What is the China Link scholarship?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
The China Link Short-term Scientific Exchange Scholarship Program (2026) is a full scholarship from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for short study or research stays in China of 1 to 12 months. It is open to current undergraduates, graduates, PhD candidates and academic staff who are registered or employed at one of CSC's foreign partner universities, and who have already obtained admission qualification from a Chinese host university. The scholarship waives tuition, provides free on-campus accommodation and comprehensive medical insurance, and pays a monthly stipend.
What the notice says
The program is described in the notice China Link Short-term Scientific Exchange Scholarship Program (2026) published by the China Scholarship Council on Campus China. Its stated aim is to deepen academic friendship and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign young generations and to build a platform for the exchange of young research talent.
Stays last 1 to 12 months, and successful applicants must start their study in China no later than 31 August 2027. The working language is English or Chinese, depending on the program provided by the Chinese host university. Study and research fields cover all disciplines other than Chinese language study.
Who can apply
The notice sets two funding categories, and the age limit and stipend differ between them.
| General scholar | Senior scholar | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Current undergraduates or graduates | Current PhD candidates or faculty |
| Age | Under 45 | Under 50 |
| Monthly stipend | CNY 3,000 | CNY 3,500 |
Both categories share the same remaining conditions. Applicants must be citizens of a country other than the People's Republic of China and in good health both mentally and physically. They must be registered as a full-time student or employed as full-time academic staff at a CSC foreign partner university both at the time of application and throughout the proposed stay in China. They must also have obtained admission qualification from the host Chinese university for the next intake.
All applicants receive the same package alongside the stipend: tuition waiver, free on-campus accommodation and comprehensive medical insurance.
How to apply
The notice sets out the following sequence.
- Contact the host Chinese university in advance to obtain admission qualification.
- Ask the host university's international student admission department when its own university-level review closes; the notice says requirements may vary by institution.
- Log in to the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System at studyinchina.csc.edu.cn and complete the online CSC scholarship application.
- After submitting, contact the host university's international student admission department by email or its designated channel.
- Give them your full name, your CSC serial number, and the words "Application for China Link Scholarship".
The CSC application portal is open to applicants all year round. Host Chinese universities then process the applications and must send their scholarship nomination list to CSC at least two months before the students' arrival in China. CSC notifies host universities of award results monthly, and host universities notify the applicants.
What the official pages do not say
The notice names three appendixes: the Foreign University List (Appendix 1), the Host Chinese University List (Appendix 2) and the CSC Online Application Guide (Appendix 3). Only the notice text was read for this page; the contents of those appendixes were not. Whether a specific university appears on either list must be checked in the official appendix.
The notice also does not set a single application deadline of its own. It leaves the university-level review deadline to each host university, so the host university's international student admission department is the office to ask.
Related questions
How long can a China Link stay last?
Between 1 and 12 months. The notice adds that study in China must start no later than 31 August 2027.
Can I use the scholarship to study Chinese?
No. The notice lists the study and research fields as all disciplines other than Chinese language study. The working language is English or Chinese, depending on what the host university's program provides.
Is there a fixed application deadline?
The notice states that the CSC application portal is open all year round, and that host universities must submit their nomination list at least two months before arrival. It does not fix a deadline of its own and says university-level review requirements may vary by institution, so ask the host university's international student admission department.
Does my university qualify?
The notice requires that your home institution be a CSC foreign partner university and your host be a listed Chinese university, both given in appendixes. Those lists were not read for this page, so check the official appendixes.
Sources
- China Link Short-term Scientific Exchange Scholarship Program (2026) — China Scholarship Council (Campus China, campuschina.org)
- Chinese Government Scholarship Information System — China Scholarship Council
Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary of the official notice; it is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by or affiliated with the China Scholarship Council or any university. Where this summary differs from the official text, or from the instructions of the university, embassy or exit-entry office handling your case, the official text and those instructions prevail.