Application Guidelines for the 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship—High-Level Graduate Program at Sun Yat-sen University

        In accordance with the relevant regulations of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Ministry of Education”) and the China Scholarship Council (hereinafter referred to as the “CSC”), and in light of the actual circumstances of Sun Yat-sen University (hereinafter referred to as “SYSU”), these application guidelines are hereby formulated.

I. Overview of the Scholarship
        The Chinese Government Scholarship–High-Level Graduate Program was established by the Ministry of Education in 2008. It is a full scholarship scheme designed to support the development of China’s high-level universities and to build the international profile of Chinese higher education by providing outstanding international students with opportunities to study in China. Under this program, China’s key universities directly select and recruit excellent young international students for graduate study in China.

        The program follows the principles of individual application, institutional nomination, expert review, and merit-based selection, and aims to identify international students with strong academic backgrounds, professional competence, and significant potential for future development. 
        As an authorized host institution of the Chinese Government Scholarship, SYSU recruits international graduate students (master’s and doctoral levels) worldwide under this program. Final admission decisions will be subject to the results of the expert review conducted by the CSC.

II. Eligibility
        1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens who hold a valid foreign passport
        2. Applicants must be in good physical and mental health and meet the physical examination requirements for obtaining a student visa or residence permit for study in China.
        3. Academic Qualification and Age Requirements:
        Applicants for Master’s Degree Programs: Must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent academic qualifications, have excellent academic performance, and generally be no older than 35 years of age.
        Applicants for Doctoral Degree Programs: Must hold a master’s degree or equivalent academic qualifications, have excellent academic performance, and generally be no older than 40 years of age.
        4. Applicants must 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.

III. Scholarship Coverage
        The scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, and comprehensive medical insurance. The specific funding details and standards are subject to the official announcement of the CSC for the corresponding year.

IV. Programs Offered
        Please refer to the Catalog of Master’s and Doctoral Programs for International Students at Sun Yat-sen University in 2026 (Appendix 1) .
        The official program catalog is subject to approval by the Ministry of Education. Applications for programs outside the approved catalog will be considered invalid.

V. Application Deadline
        February 15, 2026 

VI. Application and Admission Procedures
        Step 1: Submit Your Application on the CSC website
        Log in to and complete your application on the Chinese Government Scholarship—Study in China application system at http://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn or http://www.campuschina.org; Select Type: B and enter Sun Yat-sen University Institution Code (10558); Submit the application online and print the Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form, and sign the form personally.
        Step 2: Complete and Submit the Online Application to SYSU
        Applicants should access the Sun Yat-sen University International Student Application System (hereinafter referred to as the “Application System”) at: http://apply.sysu.edu.cn
        Applicants should complete the following procedures:
        (1) Register an account in the Application System.
        (2) Log in and click “Online Application”. Select “Chinese Government Scholarship–High-Level Graduate Program in 2026 (Type B_Master’s/Ph. D)”.
        (3) Submit the required application materials (see Section VII of these guidelines for details).
        Step 3: Upload Signed Documents
        Applicants should download the automatically generated Application Information Form from the Application System (including the “Letter of Commitment”, and the “Proof of Financial Support by Applicant” or “Proof of Financial Guarantee”), print the hard copy, sign it by hand, and upload the signed version to the system.
        Step 4: Pay the Application Fee Online
        The application fee is RMB 400. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable. Applications submitted without payment of the application fee will be considered invalid.
        Step 5: Qualification Review and Interview
        SYSU will review the submitted application documents, and qualified applicants will be invited to attend an interview. 
        The interview will assess the applicant’s overall competence and language proficiency. The interview schedule and format will be notified through the Application System or via email.
        Step 6: Check the Preliminary Admission Results
        SYSU will determine the preliminary admission list based on a comprehensive evaluation. Applicants can log in to the Application System to check their preliminary admission results 15 days after the interview and download the Admission Letter.
        Step 7: Confirmation of Scholarship Award Eligibility
        For applicants who have obtained pre-admission from SYSU, the final admission decision is subject to the results of the expert review conducted by the CSC. 
        Admission notices for scholarship recipients will be issued on a rolling basis, and applicants may log in to the Application System to download them.
VII. Application Materials
        1. A valid ordinary passport and a personal profile photo
        Applicants’ passports must remain valid until at least December 1, 2026. Please renew your passport if necessary. Applicants currently residing in the Chinese mainland should provide a scanned copy of their valid Chinese visa or residence permit page, as well as the entry stamp page/s.
        For applicants who were originally citizens of the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, or the Taiwan, and later acquired foreign nationality, the following documents must be additionally provided:
         (1) Proof of the cancellation of household registration, or proof of renunciation of Chinese nationality; or
         (2) An official certificate issued by a Chinese diplomatic or consular mission certifying that the applicant does not hold Chinese nationality.
        2. Degree certificates, diplomas, and verification reports
        Applicants for Master’s Degree Programs
        (1) Applicants for master’s programs who graduated from institutions within China must submit the following documents from the Chinese Higher Education Student Information Network via its official website link: https://www.chsi.com.cn: 
        a. Electronic Registration and Verification Form of Higher Education Qualification Certificate issued by the Ministry of Education for the bachelor’s degree.
        b. Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate for the bachelor’s degree.
        (2) Applicants for master’s programs who graduated from institutions outside the Chinese mainland must submit the Foreign Academic Degree and Qualification Verification Report for the bachelor’s degree issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) via its official website: https://www.cscse.edu.cn. 
        (3) For current-year graduates, a pre-graduation certificate issued by the applicant’s school may be submitted during the application process. However, if they fail to provide the degree certificate of bachelor’s degree before enrollment, their admission offer will be considered invalid.
        Applicants for Doctoral Degree Programs
        (1) Applicants who graduated from institutions within China must submit the following documents from the Chinese Higher Education Student Information Network via its official website link: https://www.chsi.com.cn
        a. Electronic Registration and Verification Form of Higher Education Qualification Certificate issued by the Ministry of Education for both the master’s and bachelor’s degrees.
        b. Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate for both the master’s and bachelor’s degrees.
        (2) Applicants who graduated from institutions outside the Chinese mainland must submit the Foreign Academic Degree and Qualification Verification Report for both the master’s and bachelor’s degrees issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) via its official website: https://www.cscse.edu.cn.
        (3) For current-year graduates, a pre-graduation certificate issued by the applicant’s school may be submitted during the application process. However, if they fail to provide the degree certificate of master’s degree before enrollment, their admission offer will be considered invalid.
        3. Complete academic transcripts
        Applicants for Master’s Degree Programs
        Transcripts of the applicant’s bachelor’s degree must be issued and stamped by the academic affair department or the relevant student administration department of the applicants’ institution. 
        For current-year graduates, the most recent transcript issued by their school may be submitted during the application process. However, if they fail to provide the complete bachelor’s transcript before enrollment, their admission offer will be considered invalid.
        Applicants for Doctoral Degree Programs
        Transcripts from both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees must be issued and stamped by the academic affairs office or the relevant student administration department of the applicant’s institution.
        For current-year graduates, the most recent transcript issued by their school may be submitted during the application process. However, if they fail to provide the complete bachelor’s and master’s transcripts before enrollment, their admission offer will be considered invalid.
        4. Proof of language proficiency
        (1) Applicants for master’s and doctoral degree programs applying for a program taught in Chinese must submit a valid HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) certificate with a minimum score of 180 at Level 5 or above. 
        Applicants of the Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL) must provide a valid HSK certificate with a minimum score of 210 points of Level 5 or above; and an HSKK (Hanyu Shuiping Kouyu Kaoshi) certificate at the intermediate level with a score of 60 points or above.
        Applicants who completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree program where Chinese was one of the primary languages of instruction (i.e., with some major courses taught in Chinese) may submit a Certificate of Chinese-Medium Instruction issued by their school. Upon verification by SYSU, submission of the HSK certificate may be waived.
        (2) Applicants applying for a program taught in English, whose native language is not English, must submit proof of English proficiency through either the TOEFL iBT, with a minimum total score of 79 and no less than 15 in each section, or the IELTS Academic, with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 and no less than 5.5 in each component.
        Applicants who have taken courses taught in English may submit a “Certificate of English-Medium Instruction” issued by their school. Upon verification by SYSU, submission of English proficiency test scores may be waived. 
        5. Two academic recommendation letters (see Appendix 2)
        For applicants to master’s and doctoral degree programs, their referees of the recommendation letters must be professors, associate professors, or experts with equivalent professional or technical titles in the applicant’s field of study.
        6. Plan of study and research in China (see Appendix 3)
        Applicants for master’s degree programs are required to submit a Plan of Study and Research in China, with a main text of approximately 3,000 words, and including, but not limited to, the applicant’s academic and professional background, research achievements, research plan of the master’s stage of study, and post-graduation career plans.
        Applicants for doctoral degree programs are required to submit a Plan of Study and Research in China, with a main text of approximately 6,000 words, and including, but not limited to, the applicant’s academic and professional background, research achievements, doctoral research plan, and post-graduation career plans. The study plan submitted by applicants for doctoral degree must be signed and approved by their prospective Chinese advisor, and must be written either in Chinese or in English only.
        7. Physical examination report and test results (see Appendix 4)
        Applicants must submit the Foreigner Physical Examination Form along with scanned copies of the original reports for a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), and laboratory tests for specified items. All documents must bear the official seal of the hospital and must be issued within the past six months.
        Applicants currently residing in the Chinese mainland who hold a valid Foreigner Residence Permit or Permanent Residence ID Card for Foreigners may submit either of these documents in place of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.
        8. Certificate of Non-Criminal Record
        Applicants must submit a valid Certificate of No Criminal Record issued by the local public security authority, generally dated within six months prior to the application submission date.
        9. Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form
        In accordance with the requirements of the Chinese Government Scholarship, applicants must complete the application form via the Study in China application system at: http://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn. Applicants shall select Application Type B, and enter SYSU’s Institution Code: 10558.  
        The form must be signed on the final page, scanned, and uploaded.
        10. Supplementary supporting documents
        Applicants may submit certificates of awards or documents verifying relevant experience to support their application.
        Note: All application materials must be original documents in Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, a notarized Chinese or English translation must be provided.
VIII. Supervision
        1. Responsibility for Submitted Materials: Applicants are responsible for the authenticity of all materials they submit. In accordance with Chinese national regulations and SYSU’s rules, any applicant found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission, enrollment, and student status revoked, and the matter will be reported to the relevant authorities.
        2. Registration: Admitted students must complete registration on the date and at the location specified in the Admission Letter. Early registration is not permitted. Failure to register on time without prior approval will be considered a withdrawal of admission, and scholarship recipients will also lose their scholarship eligibility.
        3. Post-Admission Physical Examination and Eligibility Review: SYSU will conduct a physical examination and review of admission eligibility for all enrolled students in accordance with regulations and requirements of the Ministry of Education of China. Students who fail to meet the admission requirements or are found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission and enrollment revoked, and scholarship recipients will also lose their scholarship eligibility.

IX. Contact Information
        1. Office of Study in China, China Scholarship Council
        Tele: 0086（10）66093927, 66093924
        Website: http://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn
        or https://www.campuschina.org
        2. Office of International Students’ Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University 
        Website: http://iso.sysu.edu.cn
        Online Application Website: 
        https://apply.sysu.edu.cn/login
        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