1. Selection of University and Subject

There are several ways to get information to help select a university and a subject. Most Chinese universities have their own websites and the easiest way is to visit their websites. There are also books or prospectuses introducing universities in China. There are about 300 Chinese universities, which provide courses for international students. Most universities that accept international students have a brochure of "Information for international students wishing to study at the university". The brochure can be obtained from the international office or international education or international students’ office. Nowadays most Chinese universities put all this information including application forms on their websites. Application can also he made through the Internet or by email. Information about applying for the Chinese government scholarships can be obtained from the Chinese embassy or consulate.

2. Application for Chinese Government Scholarship

In order to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese people and people from the rest of the world, and to develop cooperation and exchange in the fields of education, science, culture, economy and trade between China and other countries, the Chinese government has set up a series of scholarship schemes to sponsor international students and scholars to undertake studies and research in Chinese higher education institutions. The Ministry of Education of China, which is responsible for the provision of Chinese government scholarships, has entrusted the CSC to administer the recruitment of international students and the management of Chinese Government Scholarship Programmes. International students under the Chinese Government Scholarship Program will be placed in 88 Chinese institutions of higher education designated by the Ministry of Education of China. There are more than 300 specialties in science, technology, agronomy, medicine, economics, laws, management, education, history, liberal arts and philosophy available to international students in these institutions.

3. Chinese Government Scholarship Program and Application

Chinese Government Scholarship Scheme

This was established by the Ministry of Education of China in accordance with educational exchange agreements reached between the Chinese government and government of other countries and relevant international organizations. It is to provide international students or scholars from relevant countries or organizations with both full scholarships and partial scholarships. The scheme supports students who come to China to study as undergraduates, postgraduates, and Chinese language students or general scholars. Applicants may apply to the competent authorities of their home country or the Chinese diplomatic mission in their home country.

China/UNESCO – the Great Wall Fellowship Scheme

This is a full scholarship scheme set up by the Ministry of Education of China for candidates recommended by the UNESCO. Only general scholar candidates and senior scholar candidates are eligible. Applicants may apply either to UNESCO headquarter or to the UNESCO national committee in the applicant’s country.

Distinguished International Students Scholarship Scheme

This was established by the Ministry of Education of China to sponsor those outstanding international students who have completed their current study programs in China and wish to continue to pursue higher degree studies in China. It includes full scholarships and partial scholarships. Applicants may apply to CSC on the recommendation of their institution.

HSK Winner Scholarship Scheme

This is a full scholarship scheme established by the Ministry of Education of China to support international students with excellent performance in the HSK test held in countries outside China to come to China to study Chinese. Applicants may apply to CSC through the HSK test organizing institution or the Chinese diplomatic missions.

Chinese Culture Research Fellowship Scheme

This scheme was established by the Ministry of Education of China to sponsor overseas scholars and specialists of Chinese culture to conduct short-term research in China. Applicants may apply to CSC on the recommendation of relevant Chinese institutions, professors or the Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries or directly to CSC.

Short-term Scholarship Scheme for Foreign Teachers of Chinese Language

The Ministry of Education of China established this for foreign teachers of Chinese language to improve their Chinese and Chinese teaching skills in China. Applicants may apply to CSC through the Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries.

4. Details of the Chinese Government Scholarship

Full scholarship: A Chinese government full scholarship covers tuition (or research) fees, emergency medical care, general learning materials, accommodation, living allowance, and a once only settlement subsidy and a once only inter-city travel allowance.

Partial scholarship: one or several items from the full scholarship.

International air ticket: Applicants are expected to meet their own international travel costs unless it is determined otherwise in bilateral agreements or arrangements.

The rate of living allowance and other items included in the scholarship are detailed in the attached scholarship application procedures.

Applications and Recruitment

The period for recruiting international students under the Chinese Government Scholarship Program is normally from the beginning of January to the end of April. Details about application procedures are determined through consultation between the Chinese diplomatic missions and the relevant authority of the applicants' home countries. Applicants may contact the relevant authority or the Chinese diplomatic missions in their home countries for details. There are 88 institutions of higher education that are designated by the Ministry of Education of China to admit international students under the Chinese Government Scholarship Program. Those who apply for Chinese Government Scholarships must choose institutions and specialties from these 88 institutions. Please visit the website of the CSC (http: //www.csc.edu.cn) for further details. Applicants should meet the basic conditions prescribed in the Application Procedures, and must fill in the application forms strictly in accordance with its requirements. They also need to provide relevant application materials as indicated in the application information package. Application materials for scholarships must reach CSC before the deadline as specified in Application procedures via the embassy in China or the Chinese diplomatic missions in the applicants' home countries.

