2017 CSC Scholarships

[Angelina]

 

Do use this as a place to come to for information and to ask questions regarding applications for the Chinese Government Scholarships for 2017. I have found that in past years, people have been tremendously helpful in addressing questions and concerns and I expect that this year's thread shall be no different.

 

For this year, we have set up a whole subforum for CSC. Do peruse all of the topics and please try to keep pertinent questions and concerns under the appropriate topic.

 

While we do encourage you to ask questions about the process here, we also encourage you to check out the following websites first (and check them out again and again!). The CSC has gotten better over the years in producing more transparent information about the process and a lot of questions can be answered by simply checking out the following websites:

 

CSC main page: http://en.csc.edu.cn

Study in China page: http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/indexen.aspx

Intro to Chinese Government Scholarships:

 http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/scholarshipdetailen.aspx?cid=97&id=2070

Universities that accept scholarship students and their programs: http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/universityen.aspx

Preparation of Application: http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/newsdetailen.aspx?cid=66&id=1145

Information about Scholarship Application: http://www.csc.edu.cn/laihua/newsdetailen.aspx?cid=66&id=3074

 

Also, DO email representatives at your desired universities as well as representatives of the Chinese Embassy in your home country with your questions. They have answers and they are willing to help you.

 

The application process is now open. The application deadlines should be in early April, but do check the specific application deadline for your home country.

 

To apply, contact and send your application to a Chinese embassy/consulate located in your home country. For example, Australians must apply at the Chinese embassy in Australia, and Americans must apply at the Chinese embassy in America. People currently in China can also apply, but they still have to mail their applications to a Chinese embassy in their home country!

 

For people that are only applying for Chinese Language (as opposed to a degree), you can choose between 1 or 2 years. For people who are pursuing a degree, you can request 1 or 2 years of Chinese Language study BEFORE taking your classes if you either can't speak Chinese or need it improved.

WE DO NOT KNOW THE CHANCES OF GETTING THIS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ANY COMBINATION OF THESE CHOICES. We don't know if we have a better chance of getting a partial or full scholarship, or if it's easier to get it if you request 1 or 2 years. Nor do we know how much your GPA matters, or if already having Chinese language skills hurts/helps you, or if having been to China before means you get extra points. Whatever it is, we don't know.

Programs generally start in September, but there are also a few that start in March.... and SUMMER CLASSES are NOT included in the scholarship.

If you already received the scholarship and wish to extend it you will need to apply again. First talk to your school or any contact to see what your options are.

This is where your application will be going:

Steps for Embassy application
1. You send your application to a third party representative of CSC (maybe your school).
2. The third party (OR you can apply directly) sends application to your native country's China Embassy.
3. Your native country's China Embassy sends your application to the Beijing CSC office.
4. The Beijing CSC office sends your application to your selected schools.
5. If and when a school accepts you, your acceptance is sent to the Beijing CSC office.
6. The Beijing CSC office sends your acceptance to your native country's China Embassy.
7. The China Embassy sends your acceptance and all needed documentation to you.

 

Steps for direct application to universities for Post graduate applicants

1) Send your application to your preferred school

2) If admitted, school notifies you.

3) School sends it to CSC

4) CSC approves

5) School notifies you.

6) You get yourself into China

At any step of this process your application may be rejected. Again we don't know why, how, or when the decision is made. In the end, the school gets a final say on whether you receive the scholarship or not.

The Application
1. Proposed Study in China: e.g., Chinese Language Student
2. Duration of the Major Study: For people learning Chinese - you can study for either one or two years, starting in September.
3. Study or Research Plan: In the previous years, they required all applicants to write something like a personal statement that was no less than 400 words (THIS IS STILL TRUE FOR EU APPLICANTS and probably for "degree" applicants), but now, you can just write in a few sentences that you would like to learn Chinese. Feel free to write a full "study plan" if you'd like.
4. Organization/Person Recommending You: I say go for anything that sounds official: Use your university, your professor, the company you work for, this forum, whatever.
5. The Guarantor: Anyone you know in China.
6. Letters of Recommendation: It seems that letters of recommendations are NOT required for those studying Chinese and not pursuing a degree. This is also written on the website. Include them if you wish. Those who are pursuing a degree will need TWO letters of recommendation from professors/employers.
7. You need a notarized copy of your most recent transcript, and your high school diploma (for those who are still in university) or degree (if you already graduated from college). If it is not in English or Chinese, you need to get it translated into one of those two languages.
8. They want TWO copies of the application: send two of everything.
 

The Foreigner Physical Examination Form
You can get it filled out by your family doctor, internist, or a doctor from a clinic. As for the "photo section" - it requires either a signature or stamp on the photo and paper (half on/half off at the same time) so that it can act as a seal to prove that it is your photo and has not been tampered with.

DO NOT send the ORIGINAL Foreign Physical Examination Form with either the CSC application or your visa application. Send copies. You keep the ORIGINAL with you - treat it like your passport (even though you'll never use it again).

Post-Scholarship/In China
Notification: If you get the scholarship (notification is sent to you sometime around May/June - some people were notified as late as August), CSC will send you a package filled with information on the selected school, an admission letter from that school, a letter reminding you that you must register at the school between certain dates, and the Visa Application Form for Study in China (JW201) already filled out by CSC. All you need to do is get the visa, book your flight, and come to China.

Stipend: All fees are taken care of. The only thing you need to manage is your stipend. Some universities will give you an ATM card that gets money deposited in it every month, while others will require you to pick up cash from a certain office. The stipend is generally handed out at the end of the month. The stipend starts at 2500 RMB a month for bachelor's degree students, and then moves up to 3000 RMB a month for language students and master's degree students, and then tops out at 3500 RMB a month for doctorate students.

Housing: The housing provided is the cheapest international students' accommodations the school offers. Usually, it's a tiny room with two desks, two closets, and two beds - without a private bathroom (you use a shared one with the rest of the floor). At some schools you can move to a nicer dorm, even to a single - as long as you pay the difference. If you consider moving off campus, check with your university to see if they will give you a monthly allotment to assist with paying rent. Some universities give CSC students a minimal amount to cover off-campus rent, some don't. This is a new thing.

Insurance: ...

 

ENGLISH-TAUGHT COURSES

If you are applying for courses taught in English, be aware that these are often new and designed to attract high-fee paying foreign students. Check your scholarship will cover the fees. Also be aware that levels of English among teaching and administrative staff might not be as high as you want, and that new courses could be very disorganised - or sometimes just not exist. If possible try and find people who've already done the course. 

JOIN THE DISCUSSION - SAY HELLO

Hello. Where are you applying from? Just studying Chinese or pursuing a degree? What did your local Chinese embassy say? Where and how did you get your papers notarized? Did you apply for your school of choice beforehand? Where did you get your Physical Exam done? Anything else you learned or would like to share?

There is a lot of information you may find around these forums. If you find the application process to be too overbearing, we are here for you. Please be patient with the whole process and do put your best foot forward in the application process--this is an excellent opportunity for those of us who will get the scholarship so cherish it and do your best with it.

 

 

[BanjoSlice]

Hi me here. Am inquiring on how to get a full MBBS scholarship as clearly bilateral route failed me last year. i hope I can get help

[Angelina]

You have already tried to apply through a Chinese embassy and this attempt was not successful.

What are your options? 

-You apply through a Chinese university where the university nominates you for the CSC;

-Other scholarships 

 

I am personally interested in Biomedical Engineering. Have you considered that or you are set on an MBBS (cadavers and all)? 

Chinese-taught or English-taught? 

[BanjoSlice]

@Angelina I am yet to press submit for a uni to pursue pharmacy. The reason is I have always wanted to be a dr and wouldn't be happy with anything else especially too much Chem. As an undergrad, is there any uni that can nominate me for MBBS via CSC as it is I see CSC via uni mainly deals with postgrad.

[Angelina]

You can look at statistics. Universities and provincial scholarships usually list who was previously awarded their scholarship. If there are only graduate students, it is safer not to apply for a bachelor's degree. You can also try to talk to them. 

[BanjoSlice]

Alright.. Thanks

[xit]

I am also interested in pursuing MBBS as an undergrad. As far as I understand, studying medicine in China is undergrad, so I don't think this should be a problem. It would be great if people shared their experiences~

[Homni]

Hey guys,

I just found this forum and thread and I am glad I did.

 

 

 

So my question is, would a low mark at a Master degree damage my chances of getting a scholarship? The uni application fees are quite high for me so I am asking so I can at least spend the money knowing that I have some chance.

 

 

 

 

 

[Angelina]

It is not a problem, you just need to find funding. There is more funding for graduate studies. 

[igoeth]

I've seen several answers regarding the "notarized" transcripts, however I'm hoping someone can give a definitive answer here. If they are in English and sealed in an envelope from a university's registrar office does that count as notarized? Additionally, if sealed transcripts are acceptable to send in with the application package, what are we supposed to upload into the online application? Does an official digital copy work for the online app, even though as a digital copy it will display "printed copy" in the background when opened by a third party? How about the rest of the documents that we are required to upload? We have to upload digitals as well as send hard copies in duplicate to the embassy? I am applying to the embassy in Washington DC for language study only. Thank you all!

[BanjoSlice]

@igoeth Notarization should be done at the notary public and therefore simply hhaving documents in English and in an official envelope doesn't count. You need to notarise your docs regardless of whether they are in English and stamped or not. Notarisation simply confirms that the seal and signature on your transcripts are true. Nothing else. You need to upload all copies and later send hard copies in duplicate.

[Angelina]

@Homni 

talk to someone from that program 

 

@igoeth

if you are sending any copies (not the original degree certificate), these copies should be notarized 

[Ele176]

大家好！

 

I'm currently attending a one-year Chinese course in Beijing under the Chinese Government Scholarship - EU Window program.

I would like to apply for another scholarship for studying in a Master taught in English starting from September, but I have some doubts:

- can I apply again for the CGS even if I've already been granted a scholarship last year?

- I read on the CSC website that it is possible to apply for more than one program, therefore I would like to apply for both the EU Windows program and the university program. Nevertheless, I don't understand how I can apply for more than one program since during the online application I can choose only one agency code (I can't insert both the EU Window agency code and my target university agency code). Should I make a new registration and send a second online application? Any suggestion?

- In case I can't apply for both programs, would you suggest me to apply again to the EU Window program or directly to the university? Which program do you think is better and "safer"? 

 

Thank you in advance!

 

 

 

[Angelina]

You can apply two times, make separate applications, application number one: use the embassy agency code, then use the university agency code for a second application. 

I am not aware of any restrictions. Have you found anything on this? Where one person can make only one CSC application? I do not think there are any restrictions of this kind.

[BanjoSlice]

I dont seem to know anyone in China, how do I fill contact in China??

[Angelina]

This part is not obligatory. What is the point of it anyway? Maybe just in case if they can't reach you to tell you about the results.

If you have it, it can be convenient, but you don't and it is fine.

 

@LanceGonza

[Cantabile]

Hey everyone! Good luck with this round of applications! I'll try and answer questions when I can. 

 

One piece of advice I can give is to be very patient because the CSC likes to take their time with everything haha.

[Ele176]

@Angelina

Thanks for your answer!

 

But how can I send two different application? If I remember well, when I register I can send only one application (therefore I can use only one agency code). Should I make two different registration and then send one application with the first account and the other application with the second account?

 

About the other question, a friend of mine told me that it's not possible to ask a second scholarship, but it was probably just a rumor. 

[Angelina]

20 hours ago, Ele176 said:

Should I make two different registration and then send one application with the first account and the other application with the second account?

 

 

yes 

[Angelina]

20 hours ago, Ele176 said:

About the other question, a friend of mine told me that it's not possible to ask a second scholarship, but it was probably just a rumor. 

 

I mean, apply for a second scholarship at the same time.

I think there are no restrictions to how many times you register online at CSC during the same application period. 

You can make two registrations using the same name during the same application period, right? If this is ok, and you have already chosen a master's degree program, make everything the same, expect for the agency number, one EU Window, one the university. Since you are in China already you can meet faculty from that program and make sure they are willing to accept your application. Then for funding you have two options, so it will probably be fine.