Master's in International Chinese Language Education: the scholarship conditions

The 2025 International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship, Category 2, covers a master's in International Chinese Language Education that starts in September 2025, for a maximum of two academic years. Applicants shall hold a Bachelor's degree and shall have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 5) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level). The answer rests on the Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).

This page covers this scholarship only. These conditions are conditions of the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship and are not general admission rules for self-funded students. See also Routes on this site.

Category 2 wording

The guidelines state the following under Category 2, "Scholarship for Master's Degree in International Chinese Language Education":

Start and length: The program commences in September 2025, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of two academic years.
Degree held: Applicants shall hold a Bachelor's degree.
Scores: Applicants shall have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 5) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).
Priority: 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.

The priority line is worded as priority. It is not a requirement.

This site does not describe HSK or HSKK test content. The tests are described on the official test site.

Eligibility (Section I)

Section I sets five conditions:

Be a Non-Chinese citizen.
Be friendly to China, have no criminal record, abide by the laws and regulations of China and the rules and regulations of the Host Institution.
Be in good physical and mental health, and be in good academic and behavioral standing.
Be interested in Chinese language education and related work.
Be aged between 16 and 35 years on September 1, 2025. The maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45.

Application materials (Appendix 2)

Appendix 2 lists the following materials:

Item A, for all applicants:
A(a): a scanned copy of the passport photo page.
A(b): a scanned copy of score reports of the HSK/HSKK tests, within the two-year validity.
A(c): a reference letter by the head of the Recommending Institution.
Item B(d), for degree program applicants: a certificate of the highest diploma (or proof of expected graduation) and an official transcript.
Item B(f), for applicants of the Scholarship for a Master's Degree in International Chinese Language Education: two reference letters from professors or associate professors.

Item B(f) also contains a priority line: priority will be given to applicants who may provide an employment contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China.

Living allowance (Appendix 1)

Appendix 1 states that the scholarship supports tuition, accommodation, living allowance (excluding four-week study program students) and comprehensive medical insurance.

Under Appendix 1, item 3, the monthly living allowance for master's students in International Chinese Language Education is RMB 3,000 per person. Item 3 also states the following:

The allowance is paid by the Host Institutions on a monthly basis.
Scholarship recipients must register with the university within the period stipulated in the Letter of Admission. Otherwise, the scholarship will be revoked.
Students registered before the 15th (inclusive) of the month are entitled to the full allowance of that month. Those registered after the 15th are entitled to half of the amount.

Deadlines and selection (Section III)

Section III sets the application procedures for the 2025 cycle. Online registration is available from February 20, 2025, on the scholarship website named in the guidelines.

Under Section III, item 2, for programs commencing in September:

Applicants must complete their applications by May 15.
Recommending Institutions and Host Institutions must complete the review by May 25.

All times are Beijing Time. These dates belong to the 2025 cycle. Read the guidelines for the current year for that year's dates.

Section III also states that CLEC will entrust an expert panel to review the applications. Decisions will be based on HSK and HSKK levels and scores, geographical distribution, and other factors. The results will be announced about three months before the program starts.

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, and it is not published by the bodies named. If the official text differs from this page, the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail.