Enrollment Guidelines for the "2025 Sun Yat-sen University 'Belt and Road' Scholarship Program for International Students (Bachelor's Degree)"

　　Founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the famous Chinese revolutionist, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) has an educational tradition spanning over 100 years. As a university directly affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China and with the strong support of the Ministry of Education of China and Guangdong Province, SYSU has become a first-class modern comprehensive university, renowned both in China and in the world. Composed of five campuses located in the three cities of Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen, and ten affiliated hospitals, SYSU is marching towards a world-class university and striving to become a global academic center.

　　SYSU promotes a culture of academic excellence and encourages students to “study at SYSU, strive for excellence”. It implements a management framework and provides services for international students akin to those provided for Chinese students, including regular national conditions education lectures, field trips, social practice activities, and exchange activities for international students in Guangdong to develop outstanding international talents with integrated knowledge.

　　I. Country-specific Requirements

　　Applicants shall be outstanding high school graduates recommended by specified institutions in the 10 ASEAN countries and Confucius Institutes co-established with SYSU in Belt and Road Initiative partner countries, including: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and South Africa.

　　II. Admission Quotas

　　In principle, each country is allocated up to 15 slots, with a total cap of 150. However, the allocation may be adjusted based on the quality of applicants and the distribution of candidates across different countries, with admission granted on a competitive basis.

　　III. Eligibility

　　1. Applicants shall be of non-Chinese nationality and hold a valid foreign passport. They are required to fulfill the requirements outlined in the Notice on the Regulations of Chinese Universities’ Acceptance of International Students ([2020] No.12):

　　Applicants whose parents are both Chinese nationals or one parent is a Chinese national, both or one of whom have settled abroad, and who obtained foreign nationality at birth without holding Chinese nationality shall meet the following requirements to apply as international students: (1) possess a valid foreign passport or proof of nationality for at least four years (inclusive) by April 30, 2025; (2) have a documented history of residing in a foreign country for at least two cumulative years between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2025. A stay of nine months within a year in the foreign country qualifies as one full year, based on entry and exit records.

　　Applicants from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan, who intend to apply as international students after immigrating and acquiring foreign nationality, shall have obtained their foreign nationality before May 1, 2021. They shall also provide proof of residing abroad for at least two years between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2025. A stay of nine months within a year in the foreign country qualifies as one full year, based on entry and exit records.

　　2. Applicants shall maintain good health and satisfy the physical standards necessary for applying for a student visa or residence permit.

　　3. Applicants shall possess a high school diploma or its equivalent qualification as a minimum academic requirement.

　　4. Applicants shall demonstrate friendliness toward China, diligence in their studies, excellent academic performance, good moral character, and compliance with laws and regulations. They must have no record of school disciplinary violations, security penalties, or criminal offenses.

　　5. Applicants shall meet the recommendation criteria established by SYSU in their respective home countries and obtain official endorsement from the designated institutions listed in Attachment 1.

　　 6. Language proficiency

　　Applicants shall possess an HSK (Level V) certificate with a score of 180 points or above). Those applying for a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language are required to hold an HSK (Level IV) certificate with a score of 180 points or above. Applicants who have completed their previous degree in Chinese as the language of instruction may submit a Chinese language proficiency certificate issued by their former institution. Upon verification by SYSU, these applicants may be exempted from submitting HSK certificates.

　　Outstanding applicants with an HSK (Level III) certificate, scoring 180 points or above, are also eligible to apply for this program. If pre-admitted, they will be required to study Chinese independently and meet the language requirements (HSK Level V with a score of 180 points or above, or HSK Level IV with a score of 180 points or above for bachelor's degree in Chinese language) within one year. Once the language requirements are met, applicants will receive the formal admission letter and the Confirmation Form for Study in China, allowing them to proceed with their undergraduate studies. If the applicant fails to meet the language proficiency requirement by the specified deadline, the pre-admission qualification will be canceled. In principle, the total number of pre-admitted applicants shall be limited within 30.

　　7. Applicants under the age of 18 as of September 1, 2025, are required to submit a guardian's letter of assurance.

　　IV. Application Deadline

　　April 20, 2025

　　V. Application Procedure

　　Applicants shall visit the website of the Office of International Students’ Affairs of Sun Yat-sen University (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn), click on “APPLY ONLINE” to access the “International Student Management System”, and then select “Account Registration” to create an individual account. After registration, applicants can log in via “Account Login” to re-enter the “International Student Management System”. They shall then choose the “Belt and Road” Scholarship Program for International Students (Bachelor's Degree), and upload the following application documents accurately and completely as required:

　　1. Valid ordinary passport and personal profile photo

　　Passports must remain valid beyond December 1, 2025. Applicants who do not meet the requirements shall renew their passports promptly. Applicants residing in China during the application process shall provide a scanned copy of passport pages showing the Chinese visa or residence permit, as well as the entry seal.

　　2. High school graduation certificate

　　Applicants in their final year of high school shall submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their school as part of the application process. After obtaining their high school graduation certificate, they are required to resubmit it. Failure to provide the high school graduation certificate before enrolling at SYSU will result in the cancellation of their admission qualifications.

　　3. Transcripts: Applicants shall submit standardized test transcripts and complete academic transcripts issued by the institution granting their highest level of education.

　　Standardized test transcripts include standard high school graduation test transcripts, college entrance exam transcripts, and transcripts from international standardized tests such as SAT/ ACT/ A-Level/ IB, etc.

　　Applicants in their final year of high school may submit their most recent transcript issued by their high school and resubmit a complete high school transcript after graduating. Failure to provide the complete high school transcript before enrolling at SYSU will result in the cancellation of their admission qualifications.

　　4. Recommendation letter issued by the designated institution in their country of origin (see Attachment 1 for the list of designated institutions)

　　5. Two Recommendation Letters

　　The recommendation letters shall, in principle, be written respectively by the headmaster and a teacher of the applicant's high school (template provided in Attachment 2).

　　6. Chinese language proficiency certificate

　　Applicants shall submit a valid certificate of Chinese language proficiency (HSK) or proof of completing courses instructed in Chinese language.

　　7. Plan of Study and Research in China

　　The Plan of Study and Research in China shall include self-introduction, academic background, interests, study goals, reasons for applying, and career plans after graduation (template provided in Attachment 3).

　　8. Physical examination and blood test results

　　Applicants shall submit scanned copies of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, chest X-ray, ECG, and laboratory test reports for specific items, all stamped by the issuing hospital and within six months prior to the date of submission (template provided in Attachment 4).

　　Applicants over 18 years old currently residing in the Chinese mainland with a valid foreigner's residence permit or permanent residence ID card may substitute either of these documents for the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.

　　9. Birth Certificate

　　10. Documents certifying the nationality or household registration of the applicant and his/her parents

    10.1. Applicants who were residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, or Taiwan before acquiring foreign citizenship shall provide the following documentation:

　　(1) Proof of household registration cancellation or withdrawal of Chinese nationality, or an official certificate of non-Chinese nationality issued by the Chinese diplomatic representation and consular authorities, as well as the Statement of Integrity Regarding Household Registration Status (see Attachment 5);

　　(2) Proof of acquiring foreign nationality;

　　(3) Entry and exit records spanning from May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2025.

　　10.2 Applicants who obtained foreign nationality at birth in a foreign country, whose one or both parents are Chinese citizens, shall submit the following documents:

　　(1) Birth certificate or family register to prove the family relationship;

　　(2) Proof of acquisition of foreign citizenship at birth and the Statement of Integrity Regarding Household Registration Status (see Attachment 5);

　　(3) Documentation verifying the Chinese parent's permanent residence status in the foreign country before the applicant's birth; for those applicant's parents who haven’t obtained the permanent residence status in the foreign country, a certificate showing the withdrawal of the applicant of Chinese nationality shall be provided.

　　(4) Entry and exit records from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2025.

　　11. Certificate of Non-criminal Record

　　Applicants shall submit a valid non-criminal record issued by local authorities; the document shall be issued within six months before the date of application submission.

　　12. Guardianship guarantee and notarized certificate

　　For applicants under 18 by September 1, 2025, a guardian's guarantee and notarized certificate are required. The designated guardian shall be an adult residing in Guangdong, China.

　　13. Scholarship application form

　　Applicants who have achieved grades categorized as “good” level or above grades in all high school courses are eligible to apply for other scholarships after being admitted.

　　14. Supporting documents

　　Applicants can submit award certificates or proof of experience as additional supporting documents.

　　15. Letter of Commitment

　　Applicants must certify that all application information provided is true, legal and valid. They shall print, sign, and upload the signed Letter of Commitment to the system. (template provided in Attachment 6).

　　16. Personal Information Form

　　The Personal Information Form will be automatically generated by the International Student Management System. Applicants shall print, sign, and upload the signed form to the system.

　　Note: Application documents shall be original and in either Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, both the original documents and their notarized Chinese or English translations shall be provided. Translations must be authenticated by either the Hague Apostille Convention or a Chinese embassy or consulate. Applicants shall ensure the accuracy of the email address, WeChat account number, and contact phone number entered in the application system. Notification regarding supplementary materials will be issued via the application system(https://apply.sysu.edu.cn). Failure to submit the scanned copies of supplementary materials, translations, or translation notarized certificates in a timely manner, submission of materials that do not meet the requirements, or incorrect contact information may result in an unsuccessful application, for which the applicant shall assume full responsibility.

　　VI. Majors and Divisions for International Students and Degree Granting

　　1. Please refer to the Table 1 for the divisions and majors available for the 2025 “Belt and Road” Scholarship Program for International Students (Bachelor's Degree). Any updates or changes to the major names or categories in the admissions list will be announced on the website of the Office of Foreign Students of Sun Yat-sen University(http://iso.sysu.edu.cn).

