ask for a video interview or a written test.
Results, JW201 form, visa, registration. Stipends normally start after university registration, not on arrival.
Send us your nationality, age, degree level, field and grades. We will tell you which of the twenty routes you are eligible for and which are a stretch.