Application Guide of the Invitation Letter for Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program in 2025 at SYSU

I. Application Process of Invitation Letter

      Applicants please visit the website of the Office of International Students' Affairs of Sun Yat-sen University (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn), click “APPLY ONLINE”, create an individual account, and select “Pre_application1 -Chinese Government Scholarship — Bilateral Program in 2025” and upload the following application documents:

      1. Valid ordinary passport and personal profile photo

      Passports must remain valid beyond December 1, 2025. If you do not meet the requirements, please ensure prompt renewal. Applicants residing in China during the application process should provide a scanned copy of passport pages displaying the Chinese visa or residence permit page, along with the entry seal.

      Individuals who were initially residents of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, or Taiwan Region before acquiring foreign citizenship must provide the following documentation: (1) Proof of cancellation of household registration or withdrawal of Chinese nationality, or an official document certifying the absence of Chinese nationality issued by the Chinese diplomatic representation and consular authorities; (2) Proof of acquiring foreign citizenship.

      2. Diploma, certificates, and verification reports

      Applicants for bachelor's programs are required to submit documents of high school graduation. Students yet to graduate before the application deadline can submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their high schools. Those who fail to provide their high school education certificate before registration will have their admission revoked.

      Applicants who apply for master's programs and have graduated from universities within the Chinese Mainland should submit the Record of Electronic Registration of Academic Certificates from the Ministry of Education and the Online Verification Report of Chinese Higher Education Degree for bachelor's degrees, available on Chinese Higher Education Student Information website (https://www.chsi.com.cn). Applicants who graduated from universities outside the Chinese Mainland should submit Verification of Foreign Academic Degrees for bachelor’s degrees, accessible on the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (https://www.cscse.edu.cn). Students yet to graduate before the application deadline can submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their university. Those who fail to provide their bachelor’s degree certificate before registration will have their admission revoked.

      Applicants who apply for doctoral programs and graduated from universities within the Chinese Mainland should submit the Record of Electronic Registration of Academic Certificates from the Ministry of Education and the Online Verification Report of Chinese Higher Education Degree for both master's and bachelor's degrees, available on Chinese Higher Education Student Information website (https://www.chsi.com.cn). Applicants who graduated from universities outside the Chinese Mainland should submit Verification of Foreign Academic Degrees for both master's and bachelor's degrees, accessible on the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (https://www.cscse.edu.cn). Students yet to graduate before the application deadline can submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their university. Those who fail to provide their master’s degree certificate before registration will have their admission revoked.

      3. Complete transcripts of studies

      Applicants for bachelor's programs are required to submit standard test transcripts (High School Graduation Examination transcripts, Matriculation Examination transcripts, and transcripts of international standard tests such as SAT/ACT/ A-Level/IB in high school). Students yet to graduate can first submit transcripts from their high schools. Those who do not submit complete high school transcripts before registration will have their admission revoked.

      Applicants for master's programs must submit undergraduate transcripts issued and stamped by the academic affairs department or relevant student administration department of the applicants' university.  Applicants who will not graduate before the application deadline can submit their most recent transcript issued by their university. Those who fail to provide a complete transcript of undergraduate studies before registration will have their admission revoked.

      Applicants for doctoral programs must submit the transcripts issued and stamped by the academic affairs department or the relevant student administration department of the applicants' university. These transcripts should include the academic performance of both undergraduate and graduate studies. Applicants who will not graduate before the application deadline can submit their most recent transcript issued by their university. Those who fail to provide a complete transcript of undergraduate and graduate studies before registration will have their admission revoked.

     4. Language proficiency certificate

     Applicants of the programs instructed in Chinese should submit a valid certificate of Chinese language proficiency (HSK) or proof of completing courses instructed in Chinese language. Applicants of English-taught programs should submit TOFEL, IELTS certificate, or any proof of having taken program instructed in English or other proof demonstrating their English language proficiency.

      If the applicant can not meet the admission requirements in terms of Chinese language proficiency, please submit documentation stating the Chinese language proficiency. Students are required to have Chinese language (preparatory) study after being pre-admitted, and their Chinese language proficiency test (HSK) must meet the admission requirements within one year.

      5. Two letters of recommendation (see Attachment 1 for template)

      Applicants for bachelor's programs should submit letters of recommendation issued by the principal and a teacher respectively of the applicant's high school.

      Applicants for master's and doctoral programs should submit letters of recommendation issued by professors, associate professors, or senior professionals in the academic field relevant to the applicants' chosen field of study.

      6. Personal statement and plan of study and research in China (see Attachment 2 for template)

      Applicants for bachelor's programs are required to submit a personal statement that should include self-introduction, learning experience, interests, study goals, reasons for application, and career plans after graduation.

      Applicants for master's or doctoral programs should submit a research plan for study in China, which should be over 1500 words/characters and encompass various aspects including, but not limited to, relevant research or working background, past achievements in academic research, comprehensive study and research plan for the doctoral program, and career goal after graduation. If the applicant has published papers, please submit the abstract of the published papers.

      7. Report of physical examination and result of blood test (see Attachment 3 for template)

     The physical examination results must be endorsed by the hospital and obtained within six months prior to the submission date. Those who are living in the Chinese mainland with a valid foreign residency permit or permanent foreign permanent resident ID card can use these documents as substitutes for Foreigner Physical Examination Form.

      8. Certificate of non-criminal record

      The applicant must provide a valid non-criminal record issued by local authorities; the document should be issued within six months prior to the date of application submission.

      9. Supporting documents

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

      10. Letter of commitment (see Attachment 4 for the template)

      The provided application information must be truthful, legally sound, and valid. Before uploading document to the system, please print and sign the document

      11. Personal Information Form

      The Personal Information Form is generated automatically by the International Student Management System. After printing and signing it, please upload the completed form back 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.

II. Deadline for Pre-application

      January 15, 2025 (The first round）

      February 15, 2025 (The second round）

III. Review Procedures of Invitation Qualification

      1. SYSU will review the submitted pre-application materials in the International Student Management System of Sun Yat-sen University, and examine the applicants' pre-application information such as foreign status, highest academic qualification, academic performance, Chinese language proficiency, recommendations, and certificates of non-criminal records. (online pre-application website: https://apply.sysu.edu.cn/login)

      2. Letters of invitation will be sent to applicants who passed the qualification review through its application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn). Enquiry Email: admissions@mail.sysu.edu.cn.