Can Pakistani students get scholarships in China?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
Yes. Pakistani citizens can be considered for the Chinese Government Scholarship: in the guidance published by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on 10 December 2020 for the 2021/2022 academic year, the Bilateral Program is filled through selection and nomination by Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC), and the embassy states that it does not accept individual applications. The same guidance says individuals may apply directly to Chinese universities for scholarships under other programmes. Eligibility and coverage are set out below.
What the rules say
The embassy's guidance of 10 December 2020 describes the Bilateral Program as full or partial scholarships under educational exchange agreements between the Chinese government and other governments, institutions, universities or international organizations. It supports undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. programmes as well as general scholar and senior scholar non-degree programmes, and it states that 289 designated Chinese universities offered programmes in science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics, legal studies, management, education, history, literature, philosophy and fine arts for scholarship recipients at all levels.
Eligibility in that guidance applies to all applicants first: a citizen of a country other than the People's Republic of China, and in good health. The requirements then differ by level.
| Programme | Qualification | Age limit |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | High school graduate | Under 25 |
| Master's | Bachelor's degree holder | Under 35 |
| Doctoral | Master's degree holder | Under 40 |
| General scholar | High school graduate (at least) | Under 45 |
| Senior scholar | Master's degree holder, or associate professor or above | Under 50 |
What the scholarship covers
The China Scholarship Council's Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, section III, lists four items: tuition fees; free university dormitory or accommodation subsidy; a monthly stipend; and comprehensive medical insurance.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stipend, undergraduates | CNY 2,500 per month |
| Stipend, master's students / general scholars | CNY 3,000 per month |
| Stipend, doctoral students / senior scholars | CNY 3,500 per month |
| Comprehensive medical insurance | CNY 800 per person per year; CNY 400 per person for programmes lasting less than six months |
The CSC guide page carries no publication date and no academic year.
Who decides
Under the embassy guidance of 10 December 2020, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan entrusts the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan with selecting and nominating qualified candidates for the Bilateral Program; the embassy does not accept individual applications. For that intake, applicants were asked to apply through HEC and to complete the online application on the CSC pages at csc.edu.cn/laihua or campuschina.org, with hard copies of application documents submitted to the HEC HRD office before the deadline set by HEC.
The CSC guide states the same division in general terms for the Bilateral Program: an applicant files the application with the dispatching department of their home country. Under the University Program, an applicant files the application with the Chinese universities undertaking the programme, and the student categories supported are subject to the requirements of each university. Application steps and document lists are not given on this page; see /scholarships/.
What the official pages do not say
The embassy guidance of 10 December 2020 was written for the 2021/2022 academic year, and every date and timeline in it belongs to that intake; it does not state whether the same arrangement applies to a later intake. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan's own website is not among the official pages read for this page.
Related questions
Can I apply directly to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan?
No. The embassy guidance of 10 December 2020 states that the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan does not accept individual applications for the Bilateral Program. It directs Bilateral Program applicants to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and says individual applicants may apply directly to Chinese universities through other programmes.
Is the Bilateral Program the only CSC scholarship category?
No. The CSC guide lists a University Program, Designated Scholarship Programs (the Great Wall, EU, AUN, PIF and WMO programmes, each with its own receiving agency) and a Student Exchange Program for training of no more than 12 months. Each category names the agency or institution that receives the application.
Who sets the Bilateral Program deadline?
The embassy guidance of 10 December 2020 refers to a deadline set by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for that intake; the embassy page does not print a date. The CSC guide does not state deadlines.
What does the guide say about tuition and housing?
The CSC guide, section III, lists tuition fees and free university dormitory or an accommodation subsidy as covered items. It does not print tuition amounts or subsidy amounts.
Sources
- Guidance of Applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program (2021/2022 Academic Year) — Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China)
Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by or affiliated with the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the university, embassy or exit-entry office handling your case prevail if they differ.