Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship in 2025 at SYSU
Postdate：2025-02-26
In accordance with the 2025 Application Guide for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and the actual conditions of SYSU, this guide is formulated as follows.
I. Introduction
For the purpose of training qualified International Chinese language teachers and facilitating Chinese language education in other countries, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education will continue with the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (it is shorted for CIS). Confucius Institutes, independently operated Confucius Classrooms, certain HSK test centers, Chinese language (education) departments of foreign universities, professional associations for Chinese language instruction of other countries, Chinese embassies (consulates) abroad (collectively “recommending institutions”) may recommend outstanding students and currently-employed Chinese language teachers to pursue Master's Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (it is shorted for MTCSOL) at SYSU. The program commences in September 2025 and provides scholarships for a maximum of two academic years.
Ⅱ. Eligibility
1. Applicants should be non-Chinese citizens, with good physical and mental health, excellent academic performance, and aspiring to engage in Chinese Language education, teaching and other related work.
2. Applicants should be aged between 18 to 35 (as of September 1st, 2025). Applicants currently working as Chinese language teachers shall not be over 45 years old.
3. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree.
4. Applicants should have an HSK (level V) certificate (with 210 points or above) and as well as an HSKK (Intermediate) certificate (with 60 points or above).
5. Priority will be given to applicants who provide a work contract with a prospective teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.
Ⅲ. Scholarship Coverage and Standards
The scholarship provides full coverage on tuition fee, accommodation fee, living allowance and comprehensive medical insurance expenses.
1. Tuition fee is under the overall planning and utilization for SYSU to provide teaching and management of scholarship students, organize cultural and social activities, as well as Chinese language proficiency tests.
2. Accommodation fee is under the overall planning and utilization for SYSU to provide students with in-campus apartments (usually double rooms). Students may also live off campus upon application and getting permission from the university. Those who live off campus are entitled to accommodation allowance of 700 RMB per person/month paid on a month/quarterly basis from SYSU.
3. Living allowance is granted by SYSU on a monthly basis. For MTCSOL students, the monthly allowance is 3,000 RMB per person. Scholarship recipients are required to complete enrollment procedures for every semester within the stipulated period; otherwise, their scholarships may be cancelled. Students who are enrolled before the 15th (or on the 15th) of the month are entitled to the full allowance of that month while those enrolled after the 15th of that month are only entitled to half of the amount. During the study period, for any student who is absent from China due to personal reasons for more than 15 days (excluding winter and summer holidays), the allowance during absence will be suspended. For students who suspend study or drop out of school for personal reasons, or who are given disciplinary punishment by SYSU, allowances will be terminated on the date of such suspension, dropping out or the announcement of the decision of such punishment. The living allowance for the month of graduation will be granted half a month after the date of graduation or expiration day of the study confirmed by SYSU.
4. Comprehensive medical insurance is in accordance with relevant regulations for studying in China stipulated by the Ministry of Education of China. Insurance premium per person is 800 RMB per academic year.
5. Scholarship students should pass the scholarship review of their performance according to regulations before they can continue to apply for or receive funding of the scholarship. The evaluation results are divided into full scholarship, partial scholarship and suspension scholarship.
Ⅳ. Application Procedures
1. Online application in the CIS Application System. Applicants can log onto the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship application website (http://cis.chinese.cn/account/login) to apply for CIS. After logging in, applicants should (1) search recommending institutions and SYSU, (2) submit application materials online, (3) keep their phone or mobile open and check their email and application system regularly, (4) follow the application progress, review comments and scholarship review results. Scholarship recipients should confirm with SYSU to go through the paperwork for studying in China, and print the scholarship award certificate online.
2. Online application in the SYSU system. Applicants are required to visit SYSU Office of International Students' Affairs (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn) for online application. Please choose “APPLY ONLINE” accordingly, register and log in. Applicants should then select a project: 2025 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship. Fill in relevant information correctly and completely, and upload the application materials.
