Student Exchange Program — Cultural Exchange

The Student Exchange Program is a Chinese Government Scholarship route administered by the China Scholarship Council. It operates under exchange and cooperation agreements between Chinese universities and their foreign partners.

It funds general and senior scholars to train at Chinese universities for no more than 12 months. Applications move through the participating Chinese university and its foreign partner, so the host, field, and exact dates depend on the active agreement.

Benefits & funding

Tuition fees are covered.
Recipients receive a free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy.
General scholars receive CNY 3,000 per month, while senior scholars receive CNY 3,500 per month.
Comprehensive medical insurance is CNY 800 per person per year, or CNY 400 for programs shorter than six months.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens of a country other than China and be in good mental and physical health.
General scholars must hold at least a high school diploma and be under age 45.
Senior scholars must hold at least a master’s degree or an academic title of associate professor or above and be under age 50.
For Chinese-taught study, general scholars outside Chinese-language majors and senior scholars must hold HSK Level 3.
For study taught in another language, applicants must meet the host university’s language and academic admission requirements.
The application route must be available under an exchange agreement between a Chinese university and its foreign partner.

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Application process

1
Confirm that the Chinese university and foreign partner have an active exchange agreement and obtain their current dates and route instructions.
2
Identify the participating Chinese university and intended field, then request the required admission or pre-admission material.
3
Obtain the recommendation required by the relevant application-receiving institution.
4
Complete the Chinese Government Scholarship application online using the program category and agency number supplied by the institution.
5
The receiving institution forwards recommended applications, after which the China Scholarship Council and participating universities review eligibility and academic performance.
6
Follow the participating institution’s instructions for the result announcement.

Program timeline

Applications open, subject to the participating institutions.
Typically September
Applications typically close; the exact deadline varies by institution.
By the end of the following March
After institutional recommendation
The China Scholarship Council and participating universities conduct eligibility and academic review.
Institution-specific date
The participating institution announces decisions and the training start.