International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) scholarships

The International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) scholarship programme, formerly known as Confucius Institute scholarship, provides financial aid for students, scholars and Chinese language teachers to study in a Chinese university for a limited period.

Please note that the application procedure from 2020 onwards has changed. Please read the 'application procedure' very carefully.

The information below sets out the criteria for the 2025 awards. Please read all of the information carefully before beginning your application. If you have questions please check the FAQs section before you get in touch to see if we can answer your query. If you do not find what you are looking for, you can contact us for more information.

About the scholarship programme

Students in a lecture

Each year there are a limited number of scholarships available. For 2025, applications are invited from the following groups:

  • Confucius Institute students at the University of Manchester *
  • Current students at the University of Manchester

Each year the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship selection panel reviews all applications and those that are judged to be of a sufficiently high standard are recommended to the listed Chinese Universities. Applications are then made directly to the host universities in China, and the final decision rests with them, not with the individual Confucius Institute.

Please make sure that you read the eligibility criteria and application procedure carefully before submitting your application.

Deadlines

  • Online registration will be available from 1 March 2025. We recommend that you apply as early in the cycle as possible. Please note the below deadlines are based on Beijing timezones.
  • Application deadlines (Beijing time):
    • For programs commencing in July, applicants must complete their applications by April 15.
    • For programs commencing in September, applicants must complete their applications by May 15.
    • For programs commencing in December, applicants must complete their applications by September 15.
    • For programs commencing in March 2025, applicants must complete their applications by October 31.

* You must have completed, or be in the process of completing a course with the Confucius Institute at the time of application.

Scholarship terms

Scholarship winners are exempt from the following:

  • Tuition fees
  • Accommodation fees on campus.

They are also provided with the following resources:

  • A monthly allowance (except for 4 week short study programme)
  • Comprehensive insurance for foreign students studying in China.

Please note that the scholarship does not cover any year abroad fees payable to the University of Manchester.

Once an application has been submitted, the contact email address for any issues relating to the application is scholarships@chinese.cn.

For 2024 applicants, the scholarship application guide is available here.