International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) scholarships

The applicant is advised to contact the recommending institution and the host institute he/she is planning to apply for prior to starting the application, which may increase the possibility of winning the scholarship.

All applicants should log on to the scholarship website to set up an individual account and carefully read all the information about host institutions before beginning the application process.

Applicants need to have electronic versions of all of the required documents (detailed below) ready to upload during the application process. Please ensure that any scans of documents are in colour and are as clear as possible.

If you wish to choose Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester to support your application, please ensure that you select us on the online application to ensure we receive your application. Using the documents below, we will then create a supporting reference letter to be included with the online application. Your application is incomplete without this reference letter.

How to apply

The application process has changed from 2020 onwards. Please follow these instructions carefully.

1. Applicants should register here and under the applicant login box in the left-hand corner, click “注册”.
2. They should then read all of the application and eligibility criteria very carefully.
3. Before starting the online application, ALL applicants should email a reference letter from their tutor to confucius@manchester.ac.uk. This letter should include as much information about the students learning history as possible, for example HSK and HSKK results.

Degree scholarship programme applicants also need to provide the following:

• A personal statement of 200 - 800 characters (preferably written by hand) detailing your Chinese learning background, aims and study plan in China (this does not have to be in Chinese)
• Degree certificates and/or academic transcripts
• A reference letter from your academic adviser (including the number of hours of Chinese you have studied and your Chinese ability)
• Students who have participated in the Chinese Bridge competition should also include their certificate of participation

Additional requirements for master's degree scholarship applicants only:

• Master's degree scholarship applicants only are required to submit two letters of recommendation by professors or associate professors (in Chinese or English)
• Master's degree scholarship applicants must submit a written commitment stating that they will be engaged in Chinese teaching for at least 5 years after graduation. This should be written in Chinese and signed.
• Host institutions will contact applicants directly if further materials are required.

Additional requirements for doctoral candidates only

• Applicants shall hold a Master's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, linguistics, international Chinese language education, or education-related disciplines.
• Applicants shall have a minimum score of 200 on the HSK Test (Level 6) and 60 on the HSKK test (Advanced Level).
• Priority will be given to applicants who may provide an employment contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or proof to the same effect.

Please allow sufficient time to get a reference letter (minimum 5 working days will be required).

Category 1: Scholarships for one semester's study

Applicants are allowed to choose to complete their period of study (5 months duration) in Autumn (September) 2023 or Spring (March) 2023. Successful applicants may choose to study Chinese language for a period of one semester. Scholarships for one semester's study are awarded to outstanding students of Chinese that fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

• Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged from 16 to 35 and in good health (if you are a local Chinese teacher then you must be under 45 and if you are an undergraduate student you should be under 25)
• Applicants should have no prior experience of studying in China. (This includes participants of Study China)
• Applicants must have achieved a score of at least 180 on the HSK (Level 3)
• Priority will be given to applicants able to provide an HSKK Test Score.
• Applicants holding the X1 or X2 Visa are not eligible.

Category 2: Scholarships for one academic year's study

The programme will begin in September 2024 and the grant period is one academic year (11 months). Successful applicants can choose to study Chinese language; Literature, History and Philosophy or Chinese medicine and Tai Chi culture for a period of one year. Scholarships for one-academic year's study are awarded to outstanding students of Chinese that fulfil the following eligibility criteria.

• Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged from 16 to 35 and in good health (if you are a local Chinese teacher then you must be under 45 and if you are an undergraduate student then you should be under 25)
• International students who are now studying in China are not eligible for the scholarship.
• TCSOL applicants require a minimum score of 270 or above on HSK Level 3 and an HSKK result.
• Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy applicants must have achieved an average of 270 or above on the HSK Level 3 and 60 for the HSKK Intermediate test.
• Chinese Language Study applicants must have achieved a score of 210 or above for HSK Level 3 and priority will be given to applicants who can also provide an HSKK Test Score.
• Applicants must have achieved a score of at least 60 on the HSKK Oral Exam (beginner level).*

Category 3: Scholarships for a Master's degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages

