Are you planning to study in China? The Confucius Institute Scholarship is a great opportunity for international students who want to learn Chinese language and culture. This guide explains the scholarship benefits, available programs, eligibility requirements, and how to complete the application process.
The Confucius Institute Scholarship 2027-2028 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. It supports students who wish to study Chinese language, culture, and teaching-related programs at selected universities in China. The scholarship generally covers tuition fees, accommodation, medical insurance, and a monthly living allowance.
This scholarship is widely recognized among students across the world because it gives learners the chance to study in China while receiving financial support. The Confucius Institute promotes Chinese language learning and cultural exchange internationally.
The scholarship may support Chinese language courses, teacher training programs, research opportunities, and other approved academic activities connected to Chinese language and culture.
Confucius Institute Scholarship 2027 Benefits
The Confucius Institute Scholarship offers several financial benefits to selected students. These benefits usually include tuition fee support, university accommodation, basic medical insurance, and a monthly stipend for personal expenses.
- 2,500 yuan per month for BTCSOL students or students taking Chinese language and culture courses, which is approximately 350 USD per month.
- 3,000 yuan per month for MTCSOL students, which is approximately 420 USD per month.
Students who choose not to live in the university residence may also be considered for an additional accommodation allowance. In such cases, the Confucius Institute may provide 700 yuan per month to help with rental expenses.
For programs lasting more than one year, scholarship renewal is usually based on academic performance. Students are expected to maintain strong results for the scholarship to continue. If performance does not meet the required standard, the scholarship may be reduced or not renewed. In some cases, support may continue only partially, excluding the monthly allowance. Depending on the applicant’s country, the scholarship may also include support for international travel costs.
Categories and Duration of the Confucius Institute Scholarship
Scholarships for the study of the Chinese language and culture are generally available in three main categories:
- Scholarships for an academic year: These usually run for 11 months and may begin in September or March, depending on the intake period.
- Scholarships for an academic semester: These normally last for 5 months and may cover either the September to January semester or the March to July semester.
- Scholarships to study for four weeks: These short programs are usually offered during winter or summer holidays in China.
There are also scholarship options for students who want to become Chinese language teachers. These are offered in the following forms:
- Scholarship to study the Master’s in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (MTCSOL): This program usually takes 2 academic years.
- Scholarship of one academic year of Chinese language and culture + 2 years of MTCSOL: This pathway normally takes 3 academic years in total.
- Scholarship to study the Bachelor’s in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (BTCSOL): This program usually takes 4 academic years.
The teacher training scholarships commonly begin in September or March. Applications are completed online, and applicants may be allowed to choose two preferred universities from the participating institutions. Take a look at the universities that offer the Confucius Institute Scholarship and confirm whether your preferred university offers the program you want to study.
How to Apply for the Confucius Institute Scholarship 2027?
To apply for the Confucius Institute Scholarship, please follow the procedure:
- Application deadline: Applications usually close around the beginning of May for students planning to start in September, and around the beginning of November for those planning to begin in March.
- Delivery of applications: If you are already studying at a Confucius Institute, you should contact the scholarship coordinator for guidance. The application is completed online through the official Confucius Institute scholarship system, where applicants upload scanned documents such as passport copies and passport-size photos.
- After completing the online application, applicants may also be required to submit printed copies of their documents. These should preferably be certified copies. The responsible Confucius Institute office may forward the documents to the relevant scholarship office in China. Applicants who are not students of a Confucius Institute may submit their application through the nearest Confucius Institute, Chinese embassy, consulate, examination centre, or approved educational institution linked with Hanban.
- Result date: Final scholarship results are normally published on the official page of the Confucius Institute scholarships. Results are usually released around the beginning of July for September intake and around the beginning of January for March intake.
- Sending documents to process the visa: After results are released, successful applicants usually receive the documents required for visa processing by post. These documents may take several weeks to arrive, so applicants should be patient during this stage.
Eligibility Requirements for the Confucius Institute Scholarship 2027
The following are the documents and eligibility requirements for the Confucius Institute Scholarship:
- Applicants must not be Chinese citizens and should be in good health. Students planning to study in China for more than six months may be required to prove their physical and mental fitness before applying for a residence permit. In such cases, they may need to submit the official Chinese medical form or Foreigner Physical Examination Form after arriving at their host university.
- Applicants are generally required to be between 16 and 35 years old. The age limit may be extended to 45 for applicants who are currently working as Chinese language teachers. Undergraduate scholarship applicants are usually expected to be under 20 years old.
- Applicants must meet the required Chinese language level. Written and oral HSK results are commonly required, although BCT and oral BCT may also be accepted in some cases. Requirements vary depending on the program. For example, an academic-year Chinese language program may require at least 180 points in HSK 3 and at least 60 points in the oral HSK exam. To check the complete language requirements, click here.
- Applicants must meet the minimum academic qualifications for their chosen program. MTCSOL applicants are usually required to provide undergraduate academic records and degree certificates. BTCSOL and Chinese language course applicants may need to prove completion of high school education. Documents that are not in English or Chinese may require certified translation.
- Recommendation letters are required for some scholarship categories. Applicants for Chinese language courses or BTCSOL may need one recommendation letter, while MTCSOL applicants may need two. These letters should usually be signed by the person in charge of the Confucius Institute through which the applicant is applying.
- For the MTCSOL scholarship, preference may be given to applicants who can prove that they have secured or are likely to secure employment as Chinese language teachers after completing their studies in China.
- Applicants for one-semester or four-week scholarships should not have previously studied in China.
NOTE: During the online application, applicants are usually required to write a short motivation letter of about 300 words explaining their reasons for applying and what they hope to achieve through the scholarship.