　　Applicants may select up to six majors in order of preference and shall indicate whether they agree to accept a reassignment to other majors if necessary. The number of written test subjects will correspond to the major with the highest number of required written test subjects among the selected options.

　　In the first year of study, students will participant in comprehensive training. For students admitted to a disciplinary category, their specific major will be finalized after an internal selection process conducted by the respective school or department.

　　Table 1: SYSU Majors Catalog of the “Belt and Road” Scholarship Program for Undergraduate International Students

       Note: An asterisk (*) in the “Major Requirements” column indicates that the major has a high demand for mathematical skills.

      2. Please visit https://www.sysu.edu.cn/yxsz.htm for further information about departments or divisions for international students.

      3. Students admitted to SYSU who complete the coursework, acquire the necessary credits within the designated study duration, and meet the graduation prerequisites will be granted a graduation certificate from SYSU. Those who meet the requirements for degree conferral will also receive a bachelor's degree and a degree certificate from SYSU.　　

　　VII. Scholarship

      1. Granting Amount

　　Scholarship recipients are exempted from tuition fees and will receive a living stipend of RMB 30,000 per student per academic year, disbursed monthly into the student's personal bank account.

　　Students are responsible for paying accommodation fees, insurance fees, Chinese visa fees, round-trip airfare, medical examination fees, and other related expenses. During the period of self-study in Chinese, the aforementioned scholarships and financial support will not be provided.

　　2. Granting Period

　　(1) In principle, the scholarship will cover the standard study duration of the undergraduate program.

　　(2) Scholarship recipients shall undergo an annual review. Upon passing the review, they will retain eligible to receive the scholarship for the following academic year. Failure to pass the review may result in the suspension or cancellation of the scholarship.

　　(3) SYSU encourages outstanding students to pursue further education. Undergraduate students applying for a master's degree at SYSU will have opportunities to apply for different scholarships.　　

　　VIII. Selection Procedures

　　1. Qualification review

　　SYSU will review the applicant's foreign status, highest academic qualifications, recommendations, academic performance, Chinese language proficiency and other supporting documents to finalize the assessment shortlist.

　　2. Assessment

　　Applications who pass the qualification review shall log into the SYSU application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn) to check the notice about the assessment method, location, and schedule and participate in the assessment as instructed in the notice. Normally, one of the following methods will be used in the assessment: (1) Interview; (2) Interview and written examination.

　　3. Admission

      (1) SYSU will select applicants based on their qualification review and results of interview and examination.

      (2) SYSU will release the conditional admission results, electronic Admission Letter, and the Confirmation Form for Study in China through its application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn). Applicants shall ensure that the email address and phone number provided in the application system are accurate and valid.

　　(3) Admitted applicants shall apply for an X1 visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate using the Admission Letter and Confirmation Form for Study in China. Upon arrival in China, they shall convert the X1 visa into a student residence permit within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from admission. Students with non-student visas shall not be allowed to register. International students holding expired visas or residence permits shall not be allowed to reside on campus or participate in activities.　　

　　IX. International Student Management

　　1. Registration: Admitted students shall register on the specified date and location as indicated in the Admission Letter. Early registration is not permitted. Failure to register on time without prior approval will result in disqualification from admission and scholarship eligibility.

　　2. Responsibility for Submitted Materials: Applicants are responsible for the authenticity of their submitted materials. According to national regulations and university rules, those found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission, enrollment, and student status revoked, and the incident will be reported to relevant authorities.

　　3. Post-Admission Physical Examination and Eligibility Review: Sun Yat-sen University will conduct a physical examination and admission eligibility review for all enrolled students. Those who fail to meet the requirements or are found to have falsified materials will have their admission and enrollment canceled.

　　4. Supervision: The Admissions Office (Office of International Students’ Affairs) of Sun Yat-sen University shall oversee the admissions process, while the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department shall perform dedicated supervisory duties.　　

　　X. Supplementary Provisions

　　1. This guide applies to the admission process for SYSU 2025 “Belt and Road” Scholarship Program for International Students (Bachelor's Degree). It shall become effective upon publication.

　　2. The SYSU Office of International Students’ Affairs, under the authorization of the SYSU Undergraduate Admission Leading Group, is responsible for interpreting this guide.

　　3. In case of policy adjustments by the Ministry of Education or other relevant departments, the updated regulations will prevail.

　　Website of the Office of International Students’ Affairs:

　　http://iso.sysu.edu.cn

　　Online Application Website: https://apply.sysu.edu.cn

　　Email: admissions@mail.sysu.edu.cn

　　Inquiry Tel: 0086（20）84110819

　　Supervision Department Tel: 0086（20）84115582

　　Address: Office of International Students’ Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, P.R.China

　　Zip code: 510275