Free Study in Beijing: What You Need to Know About Government Scholarships

Studying in China may have its drawbacks – some countries may not recognize a degree from Chinese Universities, and the quality of education is not always up to par even when compared to a middling university in North America or Europe – but there are also aspects that are quite alluring. That's especially true when studying in Beijing, where the faculty at top-level schools like Tsinghua and Peking University rival many Western schools, and where the likes of Beijing Language and Culture University offer excellent language programs.

Perhaps most attractive, though, is the prospect of attending for free. In order to attract foreign students to China, both the national government and the Beijing municipal government offer full scholarships for qualifying undergraduate and graduate students.

What is the difference between the Chinese Government Scholarship and the Beijing Government Scholarship?

The Chinese government issues scholarships through the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Generally, these are the scholarships that students should be looking out for because for most students they will cover not only tuition and board but provide students with a monthly stipend. That extra cash can be essential for many students who wish to focus on their studies (although Chinese law now permits student visa holders to take part-time work during their studies). The stipend amount depends on the type of program:

• Undergraduate students: RMB 2,500 per month
• Master's students: RMB 3,000 per month
• Ph.D. students: RMB 3,500 per month

There are 279 universities in China that offer CSC scholarships, and at least 20 of them are in Beijing. See a full list at Council's website, as well as their list of university programs organized by subject.

If you have another means of living available to you or you are confident that you will be able to survive on part-time work, you might consider programs sponsored by the Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS) program. No stipend is included, but tuition and board are covered. 

View the full list of the 53 universities that offer the Beijing Government Scholarship here.

The application process

Applicants will typically apply for the program first, and then apply for the scholarship once accepted into the program. This means that it is important for scholarship seekers to do their research on which programs are sponsored by the Scholarship Council and the Beijing Government, and to apply early. The deadline for BGS applications is February each year, while CSC deadline is Apr 30.

Once accepted into a sponsored university, you will be asked to fill out the respective application form online and provide the required documents to the school. For both types of scholarships these documents include:

• Notarized diploma and transcripts from previous studies
• Foreigner Physical Examination Form
• Study plan, research plan, and/or motivation letter
• Proof of language proficiency (English or Chinese depending on the language of the program; does not apply to native speakers)

Additional documents may be required depending on the study program.

FAQ

Can I apply for the scholarship if I am already a student at a Chinese university?
Yes, if you missed the deadline to apply for the scholarship before your first year of study, you can apply the next year before the deadline.

Can I lose the scholarship?
Each year, scholarship recipients will have their status reviewed. If a recipient’s performance is not up to standards, the scholarship may be revoked.

Can exchange students apply for the scholarships?
Scholarships for exchange students are available from the Beijing government, but not from the CSC.

Is there an age limit to for applicants?
For scholarships from both the CSC and Beijing Government, Ph.D. students must be under 40 and master's students must be under 35. The undergraduate age limit is 30 for the BGS and 25 for CSC.

What if I can’t afford the university application fee?
Unfortunately, the scholarships will not refund your application fee. However, the CSC maintains a list of Chinese Universities that do not require a fee to apply.

READ: Wudaokou Watch: "Beijing Has Opened My Eyes to Opportunities"

Images: The Epoch Times, Giphy