Beyond the national CSC scholarship, many Chinese provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions fund their own scholarships for international students who study in that province. They are usually less competitive than CSC, smaller in value, and administered through the university rather than through an embassy — which makes them one of the most under-used funding routes.
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How they differ from CSC
| Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) | Provincial / municipal scholarship | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | China Scholarship Council, via embassy, university or agency | Province or city government, via the university |
| How you apply | Through a channel with an agency number | Usually together with your university application, or through the university’s own form |
| Competition | High; quotas per country and per department | Lower; competition is inside one province |
| Typical value | Full tuition + accommodation + stipend + insurance | Often partial: a tuition waiver, sometimes accommodation or a partial stipend |
| Deadline | Often Dec–Apr depending on channel | Often Feb–May, and sometimes later than the university’s admission deadline |
You generally cannot hold two Chinese government-funded scholarships at the same time, so a provincial award and CSC are usually alternatives rather than add-ons. A university is sometimes allowed to top up a provincial award with its own waiver — ask the international office.
Examples of where these schemes exist
Provincial and municipal schemes come and go, and the names change, but they exist in — among others — Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Hubei, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shandong, Fujian, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guangxi, Heilongjiang and Liaoning. Some are city-level (Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an), which is easy to miss if you only search for “provincial”.
The point is not the list — it is that almost every mid-size Chinese university participates in at least one of them, and the international office knows which.
What they usually cover
- Full or partial tuition waiver (the most common form)
- Sometimes accommodation on campus
- Sometimes a partial living stipend
- Occasionally medical insurance
- Duration: one academic year, renewable after review, or the full programme for degree students
An award that covers tuition only is still worth having: it is usually the difference between paying full fees and paying living costs alone.
Who can apply
- Applicants to a university in that province — the scholarship is tied to the location, not to your nationality.
- Degree students in most schemes; a few also fund language year students.
- Age rules vary by scheme and are usually more generous than CSC’s.
- Language requirements follow the programme you apply to: HSK for Chinese-taught, IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught.
How to apply
- Shortlist universities, then ask each international office which provincial or municipal scholarships it participates in this year, and whether you are eligible for your programme.
- Apply for admission at the same time — most provincial awards are only awarded to applicants who have been admitted.
- Fill in whatever the university sends you: some provinces use a provincial portal, some a paper form, some an extra section inside the admission application.
- Submit the same document set as for admission (diploma, transcripts, recommendations, study plan, physical examination form, language certificate), and keep certified copies.
- Ask, in writing, when the result is announced and what happens to the award if you defer or change programme.
Finding them without missing one
- Search for
<province or city> government scholarship international studentsand<university name> international students scholarship. - Read the university’s international students page, not the general admissions page — that is where provincial schemes are listed.
- Email the international office a short list of questions: which schemes the university participates in this year, the deadline, the documents, and whether the award can be combined with any other waiver.
- Check the provincial education department site if the university’s page looks out of date.
Common questions
Do I need CSC to get a provincial scholarship? No. They are separate schemes. In fact, many students who are not competitive for CSC get a provincial waiver instead.
Is it a full scholarship? Usually not. Most provincial awards are a tuition waiver, sometimes with accommodation. Read the scheme’s own notice before you plan your budget.
Can I combine it with a university scholarship? Sometimes — some universities add their own waiver or a partial stipend on top. Ask the international office; the university decides.
What happens if my grades slip? Most awards are reviewed each year. A weak year can end the award for the following year, so keep the review requirements in writing.
When is the deadline? Frequently February–May, often after the university’s own admission deadline, but some provinces close earlier. Ask the international office for the exact date rather than assuming it matches CSC.
Tips
- Treat provincial scholarships as the second shot at funding: apply for CSC and for every provincial scheme your shortlisted universities offer.
- Apply for admission early — some awards are only open to applicants who already hold an offer.
- Keep a certified, translated set of documents ready so you can answer a short-notice deadline.
- If you are paying fees yourself, see how to send money to China for tuition.
Schemes, coverage and deadlines change every year. Confirm everything with the university’s international students office before you rely on it.