CSC will review all the application materials it receives from the applicants via the embassies in China or the Chinese diplomatic missions in the applicants' home countries and forward the application materials to relevant institutions on the basis of the qualifications of the applicants and also taking into consideration the preferences of the applicants. The application will not be processed if the applicant's conditions are inconsistent with the recruitment regulations or if the application materials are incomplete. The institutions shall decide whether or not to admit the applicants. Finalized placements, specialties and duration of studies are in principle not to be changed. If the applicant has been in touch with or has been accepted by an institution (listed in the Directory) prior to application, the applicant is requested to enclose the relevant admission letter so that CSC may finalize the placement with the institution.

CSC will send the List of Accepted Students, Admission Notice and Visa
Application for Study in China (JW201) by July al to the relevant embassies in China or the Chinese diplomatic missions in the home countries of the scholarship students for them to forward these documents to the students via the authorities in charge in the scholarship students' home countries.
Visa Application and Enrolment Procedures

International students should apply for X Visa (student visa) or F (visit) Visa (to study for less than 6 months) to study in China from the Chinese embassy or consulate-general with the original copy and one photocopy of the Admission Notice and the Visa Application Form for Foreigners Wishing to Study in China (JW202 Form), while as for Chinese Government Scholarship student with (JW201 Form), Foreigner Physical Examination Form and the Blood Test Report (should be made at the appointed red-cross or state-run hospital in their countries by the Chinese embassy or consulate-general and be sealed by the Chinese embassy or consulate-general) and valid ordinary passport.

International students should enter China within the dates specified in the visa, and undergo the inspections at the frontier inspection stations, customs and health departments. International students with X (student) Visas or F (visitor) Visas must handle provisional accommodation registrations within 24hours, and residence permits at local police stations within 30 days after they pass the frontier inspections.

Upon arrival, applicants must go to the local Health Quarantine Department for an inspection of their health certificates. If the health records are out of date, or some items are not proper, then reexaminations are necessary. Residence and enrollment procedures are dealt with only after applicants pass the certificate inspections or health inspections by the Health Quarantine Department.

All international students enrolled by the university must register in person at the university according to the dates on the Admission Notice. Those who fail to comply with the above requirements must request permission from the university in advance, or otherwise their enrollment may be cancelled.

Those who have already studied in China must complete the Resident Permit transfer at the local police station before coming to another city.

Insurance and Family Members

Although it is not compulsory, international students are advised to take medical insurance and personal security insurance before coming to China.
Approval in advance by the university authorities is necessary if you would like your family members to accompany you to China. Accommodation for family members is not available in most Chinese universities because most dormitories are not big enough to accommodate students' family members.

Psychological Preparations for a Different Society and Culture

Psychological preparations in terms of social and cultural differences between China and your home country should not he neglected before you set off. Instead, consideration of possible problems and relevant solutions may be helpful to your happy academic life in China. Although most international students may feel very interested in all the happenings around when first arriving in China, soon you will feel quite annoyed because of the cultural changes, such as difficulty in oral communications, differences between value ideas and thinking manners. To get rid of sense of loss and confusion brought forth by the change of life style and customs of quite another kind of means to change your former life manner and life customs more or less when leaving your family and friends for China. For you will have to face a foreign environment that is completely different from the one you have got used to in the past. Only further understanding and gradual adjustment can help you shake off these senses of loss and puzzlement.temperate warm zone, and the whole territory features a continental monsoon climate.

Self-sacrificial: Chinese can give up valued things for the sake of others, particularly for those who have kinship or close friendship with them.

Polite: Politeness is observed at all times. Confrontation and loss of face (for both sides) must be avoided.

Responsible: Chinese have a strong sense of duty. They are responsible to many things such as work unit, family, friends, etc.

Adaptable: Chinese are more easily to adapt themselves to the environment such as the social, political and economic context.

Addictive to relationships: Chinese are addicted to relationships (blood relationship, social relationship, etc.) It is common in China that doing things depends on relationships (known as guanxi, “connections”).