In-service Chinese teachers: the age extension and the extra documents
For the 2025 cycle, the Application Guidelines for the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship say that the maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45. They also require in-service teachers to provide proof of employment and a reference letter from the employer. The rules below come from that document, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).
See also HSK on this site.
The age limit
Section I, item 5 sets the general age range for applicants as 16 to 35 years on September 1, 2025. The same item says the maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45. The second sentence of item 5 concerns applicants for a scholarship for a Bachelor's degree, who shall be younger than 25 under most circumstances. That sentence does not mention in-service teachers.
| Group | Age rule | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| All applicants | Aged between 16 and 35 years on September 1, 2025 | Section I, item 5 |
| In-service Chinese language teachers | Maximum age limit may be extended to 45 | Section I, item 5 |
| Applicants for a Bachelor's degree scholarship | Shall be younger than 25 under most circumstances | Section I, item 5, second sentence |
These age rules belong to the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship only. They are not general admission rules for self-funded study.
Documents for in-service teachers
Section IV, item 1 says in-service Chinese language teachers need to provide proof of employment and a letter of recommendation from the employer.
Appendix 2, item C says in-service Chinese language teachers shall provide proof of employment and a reference letter from the employer.
Appendix 2 lists the materials that all applicants provide under item A:
- A scanned copy of the passport photo page (item A(a)).
- A scanned copy of score reports of the HSK or HSKK tests, within the two-year validity (item A(b)).
- A reference letter by the head of the Recommending Institution (item A(c)).
The tests are described on the official test site. This site does not describe them.
Appendix 2, item E says applicants shall provide additional documents as required by the Host Institutions. Appendix 2, item E does not list those documents.
Before you apply
The age reference date, September 1, 2025, and the other dates above belong to the 2025 cycle. Read the current year's guidelines before you prepare an application.
Sources
- Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC)
Checked 10 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, and is not published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this page, the official text and those instructions prevail.