Two scholarships for language study: channel, age line and HSK side by side
The two scholarships differ in who may recommend an applicant, where the application is made, the age line and the HSK line. The International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 guidelines of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) set an age line of 16 to 35 on 1 September 2025 and a minimum HSK (Level 3) score of 210 for Chinese language study programs. The Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship of the China Scholarship Council (CSC) sets an age line under 45 for a general scholar and an HSK (Level 3) line for Chinese-taught general scholar programs, excluding Chinese language majors.
See also HSK on this site. This page says where a score is asked for. The tests are described on the official test site.
Comparison
| Item | International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025 (one-year Chinese language study) | Chinese Government Scholarship (general scholar) |
|---|---|---|
| Who recommends or receives the application | The preamble lists Recommending Institutions that may recommend applicants, including Confucius Institutes, selected HSK test centers and Chinese embassies (consulates) abroad | Section V, item 3: the applicant reaches an application receiving agency for a recommendation. Section V, item 5: the receiving agency submits the recommended candidates list |
| Where the application is made | Section III: online registration and online submission of application materials on the scholarship website | Section V, item 4: the Application Form is filled in and submitted online through the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System |
| Length of study | Item 4 (One-Year Study Program): the scholarship is provided for a maximum of eleven months | Section II, (II): the language courses last one year |
| Age line | Section I, item 5: aged between 16 and 35 on September 1, 2025. The maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45 | Section IV, item 5: a holder of a high school diploma (or higher) under the age of 45 when applying for a general scholar program |
| HSK line | Item 4 (One-Year Study Program): a minimum score of 210 on the HSK test (Level 3) for Chinese language study programs. Item 4 words priority for applicants who provide an HSKK score | Section IV, item 8: HSK (Level 3) when applying for a Chinese-taught general scholar program, excluding Chinese language majors |
International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025
The preamble states that the scholarship is for eligible Chinese language teachers outside China. It also states that Recommending Institutions may recommend outstanding students and in-service Chinese language teachers to further their studies at Host Institutions.
Item 4 of the scholarship categories describes the one-year study program. The program commences in September 2025, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of eleven months.
Section I sets the eligibility rules. Item 1 requires applicants to be non-Chinese citizens. Item 4 requires applicants to be interested in Chinese language education and related work.
Section III states that online registration is available on the scholarship website. Applicants may search for Recommending Institutions and Host Institutions there, submit application materials online and track the application. Section III also states that decisions are based on HSK and HSKK levels and scores, geographical distribution and other factors. The results are announced about three months before the program starts.
Section III sets application deadlines for programs commencing in July, September and December 2025 and in March 2026. Those dates have passed. Read the current year's guidelines for the current deadlines.
These conditions belong to this scholarship. They are not general admission rules for self-funded students.
Chinese Government Scholarship
Section I sets four categories. Each category has its own place of application:
- Bilateral program (section I, part (I)): the applicant files with the dispatching department of the home country.
- University program (section I, part (II)): the applicant files with the Chinese universities that run the program.
- Designated scholarship programs (section I, part (III)): the applicant files with the international organizations and institutions concerned.
- Student exchange program (section I, part (IV)): the applicant files with Chinese universities and their foreign partners. The program supports general and senior scholars for a training session of no more than 12 months.
Section II, part (II) states that the scholarship covers major study and Chinese language (preparatory) study. The language courses last one year. The duration of major study follows the requirements of the program.
Section IV sets the eligibility rules. For a general scholar, item 5 requires a holder of a high school diploma (or higher) under the age of 45. Item 8 sets the HSK (Level 3) line for a Chinese-taught general scholar program and excludes Chinese language majors from it. Item 11 covers programs taught in a language other than Chinese. For those programs, the applicant must meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others.
These conditions belong to the Chinese Government Scholarship. They are not general admission rules for self-funded students.
Section V sets the application process in the following order:
- The applicant learns about the designated universities and majors and chooses a program, university and major.
- The applicant reaches the designated university for admission documents.
- The applicant reaches an application receiving agency for a recommendation.
- The applicant fills in and submits the Application Form online through the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System.
- The receiving agency submits the recommended candidates list and application documents.
- The CSC organizes designated universities and experts to examine eligibility and academic performance before finalizing the short-list.
- The CSC notifies the admission results to the receiving agency, which informs the applicant.
Section V, items 1 to 7, sets no application deadline.
Sources
- Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025. Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC, chinese.cn)
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship. China Scholarship Council (Campus China, campuschina.org)
Checked 10 October 2026 (first document) and 11 October 2026 (second document).
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 or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this page, the official text and those instructions prevail.