The English Teaching Volunteer Program is CEAIE’s partnership with the UK charity Project Trust, placing volunteers in Chinese public schools, mainly in less developed regions such as Xinjiang, Gansu and Jiangxi.
Project Trust recruits, selects, trains and supports the volunteers. In China they teach spoken English across a range of ages on a 10–12 month immersive placement, living on or near the school campus with a fellow volunteer.
Benefits & funding
- Self-funded: each volunteer raises a £7,450 target; Project Trust adds around £3,000 per volunteer.
- The target covers return flights from London, accommodation, a living allowance, travel medical insurance, training and debriefing courses, and in-country support.
- Not covered: vaccinations, a £98 health screening and about £150 of visa costs, among others.
- An Access Fund bursary helps volunteers who meet financial criteria.
Eligibility
- Aged 17 to 25 at the time of departure.
- Hold a UK or EU passport, or live in the UK; either route alone qualifies. The form’s requirements checklist names only UK or EU passport holders; its nationality note adds UK residents.
- Passports that qualify: UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
- At least five National 5s or six GCSEs including English; applicants below this can list other qualifications and experience.
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
UK · Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany
+ 16 more
Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden
Age requirement
17–25 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit the online form, choosing a departure year and the 10–12 month immersive option.
- 2Take a welcome call with Project Trust staff.
- 3Join a one-day online Selection Course: group activities, individual tasks and an interview.
- 4If matched to a placement, accept and start fundraising; the full target is due two weeks before the flight.
- 5Attend the four-day residential training in Scotland in early July; apply for the visa only when Project Trust instructs.
Program timeline
Year-round
Applications open; no deadline published.
Project allocation.
May 2027
Training course in Scotland.
July 2027
August–September 2027
Departure (China page: mid-September; visa page: mid to late August).
July–August 2028
Return; debriefing at the end of August 2028.