Scholarship to study abroad in China: CSC and Confucius scholarship (now International Chinese Teacher scholarship)

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Scholarships to study abroad in China are among the most accessible to Vietnamese students thanks to the large number of scholarships and many study levels. Two prominent systems are the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and the Confucius Scholarship, now officially named the International Chinese Teacher Scholarship. This article helps you understand the differences, benefits and how to prepare your application.

CSC Chinese Government Scholarship

CSC (China Scholarship Council) is the Chinese Government scholarship management agency for international students at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral and scholar levels. According to information published by Chinese schools, full scholarship usually includes:

• Free tuition and dormitory accommodation on campus.
• Monthly living allowance: about 2,500 RMB (bachelor), 3,000 RMB (master), 3,500 RMB (PhD) according to recently applied rates.
• Comprehensive health insurance for international students.

The scholarship is reviewed and maintained annually. With the program taught in Chinese, students who are not yet qualified often take 1 year of language preparation. Common age limits are under 25 (bachelor), under 35 (master), under 40 (PhD), but need to check the announcement each year.

System A and System B: where to submit?

System A – bilateral scholarship (Agreement)

Applicants submit through their home country's sending agency according to the educational cooperation agreement. In Vietnam, this is an Agreement scholarship announced by the Ministry of Education and Training every year (usually at the beginning of the year), then the application is transferred to China. Candidates who are accepted for the Agreement scholarship can also receive some additional support from the Vietnamese side according to the provisions of the Project; see article Vietnamese Government scholarships for international students.

System B – school program

Applicants apply directly to the Chinese school authorized by CSC to recruit, and register on the CSC system with the unit code of that school. Many schools open B-systems for master's and doctoral degrees with programs taught in English. Deadlines for submissions for systems A and B usually fall between January and April.

In addition to CSC, many Chinese provinces, cities and universities have their own scholarships (local government scholarships, principal scholarships), the level of support ranges from partial to full exemption.

The Confucius Scholarship is now the International Chinese Teacher Scholarship

The former Confucius Scholarship has been renamed the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (CIS) and is managed by the China Language Exchange Cooperation Center (CLEC). The scholarship is aimed at Chinese language learners and people who want to become Chinese teachers.

Benefits include free tuition, documents, on-campus accommodation, insurance and living allowance for each category. Recipient master's scholarship often have to commit to teaching Chinese after graduation. Applications are submitted online on CLEC's scholarship portal, possibly through recommendation units such as the Confucius Institute at some Vietnamese universities. Submission deadlines are divided by admission period (March, July, September, December).

Compare CSC and Confucius scholarship

• Objective: CSC is open to all degree majors; CIS focuses on Chinese and Chinese language teaching.
• Competitiveness: CSC is more competitive at the graduate level; CIS is suitable for people with good HSK who want to study short-term.
• Stipend: CSC is usually higher at the graduate level.
• Route: many people use CIS for 1 year to upgrade HSK, then apply for CSC or school scholarship for degree level.

Prepare scholarship documents to study abroad in China

1. Degree, notarized translated transcript (see Notarized translation of study abroad documents).
2. Study plan or research outline; reference How to write a research proposal.
3. Two letters of recommendation from lecturers (graduate level).
4. HSK or IELTS/TOEFL certificate depending on language of instruction.
5. Health examination card for foreigners according to Chinese form, criminal record if required.

If you are also interested in short-term language courses, read more Short-term language scholarships.

CSC and CIS scholarships usually do not include airfare, so you should book your own tickets to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Kunming. VeDuHoc's team of more than 30 Bookers compares multiple airlines and routes, checks transit requirements, continues to hunt for prices even when prices are high, and refunds the difference if a better price is found after you've paid. See air tickets to study abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Are Confucius scholarships still available?

It still exists but has been renamed the International Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship and is managed by CLEC. Many people are still used to calling it Confucius scholarship.

Can I apply for CSC without HSK?

Yes if you choose a program taught in English and have an English certificate. For Chinese language programs, schools often require HSK or preparatory language courses.

Can I submit both system A and system B?

Depending on regulations each year. Many candidates apply in parallel, but if they win both, they will only receive one CSC scholarship.

Does the CSC scholarship include airfare?

Usually not, except for some special programs. Agreement scholarships can be supported by Vietnam according to separate regulations.

Scholarships to study abroad in China open up opportunities to study at low cost, close to home and in a variety of fields of study. Prepare your HSK or English soon and stay tuned for the official announcement. When results are available, contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918 for support with admission flights.

📚 Articles on the same topic

Study abroad scholarshipScholarships to study in Korea: GKS (KGSP) and school scholarships15/02/24 · 7 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipVietnamese Government Scholarship (Program) for international students: conditions and commitments01/04/20 · 7 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipTypes of study abroad scholarships: full, partial, school, government and business scholarships23/07/18 · 7 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipScholarships to study abroad in Taiwan: MOE, ICDF and school scholarships17/03/18 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipCompare scholarships from other countries: which country should you choose when your budget is limited?01/03/16 · 6 phút đọcStudy abroad scholarshipScholarships to study in Germany: DAAD and tuition-free study opportunities28/04/25 · 5 phút đọc