One-Year Study Program: the conditions line by line
The Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, published by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), list five eligibility items for the One-Year Study Program. One of them is an age range of 16 to 35 on September 1, 2025. The HSK and HSKK lines depend on the field group, and they are set in item 4 of the scholarship list; for where a score is asked for on this site, see HSK.
These conditions belong to the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship only. They are not general admission rules for self-funded students. All dates below are for the 2025 cycle, so read the guidelines for the current year before you plan an application. The tests themselves are not described on this site; they are described on the official test site.
Who may apply
Section I lists five items. Each one is quoted as worded in the guidelines.
- 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, 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, but those who apply for a scholarship for a Bachelor's degree shall be younger than 25 under most circumstances.
Section I names no test score. Item 4, "Scholarship for One-Year Study Program", sets the HSK and HSKK lines.
Field groups and test lines
Item 4 says the program commences in September 2025 and that the scholarship is provided for a maximum of eleven months. It states no amount.
Item 4 sets three field groups, with the following wording.
| Field group | HSK line | HSKK line |
|---|---|---|
| International Chinese language education programs | Shall have a minimum score of 270 on the HSK test (Level 3) | Is required |
| Chinese language and literature, Chinese history, or Chinese philosophy programs | Shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 4) | Shall have a minimum score of 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level) |
| Chinese language study programs | Shall have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK test (Level 3) | Priority will be given to applicants who provide an HSKK test score |
Item 4 words the HSKK line for the third group as a priority, not as a requirement.
Materials for a non-degree applicant
Appendix 2 lists materials in groups A to E. For an applicant who is not applying for a degree programme, the group that applies to everyone is A.
- Appendix 2, item A(a): a scanned copy of the passport photo page.
- Appendix 2, item A(b): a scanned copy of score reports of the HSK/HSKK tests (within the two-year validity).
- Appendix 2, item A(c): a reference letter by the head of the Recommending Institution.
Group B is headed "For degree program applicants", so items d to f do not apply to a non-degree applicant. Item C applies to in-service Chinese language teachers, who shall provide proof of employment and a reference letter from the employer. Item D applies to applicants under 18, who shall provide certified documents of designation signed by their entrusted legal guardians in China. Item E says applicants shall provide additional documents as required by the Host Institutions.
Deadlines for the 2025 cycle
Online registration was available from February 20, 2025, on the scholarship website named in section III.
Section III sets the deadline for programmes commencing in September as follows, in Beijing Time.
- Applicants must complete their applications by May 15.
- Recommending Institutions and Host Institutions must complete the review by May 25.
Section III also gives deadlines for programmes commencing in July, December and March 2026. For those, read the same section of the guidelines.
Section III says CLEC will entrust an expert panel to review the applications. It says 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)
Checked 10 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, and is not published by the bodies named; if the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this page, the official text and those instructions prevail.