V. Application Materials
(1) Valid ordinary passport and personal profile photo
Applicants’ passports must remain valid until at least December 1, 2025. Please renew your passport if necessary. Applicants currently residing in China should provide a scanned copy of their passport, including the pages with a valid Chinese visa or residence permit, and the entry seal. Applicants who have obtained foreign nationality and were previously residents of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, or Taiwan must submit one of the following: (a) a certificate of cancellation of household registration or withdrawal of Chinese nationality; (b) an official document issued by Chinese diplomatic or consular authorities certifying that they do not hold Chinese nationality.
(2) Diploma, certificates and verification reports of bachelor's degree
Applicants who graduated from universities in Chinese mainland should provide the Record of Electronic Registration of Academic Certificates of the Ministry of Education and Online Verification Report of Chinese Higher Education Degree for and Bachelor's degrees from the website of Chinese Higher Education Student Information (https://www.chsi.com.cn).
Applicants who graduated from universities outside the Chinese mainland should submit the Verification of Foreign Academic Degrees from the website of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (https://www.cscse.edu.cn).
Students yet to graduate before the application deadline shall 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 undergraduate studies
The transcript shall be issued and stamped by the office of academic affairs or relevant student management department of the applicant's institution.
Applicants who will not graduate before the application deadline shall 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) Chinese language proficiency certificate
Applicants for Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages should have an HSK level V certificate with 210 points or above and an HSKK intermediate level certificate with 60 points or above.
(5) Two Academic Recommendation Letters
The letters of recommendation shall be provided by experts or scholars with recognized standing in the applicant's field (e.g., professors or associate professors) (Template provided in Attachment 1).
(6) Recommendation Letter from recommending institutions.
Currently-employed Chinese language teachers should submit Certificates of Employment as Chinese language teachers and Recommendation Letter from their employer.
(7) Study plan and reaserch in China
The plan should be over 3000 words, covering academic background and research work experience and achievements related to the intended field of study, study and research plan during the graduate studies, career plan after graduation from the MA program, etc. (Template provided in Attachment 2).
(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 3). Applicants 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) 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.
(10) International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship application form
Applicants should fill in the scholarship application form as required (http://cis.chinese.cn/account/login), sign on the last page of the form, and scan and upload the form.
(11) Supporting documents
Applicants can submit award certificates or proof of experience.
(12) Letter of Commitment
Applicants must certify that all application information provided is true, legal and valid. They shall print, sign, and upload the signed Commitment Letter to the system. (Template provided in Attachment 4)
(13) 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. Application Deadline (Beijing Time)
May 15th, 2025
Ⅶ. Policy on Chinese Bridge Award Recipients
Chinese Bridge award recipients who have been awarded the 2025 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Certificate should log onto the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship website (http://cis.chinese.cn) and submit application materials to SYSU upon presentation of their scholarship certificates.
For further inquiry, please send email to chinesebridge@chinese.cn.
Ⅷ. Others
1. Admitted students must complete the registration procedures according to the registration date and location required in the Admission Letter. Those who fail to register on time and to pass the physical examination for enrollment, drop out or suspend their studies from university midway will be deprived of their scholarship.
2. Admitted students are required to participate in the annual review. For details, please refer to the Methods for the Annual Review of International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship. Those who fail to pass the annual review will be suspended or disqualified from the scholarship.
IX. Contact information
1. Department of Chinese foreign Affairs of China Scholarship Council:
Inquiry Tel: 0086（10）66093927
E-mail: scholarships@chinese.cn
Website: http://cis.chinese.cn
2. Office of International Students' Affairs, Admissions Office of Education administration
Sun Yat-sen University
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
3. Postgraduate Office, Department of Chinese, Sun Yat-sen University
Online Application Website: https://chinese.sysu.edu.cn
Inquiry Tel: 0086（20）84111031
Address: Chinese Building, Sun Yat-sen University,
135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, P.R.China
Zip code: 510275