What is the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS) is a full scholarship for citizens of ASEAN member states, funded by the Chinese government mainly through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund, covering tuition and other school fees, accommodation, round-trip international air fare, comprehensive medical insurance and a stipend. It supports master's and doctoral degrees, short-term research of four to five months, and training courses in the People's Republic of China, with English as the instruction language. You apply through the ACYLS national focal point of your own country, not by sending an application to a university.
What the rules say
The Guidebook to the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship, published by the China Scholarship Council on Campus China, describes the programme as an initiative responding to the call of the Leaders of the People's Republic of China and ASEAN Member States to increase people-to-people exchanges, strengthen educational cooperation and promote academic exchanges and linkages, towards building a closer community of shared future. It is described as a dedicated project for ASEAN nationals, in particular young and promising professionals with working experience in ASEAN Member States.
The supporting categories and their lengths are given as follows.
| Supporting category | Length of schooling | Length of scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Master's students | 2–3 academic years | 2–3 academic years |
| Doctoral students | 3–4 academic years | 3–4 academic years |
| Research scholars | 4–5 months | 4–5 months |
Recipients are sponsored according to their enrolled length of schooling and must complete their studies within the duration of the scholarship. The introduction also names training courses among what the programme supports; the length table read for this page gives no row for training courses.
The instruction language is English. Candidates are strongly advised to register for English-taught programmes, and their English language proficiency must meet the language requirements of the programmes they apply to.
Who can apply
The eligibility section sets out these criteria:
- Citizen of an ASEAN Member State: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Viet Nam.
- In sound physical and mental health.
- Proficient in English, meaning an IELTS score of at least 6.0 or a TOEFL score of at least 80 points.
- For a master's degree: holder of an undergraduate degree and under the age of 45.
- For a PhD degree: holder of a graduate or master's degree and under the age of 45.
- For the short-term research programme: holder of at least an undergraduate degree.
- At least one year of work experience within government agencies, public or private institutions, universities, think-tanks or similar social agencies, preferably with experience in work related to foreign and international affairs, especially ASEAN and China-ASEAN affairs; work or study in the PRC; or academic work on China or ASEAN-related affairs.
- Not a concurrent awardee of a Chinese government scholarship.
- Meeting the other admission requirements of the Chinese universities applied to.
The eligibility section read for this page states no age condition for the short-term research category and gives no separate criteria for training courses.
What the scholarship pays
The stipend is paid by the host university on a monthly basis: RMB 4,000 per month for master's students, RMB 5,000 per month for doctoral students and RMB 5,000 per month for research scholars. Students who register on or before the 15th of the month receive a full month's stipend; those who register after the 15th receive half. Graduating students receive a further half month after the graduation date. The stipend stops during any absence from China of more than 15 days for personal reasons, school holidays excluded. Host universities may require a renminbi bank account in China to receive the stipend, and enrolled students are encouraged to ask their host university for details.
A one-time settlement fee of RMB 3,000 per person is paid by the host university on registration, to master's students, doctoral students and research scholars, in Chinese currency. Tuition is entirely covered and the funds are allocated directly to the host universities; the guidebook notes that tuition for some majors, such as MBA, may be exceptionally high and that full coverage for those majors is decided case by case. Accommodation is a university dormitory with one single room per recipient. Medical insurance is covered by the programme, and the guidebook directs recipients to Campus China and the Comprehensive Insurance & Protection Scheme for Foreigners Staying in China for the policy and for claims.
International travel is covered as round-trip air fare in Economy Class only, between the home country and the city of the host university; the fund is used by the China Scholarship Council and the host universities, and the rules for its use and reimbursement are set out in Chapter VI of the guidebook. Enrolled students' performance is subject to an annual review by the China Scholarship Council and the host universities, and failure to pass the review may result in expulsion from the university and cancellation of the scholarship.
Who decides, and where to apply
Applicants submit their applications to the ACYLS national focal points of their respective home countries before the deadline. Faculty and staff from ASEAN universities who apply through the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and AUN Thematic Networks submit their applications to the AUN Secretariat. The guidebook states that the application generally opens from January to March every year, and that applicants should consult the national focal points or the AUN Secretariat directly for the current year's deadline; the page read for this page gives no application deadline date.
The focal point list on the page is headed "As of 2026" and covers ten countries:
- Brunei Darussalam: International Affairs Unit, Ministry of Education Brunei Darussalam.
- Cambodia: Cultural Relations and Scholarship Department, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
- Indonesia: Working Group of Regional, Multilateral, and Darmasiswa (contact addresses are given at kemdikbud.go.id).
- Lao PDR: Department of External Relations, Ministry of Education and Sport.
- Malaysia: Regional Cooperation Unit, International Relations Division, Ministry of Higher Education.
- Myanmar: Ministry of Science and Technology.
- Philippines: International Affairs Staff, Commission on Higher Education.
- Singapore: four named officers with mfa.gov.sg addresses; the page names no unit.
- Thailand: Ministry of Education (SOM-ED), Bureau of International Cooperation.
- Viet Nam: International Education Division (IED), International Cooperation Department (ICD), Ministry of Education and Training (MOET).
The list includes no entry for Timor-Leste, although Timor-Leste appears in the eligibility criteria as an ASEAN Member State. The page also names officers and gives contact addresses for several countries; that full list, with the named officers, is on the official page.
Related questions
Who can apply for the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship?
Citizens of an ASEAN Member State who are in sound physical and mental health, hold the degree required for the category they apply to, are under 45 for the master's and doctoral categories, reach IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80, have at least one year of relevant work experience, are not already holding a Chinese government scholarship, and meet the admission requirements of the universities they apply to.
How much does the ACYLS pay?
Master's students receive RMB 4,000 per month and doctoral students and research scholars receive RMB 5,000 per month, plus a one-time settlement fee of RMB 3,000 paid on registration; tuition, a single dormitory room, comprehensive medical insurance and an economy-class round-trip air fare are covered by the programme.
Where do I send an ACYLS application?
To the ACYLS national focal point of your home country, or to the AUN Secretariat if you are faculty or staff of an ASEAN university applying through the ASEAN University Network or an AUN Thematic Network. The window generally opens from January to March, and the deadline for the current year has to be confirmed with that focal point or the Secretariat, because the guidebook prints no date.
Do I have to study in Chinese?
No. The instruction language is English, candidates are strongly advised to register for English-taught programmes, and their English proficiency has to meet the language requirements of the programmes they apply to.
Sources
- Guidebook to the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China, campuschina.org)
- Campus China — China Scholarship Council
Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by or affiliated with the China Scholarship Council or the other bodies named here, and the official guidebook and the instructions of the university, embassy or exit-entry office handling your case prevail if they differ.