The Four-Week Study Program: start months, HSK and groups of 10 to 15

The Four-Week Study Program of the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship lasts at most four weeks and, in the 2025 cycle, starts in July or December 2025. Item 6 of the Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), sets the HSK test score line for four fields of the program. The rules below rest on that document.

This site is an unofficial guide and is not affiliated with CLEC or any other body named here. For the other routes to study Chinese in China, see Routes.

Start months and length

Item 6 says the program "commences either in July or December 2025" and that the scholarship "is provided for a maximum of four weeks." These are the start months and the maximum length of the 2025 cycle.

The four fields and the HSK line

Item 6 covers four fields: Chinese language study, traditional Chinese medicine, Taiji culture, and Chinese language plus homestay with a Chinese family. Item 6 words the HSK line for these four fields as follows: "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."

Section III says CLEC's expert panel decides applications on the basis of HSK and HSKK levels and scores, geographical distribution, and other factors. This site does not describe HSK or HSKK test content, structure or preparation. The tests are described on the official test site.

Groups and study plan

Item 6 says the program "may be organized and applied for by a Recommending Institution with 10-15 participants per group." The Recommending Institutions are listed in the guidelines' preamble.

Item 6 also says that before the trip, "a detailed study plan shall be made in consultation with the Host Institution(s)" and that "such plan shall be submitted to CLEC for review and approval."

What the scholarship covers for four-week students

Appendix 1's opening sentence lists the scholarship's support as tuition, accommodation, living allowance (excluding four-week study program students) and comprehensive medical insurance.

Appendix 1 excludes four-week study program students from the living allowance. Item 4 of Appendix 1 gives the insurance premium for four-week study program students as RMB 100 per person.

Deadlines for the 2025 cycle

Section III, "Application Deadlines (Beijing Time)", sets the following dates by start month. Online registration opened on February 20, 2025.

Section III says the results will be announced about three months before the program starts. These dates belong to the 2025 cycle and have passed. Read the current year's guidelines from CLEC (chinese.cn) before applying.

Application materials

Appendix 2, item A, headed "For all applicants", lists three materials:

• a) a scanned copy of the passport photo page;
• b) a scanned copy of score reports of the HSK/HSKK tests (within the two-year validity);
• c) a reference letter by the head of the Recommending Institution.

Appendix 2, item D, says applicants under 18 "shall provide certified documents of designation signed by their entrusted legal guardians in China."

Item E of Appendix 2 says applicants shall also provide any additional documents the Host Institutions require.

Questions

Does the four-week program include a living allowance?

No. Appendix 1 excludes four-week study program students from the living allowance. Item 4 of Appendix 1 gives the insurance premium for these students as RMB 100 per person.

Which materials does Appendix 2 require from an applicant under 18?

Item A applies to the applicant's passport photo page, HSK/HSKK score reports and a reference letter from the head of the Recommending Institution. Item D adds certified documents of designation signed by the applicant's entrusted legal guardians in China.

Which start months does the 2025 cycle list for this program?

Item 6 names July and December 2025. Section III gives the application and review deadlines for each start month.

Sources

• Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC, chinese.cn)

Checked 10 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, it is not published by CLEC or the other bodies named, and if the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this page, the official text and those instructions prevail.