The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship supports professionals from ASEAN member states to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees, undertake four-to-five-month research, or join training in China. It is funded by the Chinese government mainly through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund, with applications reviewed through national focal points or the AUN Secretariat and placements handled by the China Scholarship Council.
The 2026/27 AUN route closed on 1 March 2026. The program is annual and generally accepts applications from January to March, but the next exact opening date has not been announced.
Benefits & funding
- Tuition and school fees are covered, although exceptionally expensive majors such as an MBA may be assessed case by case.
- Recipients receive a single room in a university dormitory, comprehensive medical insurance, and economy-class round-trip airfare between their home-country capital and host-university city.
- The monthly stipend is RMB 4,000 for master’s students and RMB 5,000 for doctoral students and research scholars.
- A one-time settlement allowance of RMB 3,000 is provided after registration.
- Funding lasts two to three academic years for a master’s degree, three to four academic years for a doctorate, and four to five months for research scholars. The current page does not publish a duration for training programs.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam.
- At least one year of work experience is required within a government agency, public or private institution, university, think tank, or similar social organization. Experience involving international affairs, ASEAN–China work, prior work or study in China, or China- or ASEAN-related academic work is preferred rather than mandatory.
- Master’s applicants must hold an undergraduate degree and be under 45; doctoral applicants must hold a master’s degree and be under 45. Short-term research applicants need at least an undergraduate degree, and no age limit is stated for that route.
- Applicants need IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80, must be in sound physical and mental health, cannot concurrently hold another Chinese government scholarship, and must meet the chosen university’s admission requirements.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Brunei · Cambodia · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Myanmar · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Vietnam
Education required
Bachelor · Master
Experience required
≥ 1 yrs
Appears to have an age limit “under 45”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1Apply through the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System, selecting program category “Type A” and agency number “0025”, and choose one to three preferred designated universities.
- 2Upload the required materials, including the application form, passport page, notarized diploma and transcripts, study plan or research proposal, recommendation letters, English-language evidence, CV, and other route-specific documents.
- 3Submit the application form and supporting documents as PDF files through the AUN Secretariat’s online form when the next cycle opens.
- 4The AUN Secretariat reviews eligibility and sends recommendations to the ACYLS Joint Committee; the China Scholarship Council processes recommended applications and coordinates university placement.
Program timeline
General annual application window
January–March
1 March 2026
2026/27 application deadline
National focal points and the AUN Secretariat review candidates
March–April
China Scholarship Council coordinates placements
May–July
Final results are normally communicated
End of July
Admission documents and pre-arrival procedures
August
Recipients normally arrive and register in China
September