The successful applicants will begin studying in September 2024 and the grant will cover a maximum of two academic years. They will obtain a master's degree in MTCSOL and their graduate diploma upon completing their period of study and passing the related examinations. Scholarships for a Master's Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages are awarded to outstanding students of Chinese language who are committed to becoming Chinese teachers and fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged from 16 to 35 and in good health (if you are a local Chinese teacher, then you must be under 45)
• This scholarship is open to final year students and graduates who intend to become Chinese teachers.
• Applicants who are able to provide an employment agreement or certification upon finishing their study from designated working institutions are preferred.
• Applicants must have a Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) exam score of 210 or over (level 5)
• Applicants must have achieved a score of at least 60 on the HSK oral exam (intermediate level).*
• After the first academic year of study, students must pass HSK 6 and obtain a score of 60 for the HSKK oral exam to continue onto the second year.
• Priority will be given to applicants who can provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or proof to the same effect.

Category 4: Scholarship for Bachelor's degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (BTCSOL) students

Successful applicants will begin studying in September 2024 and the grant will cover a maximum of 4 academic years. Scholarships for this category will be awarded to students who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens aged from 16-35 and in good health.
• Applicants should hold a high school diploma or above.
• Applicants must have a score of at least 210 in the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) Level 4
• Applicants must have a score of at least 60 in HSKK oral exam (Intermediate Level).

*Applicants that do not yet have the HSK and HSKK results certificates may upload a screenshot of the online results page. However, students MUST bring the original certificates to registration at their host university in China.

Category 5: Scholarship for PhD degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (BTCSOL) students

The program commences in September 2024, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of four academic years.

• Applicants shall hold a Master's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, linguistics, international Chinese language education, or education-related disciplines.
• Applicants shall have a minimum score of 200 on the HSK Test (Level 6) and 60 on the HSKK test (Advanced Level).
• Priority will be given to applicants who may provide an employment contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or proof to the same effect.

Category 6: Four week short study program

The program commences in July or December 2024, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of four weeks.

• Applicants of Chinese language study, traditional Chinese medicine, Taiji culture, or Chinese language plus homestay with a Chinese family program are required to provide an HSK test score.
• The program may be organized and applied for by a Recommending Institution with 10-15 participants per group. Before the trip, a detailed study plan shall be made in consultation with the Host Institution(s) and such plan shall be submitted to CLEC for review and approval.

What does the scholarship cover?

Scholarship holders are exempt from registration fees, tuition fees, learning materials, accommodation allowance , monthly allowance (RMB3,000 for Master's study and RMB2,500 for one semester and one year), outpatient medical service and comprehensive insurance for foreign students studying in China.

Scholarship recipients will receive their monthly allowance from the Chinese hosting universities after arrival.

The scholarship does NOT cover study abroad fees payable to the University of Manchester.

Tuition fee is under the overall planning and utilization of host institutions to provide teaching, management, Chinese language proficiency tests and cultural and social activities for scholarship holders.

Accommodation fee is under the overall planning and utilisation of host institutions which should provide scholarship holders with free dorm rooms (usually double rooms). For those who live off campus with the permission of their host institutions, they will be entitled to accommodation allowances from their hosts by month or quarterly. The allowance is RMB700 per person per month.

How do I enrol?

Enrolment timelines are based on the semesters of individual host institutions. Students who are enrolled before or on the 15th of the admission month are entitled to the full allowance of that month. Students who enrol after this date, will only be entitled to half the allowance.

What are the terms of the scholarship?

Master's Degree Scholarship winners with more than one year's duration will have an annual appraisal and only those who have passed HSK 6 and obtained a score of 70 at HSK (Oral Exam) will be able to continue.

All the successful applicants will be required to pass a physical health examination and we regret that scholarships will be cancelled for those who cannot pass the physical examination.

All degree scholarship programme applicants will be subject to annual academic performance review. Only those who achieve outstanding records in academic and Chinese language proficiency will be entitled to a full scholarship for the following year; those who achieve average academic records will be entitled to partial scholarships. Poor scores will not allow the applicant to be entitled to the scholarship. Partial scholarships consist of tuition fee, accommodation fee and comprehensive medical insurance.

The one year academic and one semester study programmers will be required to attend a Chinese language proficiency test before graduation. The test fee will be reimbursed by the host institution.

During the study period (for all scholarships) any student who is absent from China for personal reasons for more than 15 days (excluding legal holidays) will have their allowance suspended during absence. Allowance will also be terminated if a student is suspended or has to drop out of the Scholarship.

