CSC Scholarship - 2010

[m000gle]

@Patpat

I was under the impression that these medical forms were valid for six months; but also that they weren't required to get the visa, only to apply for the residence permit after arrival. Hopefully things work out tomorrow, though.

Good luck!

@Helios

I got the scholarship again!

Really? It's possible to apply for and receive the CSC scholarship more than once? Did you apply for the same category of scholarship both times (for example, the language training program)?

lol... My thoughts exactly. I'm going as a language student this time, with a year or two left in my undergrad back home, but it would be amazing to re-apply for a Masters/Ph.D scholarship in the future!

[Ariane]

For what it's worth, I've applied as a language student for 3 years in a row, and gotten it all three years, although sadly the last two were only for tuition, and not living expenses etc.

[Patpat]

@Helios

I'm going to go in tomorrow and try and fake them out however possible. Will report back.

Funny enough I DO actually have experience with International SOS, when I was getting a minor health problem treated last time I was in Beijing (05). They were very accessible, pretty well informed about which hospitals to go to, etc., and they were great about reimbursements (from a private hospital w/ western prices). Highly recommended!

Pat

[crisgee]

Really? It's possible to apply for and receive the CSC scholarship more than once? Did you apply for the same category of scholarship both times (for example, the language training program)?

I'm a first-time recipient of the CSC scholarship, and I want to apply again for either a master's degree or for another language learning program, as I am only signed up for a single year right now.

Apparently, yes! I just gave it a shot and BNU accepted me! Yes, this is another one-year language program, same as the one that i applied to last year. But like what i said, i'm not going to BLCU anymore even though it was my first choice. I don't know if they would've accepted me if i applied for a master's degree, but if the universities i chose were willing to accept me then i'll be in. Our liaison in the Philippines revealed to me that ultimately it's the universities who decide. The embassies and CSC just work together to gather and distribute the applications.

[Helios]

@m000gle:

So far, it seems that we can indeed re-apply for the scholarship. There is no hard and fast rule prohibiting it. However, we may not be able to get the same type of scholarship twice (full vs. partial, university, etc).

@Ariane:

For what it's worth, I've applied as a language student for 3 years in a row, and gotten it all three years, although sadly the last two were only for tuition, and not living expenses etc.

Interesting experience. They gave you a partial instead of a full. Was the scholarship identical in other aspects? Like, the same university each of the three years? Did you mention anywhere in your study plan that you planned on utilizing the CSC scholarship for language three years in a row? If so, maybe, they did not want to entertain this.

@Patpat

The medical should not be required for the visa, as far as I know. I've gotten two visas now from the LA Consulate without it, and I'm pretty sure others have gotten their visas without it. Good luck!

Also, thank you very much for the information regarding International SOS. You just made my decision that much easier. =)

@crisgee

I imagine that the language program candidates are filled on a rolling and what's available basis, whereas the degree seeking candidates probably have a better shot of getting a school they elected because they are in for the long haul, and need to be enticed to leave home for an extended period of time. This is all conjecture, by the way. I have no proof of this other than observation, and I'm simply attempting to provide reasoning to the innards of the black box.

[Ariane]

Same university all three times-- there is an explanation for the partial vs. full. Last year, I accidentally ticked partial instead of full, and then this year, my province changed the deadline to about 3 months earlier than it was before, and handed out all of the full scholarships then, and only had partials remaining. I was sad about that, but nothin' I can do. Haha, I'll try again, and let you know what happens! And nope, no mention of wanting to use it for 3 years in my letters, just the standard-- Chinese will be helpful to my goals, I wish to work in some governmental capacity, blah blah blah.

Basically, as far as I can tell, if you have the scholarship, reapply on time, you are fairly likely to get it again.

[Helios]

@Ariane:

Great! Thanks for the explanation and encouragement!

I depleted all of the wet copies of my letters of recommendation this year, and now I have obtain new wet copies. =/

[yuyun]

hello everyone,

congratulation for your scholarship!

i've just got my admission letter this friday. unfortunately, i didn't get the one year chinese language study.

instead, i'm entering master program from this september at Fudan University.

is there anyone who got at Fudan too? or maybe any unersities in shanghai?

i don't know anyone there, and feel so lonely since my chinese is poor.

so i guess maybe we can chat and hang out together and spend nice days. ^_^

just add me at yuna_hikawa@yahoo.com

again, cheers to everyone!

[ricardo]

Re: International SOS

They are who all our overseas business travel are insured with at my current work place (an Australian Federal Government department). If they're good enough to win that contract, they'll be pretty good (the department *really* takes care of its people).

They're very expensive though... I got a quote (going to BJ for 2 years as a student) - US$1200/year :s For general travel insurance I can recommend travelinsurancedirect.com.au (for all those Aussies out there)... my sister made a medical claim through them and they were great.

Foreigner Physical Examination form

I also brought mine with a copy when I applied for an X visa - it was also refused (all they wanted was the JW201). That was at the Sydney visa application centre.

My *guess* is that they would the physical exam if you're applying for an F visa (6 months or less of study) because in that case you don't get residency (and therefore don't have to a physical exam in China).

Arrival dates

I'm at USTB, it says I have to register between August 30th and 31st.

[Helios]

@ricardo:

Great! More positive information regarding International SOS.

Thanks, Ricardo!

[Helios]

@yuyun

You got into a master's program at Fudan! That does not sound unfortunate at all! Congratulations!

[Peiruo]

@Patpat, Ricardo and everyone else who got more then they bargained for with the CSC scholarship - belated thanks for your replies.

Patpat - no clause telling me I'll be bumped down if my Chinese isn't up to scratch, but I'm sure they'll let me, its going to be a pretty hectic year if they don't!

Ricardo - g'day!

I am making a last attempt to transfer to Zheda in Hangzhou since I know a teacher there, but otherwise let me know if anyone is going to be in Jinhua in September, it will be great to have a partner in crime for my year living in a town of 4.6 million with a reputation for good ham

[eloper]

I got a 2 years masters scholarship in International Law at Zhongnan University in Wuhan.

Its neither the course nor the university i applied for, and furthermore its in English!

Despite all that, the primary issue is that i have been told to arrive on September the 5th and yet i don't even graduate until November!

I'm working with the University International Office at this stage to see if i can keep the scholarship regardless. Doesn't look promising but i will inform everyone here of the outcome.

Congratulations everyone!

p.s. i'm not sure this is the norm, but i was given 1 month to prepare for 2 years abroad. insanity!

[ansileran]

Congratulations to everyone who got the CSC scholarship this year !

I intend to apply for next year but I'm starting to wonder if this is the right choice. It seems that many people applying for degree programs (masters, Ph.D) ended with a scholarship for something completly different... I find this rather frightening since at this level of study, years in China are intended as a specialisation, not as educational tourism... Would anyone know if this often happens or if it's just that only the fews who got a messed up scholarship are posting on the forum ?

I can't find much about people having a scholarship for a degree with a year to study Chinese... Did anyone get it ? Or any information about being able to "postpone" your degree for a year if you do not speak Chinese well enough upon your arrival ?

I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't try sending my application directly to the concerned universities and ask for those universities' scholarships... Did anyone tried that ? Or apply for both CSC and university scholarship ?

Good luck for your stay in China !

[extrapages]

hello, all. sorry ive been mia.

congrats to everyone that got their scholarships!

this scholarship was my ticket into beijing - where i lived, studied (not really), worked, partied (too much), and had the best three years of my life. i hope that china will be for each of you what it was for me and more. im now back in the states - and unfortunately, decided that i will no longer run this thread. ill be around though - and if anyone is interested in picking this up, i can give you all the information we have all gathered.

hi, roddy! <3

[roddy]

About time you had a rest!

[Helios]

@ansileran

What you could do, based on my understanding, is apply directly to the universities for the program(s) that you want, and when they admit you, send the admission notice along with your CSC Scholarship application. At that point, the CSC knows you have been admitted to the university's program and they only have to decide whether to give you the scholarship or not.

Also, I'm not aware of any scholarships that the individual universities offer.

@extrapages

You are the architect of our dreams! Please, don't start the "kick"! *Dream world begins to crumble* /Inception

But seriously, thank you so much for all of your help, Extrapages! If this thread continues, it will not be the same without you. Finding someone that is as experienced, kind, and attentive as you to run the thread will not be an easy task, but for the sake of future CSC applicants and myself, I hope that we can do it. We're going to need a deus ex machina to resolve this situation.

*Helios spins his totem...*

[ansileran]

Thanks for you answer Helios !

Trouble is, by the time universities give their answer (april or later), you've already missed the deadline for applying for the CSC Scholarship...

I guess I'll just try it both ways...

As for scholarship offered by universities, they do exist but tend to be limited to a small number of student. They also might only be for international students applying for a master degree in Chinese and I don't think you can have a year to study Chinese with those since they ask for your HSK transcript.

I've found another possibility. It seems that CSC is offering scholarship for postgraduate programms at a few specific universities and that, for this scholarship, you have to apply directly to the university. I'll try to find some more informations about this...

[roddy]

We're going to need a deus ex machina to resolve this situation.

I have one lined up.

[tcvu]

Does anyone know if Chinese universities are flexible about their academic calendar? I wanted to apply to a few fellowships that start at the beginning of July -- but my school year at Central South University doesn't end until mid July. Do you know of anyone who has been able to speak to professors and take the final exam 1-2 weeks earlier?