The Confucius Institute Scholarship (CIS) for 2025-2026 is now open! This article will guide you through the scholarship benefits and how to apply step by step.
What is the Confucius Institute Scholarship?
The Confucius Institute Scholarship is a fully funded opportunity for international students to study Chinese language and culture at over 150 top Chinese universities.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
- Tuition Fees: Completely covered.
- Lodging Fees: No cost for accommodation.
- Medical Insurance: Fully provided.
- Monthly Allowance: Extra money for personal expenses.
Why is the CIS Scholarship Special?
It’s a highly popular program for students worldwide! The Confucius Institute, a government organization, promotes Chinese language and culture globally, making this scholarship a gateway to immerse yourself in a rich and diverse cultural experience.
What Programs Can You Apply For?
- Doctoral Studies: Specific fields related to Chinese language and culture.
- Research Stays: Opportunities to deepen your academic expertise.
- International Conferences: Participate in global events.
- Language & Culture Courses: Perfect for learning Mandarin and exploring Chinese traditions.
If you’re interested in postgraduate or researcher-specific scholarships, click here.
Benefits of the Confucius Institute Scholarship
The Confucius Institute Scholarship offers comprehensive benefits for international students to study in China. Here’s what it includes:
1. Tuition and Accommodation
- Tuition Fees: Fully covered.
- Accommodation:
- Stay in a university residence, sharing a room with another student.
- Option to live off-campus: Receive an additional 700 Yuan/month (around 100 USD) for rent if you opt out of university housing.
2. Basic Medical Insurance
- All scholars are provided with essential health coverage during their stay.
3. Monthly Allowance
- 2,500 Yuan/month (approx. 350 USD) for:
- Bachelor’s in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (BTCSOL).
- Chinese language and culture courses.
- 3,000 Yuan/month (approx. 420 USD) for:
- Master’s in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL).
4. Flight Expenses
- For eligible students, international flight tickets to and from China are covered.
5. Scholarship Renewal
- Scholarships longer than a year are subject to annual review:
- Outstanding results: Full funding continues.
- Below-average results: Scholarship may not be renewed or reduced to partial funding (tuition, accommodation, and insurance only, no monthly allowance).
This scholarship ensures financial support while encouraging excellence, making it a fantastic opportunity to study in China!
Categories and Duration of the Confucius Institute Scholarship
The Confucius Institute Scholarship offers various categories tailored to different academic goals. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Scholarships for Chinese Language and Culture Studies
These scholarships are designed for students interested in short- or long-term study programs.
- Academic Year Scholarship
- Duration: 11 months
- Start Dates:
- September (ends the following July)
- March (ends the following January)
- Academic Semester Scholarship
- Duration: 5 months
- Start Dates:
- Winter semester: September to January
- Summer semester: March to July
- Four-Week Scholarship
- Duration: 1 month
- Offered During:
- Winter holidays: December to January
- Summer holidays: July to August
2. Scholarships for Future Teachers of Chinese
These scholarships aim to train the next generation of Chinese language teachers.
- Master’s in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (MTCSOL)
- Duration: 2 years
- Combined Scholarship
- Structure: 1 year of Chinese language and culture + 2 years of MTCSOL
- Duration: 3 years total
- Bachelor’s in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (BTCSOL)
- Duration: 4 years
General Details for Teacher Training Scholarships
- Start Dates: Usually in September or March.
- Application Process:
- Apply online through the Confucius Institute Scholarship system.
- Select two universities (from 150 options) in order of priority during the application.
These categories ensure flexibility and cater to a wide range of academic interests and professional aspirations!
Take a look at the universities which offer Confucius Institute Scholarship (register first to access all the information, which is in Chinese and English) and find the course of your choice (not all universities offer all the modalities mentioned above).
How to Apply for Confucius Institute Scholarship 2025?
To apply for Confucius Institute Scholarship, please follow the following procedure:
- Application deadline: Until the beginning of May (usually day 1) if you want to apply for a scholarship to start in September, and until the beginning of November if you want to start in March.
- Delivery of applications: If you are a student of the Confucius Institute (ideal to apply for this scholarship), contact the in charge person of the scholarships. The application must be made online in the official page of the Confucius Institute scholarships (you need to have all the documents scanned, including your passport and a passport size photo).
- Then you must submit all the required paper documents (preferably certified copies, since they will not be returned). The in charge person of the scholarships of your Confucius Institute will be responsible for sending them by post to the headquarters of Hanban (central offices of the Confucius Institute in China). If you are not a student of the Confucius Institute, you can apply online and submit the documents to the nearest Confucius Institute, to a Chinese embassy or consulate in your country, or to some exam centers or educational institutions in your country that are linked with Hanban.
- Result date : The final result of the scholarship students can be found on the official page of the Confucius Institute scholarships at the beginning of July (if you are going to start in September) or at the beginning of January (if you start in March).
- Sending documents to process the visa: The necessary documents to process the visa are sent by postal mail within 15 days after the publication of the result. At this point of the procedure I recommend patience, since you may have to wait more than a month to receive the letter.
Eligibility Requirements for Confucius Institute Scholarship 2025
Following are the documents and eligibility requirements for Confucius Institute Scholarship:
- Not have a Chinese nationality and enjoy good health. If you are going to study for a period longer than six months, you need to prove that you are in good physical and mental condition to process your residence permit in China. For this, you will have to deliver, once at your destination university (it is not a required document during the application period), a duly completed copy of the official Chinese medical form or Foreigner Physical Examination Form.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 35 (it is extended up to 45 years for people who demonstrate that they are working as Chinese teachers at the time of applying for the scholarship). Applicants for undergraduate scholarships cannot exceed 20 years of age.
- It is essential to have a degree of Chinese language level (written and oral HSK and, in some cases, BCT and oral BCT are also accepted). This requirement is according to the type of scholarship. For example, for the scholarship to study an academic course of Chinese language and culture you need to have a minimum of 180 points in the written HSK3 and a minimum of 60 points in the oral HSK. To check the complete language requirements, click here.
- Minimum qualification: Regarding the MTCSOL scholarship, it is necessary to deliver the diploma and the academic record of undergraduate studies. In the case of the BTCSOL scholarship or the Chinese language courses, you must prove that you have completed your high school studies. If you do not have this documentation in English or Chinese, you will have to submit a sworn translation to either of the two languages.
- A letter of recommendation in the case of scholarship applicants who want to study a Chinese course or to study BTCSOL, and two in the case of MTCSOL scholarship applicants. The letters must be signed by the in charge person of the Confucius Institute through which you apply for the scholarship.
- In the case of the MTCSOL scholarship, those applicants who demonstrate that they have a job as Chinese Language professors after completing the master’s degree studies in China will be preferred.
- In the case of one-semester or four-week scholarships, you do not have studied in China before.
NOTE : During the online application process, you will be required to write a short motivation letter that details your reasons and expectations before the scholarship (about 300 words).