Do I have to organise medical insurance?

Comprehensive medical insurance is purchased by host institutions in accordance with relevant regulations on internal students stipulated by the Ministry of Education of China. The insurance fee per person is RMB800 per year.

Will the Confucius Institute provide a translation service?

Information is presented in Chinese and we are unable to help you with the translation. It is your responsibility to complete the application in full.

Do I need to submit the Physical Examination Form before I apply?

You do not need to complete the physical examination when you submit your application before the deadline. However, this will be required before you register at the Chinese university.

Which universities can I apply to?

You can find a list of receiving institutions and courses on the Scholarship's website (cis.chinese.cn)

Do I need an offer from a Chinese university before making the application for the scholarship?

No you don't. You are required to select two universities and courses you wish to study. We strongly recommend the following institutions based on reputation and experience: Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Shandong University and Renmin University. However, you are free to apply to whichever university you wish as long as it offers the relevant scholarship.

Please note that other universities may require different materials to be provided or operate within different deadlines. We strongly recommend that you make contact with the institution you are interested in to check these details before starting an application.

I am a CCS student; can I choose any host university for the scholarship?

No. The Chinese university allocated to you by the Year Abroad office takes preference over the scholarship universities. If you wish to apply for the scholarship in order to support you on your Year Abroad, the Chinese university allocated to you by the Year Abroad office must offer the scholarship. I.e. you cannot apply to a university in Taiwan and apply separately for scholarship universities. You should check on the scholarship website which Year Abroad universities offer the scholarship.

How does the selection process work?

Once application materials are verified by the Division of Scholarships as valid, host institutions will then review the eligibility of applications and submit the admission list. An overall assessment of all applications will then be conducted and applicants admitted on the basis of competitive selection. Normally, the admission results will be announced within 45 working days after the application materials are confirmed as valid. During this period, we advise that you log in and check your application twice a week to ensure there are no issues with your application and do not rely on email notifications as they are unreliable.

Who should I approach for my reference?

Your referee should be someone who can comment on your academic ability and performance at university and confirm the number of hours you have studied Chinese language as well as your linguistic ability (where applicable). If successful, this academic reference will be used to produce the final reference letter from the Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester.

If I am not a student of the Confucius Institute, who is my recommending institute?

Please submit your academic reference letter along with all of the other required documentation to the Confucius Institute office. Then you will be given a reference letter from The Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester to include in your application. Please allow 5 working days to process your reference request. You will then choose the Confucius Institute at the University of Manchester as your recommending institute and include the following details:

• Name of Referee: Yanqiao Dong
• Tel: +44 (0)161 275 8669

What area of specialisation should I choose?

If you are applying for the one semester or one year's scholarship, please choose Chinese Literature and Language. This will not affect your study programme of Chinese language and culture. If you are applying for the MA please choose the appropriate option for teaching Chinese.

What academic transcripts should I provide as part of my application?

You should provide the transcripts of your highest qualification such as your undergraduate transcript (full or partial if you have not finished the degree).

I have passed the required HSK and HSKK exams but my certificate will not have arrived before the deadline. Can I still apply?

Yes. Take a screen shot of the online results page and include it in your application instead. You will then have to show the original certificates during enrolment at the Chinese university so ensure that you will have the certificates in time for this.

The application form requires contact details for a “business contact in China or guardian”. Who should this be?

If you have a friend of relative in China, you should use them. However, if you do not, then you should contact the host Chinese university's Overseas Students Department and request the required details from a contact there.

What if I am unable to complete registration at the host institution?

If the scholarship winner is unable to register for a specific reason then they must inform the host institution 15 days prior to the registration day with a written explanation. Those who fail to complete registration without an explanation will have their scholarship revoked and will not be able to apply again for the scholarship.

What if I am under the age of 18?

Applications from those over 16 but under 18 are welcomed. Please note that applicants under the age of 18 must provide relevant legal documents of entrusted legal guardians in China.

Can I apply if I have previously been awarded a CI scholarship?

It is not permitted to apply for the scholarships more than once. This is in order that as many students as possible have the opportunity to study in China.

If you have further queries that are not answered here please call the Confucius Institute at The University of Manchester on the following number:

• +44 (0)161 275 8667

If you have queries that are specific to the application process then please use the following email:

• scholarships@chinese.cn