The Silk Road Scholarship is an official programme within the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), called the “Chinese Government Scholarship – Silk Road Program”. China’s Ministry of Education created it to attract outstanding students from Belt and Road Initiative countries. The scholarship is full: tuition waiver, free on-campus accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500 for bachelor’s and CNY 3,000 for master’s students; airfare is paid by the student. The key point to know: you apply through the Chinese university (Type B), not through the embassy, and each year every university sets specific majors and a specific list of eligible countries, which may not include yours. Below you will find the official requirements, steps and deadlines, with examples from real university announcements and their sources.
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What is the Silk Road Scholarship?
According to Peking University, the Silk Road Program aims to train outstanding professionals and leaders for Belt and Road countries, focusing on fields these countries need, such as green development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, energy, taxation, finance, disaster reduction and education. China Three Gorges University (CTGU) describes it as “a full scholarship established by the Ministry of Education to support Chinese universities in attracting outstanding students from Belt and Road countries”.
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Chinese Government Scholarship – Silk Road Program | Peking University |
| Type | Chinese Government Scholarship – Type B (administered by universities) | Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) |
| Levels | Bachelor’s, master’s and PhD, depending on the majors each university approves | Nankai University |
| Who is eligible | Citizens of the Belt and Road countries listed in each university’s announcement | CTGU |
| Duration | The length of the degree programme itself, renewed each year after passing the annual review | Peking University |
What does the scholarship cover?
- Full tuition waiver.
- Free on-campus accommodation (personal costs such as water, electricity and internet may be paid by the student, depending on the university).
- Comprehensive medical insurance.
- Monthly stipend: CNY 2,500 for bachelor’s and CNY 3,000 for master’s students (and, according to CSC, CNY 3,500 for PhD students).
- International and domestic travel costs are paid by the student, as stated explicitly in the CTGU announcement.
Sources: Nankai University 2026 announcement and CTGU announcement.
Is my country eligible?
Eligible countries are not fixed once for all programmes. Instead, each university chooses them for each major every year, and the China Scholarship Council then approves them. Examples from official announcements:
- Nankai University (2026): Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Pakistan, Mongolia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Colombia.
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST): 5 bachelor’s and postgraduate programmes, with details usually published around April each year.
- CTGU (2023 announcement): a bachelor’s in civil engineering taught in Chinese only, for passport holders of Belt and Road countries on the official list at yidaiyilu.gov.cn.
The Nankai and HUST lists published do not name every country, and other universities publish different lists. The right approach is to search the announcements of the universities you are interested in for “Silk Road Program” and read the country list before applying. There is no fixed, universal list of eligible countries, whatever some websites claim.
Requirements
| Requirement | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Under 25 | Under 35 |
| Qualification | High school diploma | Bachelor’s degree |
| CSCA test | Mandatory | Not required |
| Language (Nankai example) | Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 5 with a score of 210 or above. English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 105 | |
| Other scholarships | You must not hold another scholarship | |
Source: Nankai University 2026 announcement. Language requirements differ between universities; for example, CTGU accepts HSK 3 for its civil engineering bachelor’s, with a scholarship-funded preparatory year for those without HSK 4.
How to apply
- Find universities that announce the “Silk Road Program” and check that your country and major are in the announcement.
- Submit an admission application on the university’s online portal (for example Nankai’s nankai.at0086.cn or HUST’s admission.hust.edu.cn). Some universities charge an application fee; HUST, for example, charges CNY 600, non-refundable.
- The university reviews applications and nominates the strongest candidates.
- The nominee registers on the government scholarship portal studyinchina.csc.edu.cn, selects “Program Type B” and enters the university’s Agency No.; for example Nankai 10055 and HUST 10487.
- The China Scholarship Council (CSC) reviews eligibility and approves the final list.
After arrival you may not change the university, major or study duration stated in your admission letter, and the scholarship is subject to an annual review.
Deadlines: they vary by university
| University | Announced application deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nankai University | Until 18 May 2026 | Nankai |
| Peking University | Usually March and April each year | Peking University |
| Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) | Details published around April | HUST |
Silk Road Program vs the embassy-route Chinese Government Scholarship
| Item | Type A (via the embassy) | Type B – Silk Road (via the university) |
|---|---|---|
| Where do you apply? | The nominating authority in your country or the Chinese embassy | Directly to the Chinese university, then the CSC portal |
| Deadlines | Usually late November to early April, depending on the embassy | As announced by each university |
| Countries | Based on bilateral agreements | Belt and Road countries specified in the university’s announcement |
| Majors | Broader | Specific majors approved by the university |
Source: HUST scholarship guide. Also read the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and how to apply for the CSC scholarship.
Practical tips
- Start from the university, not the scholarship: choose universities that suit your major, then look for “Silk Road Program” on their scholarship pages.
- Prepare your documents early: a police clearance certificate, the foreigner physical examination form, a bank statement or financial guarantee, your CSCA result for bachelor’s applicants, and a language certificate.
- Do not combine two Chinese government scholarships; this violates the programme’s rules.
- Never pay an agent who promises to “guarantee” the scholarship; the university nominates and CSC makes the final decision.
After winning the scholarship: visa and residence
- The university sends you your admission documents and the JW201 form (the form for scholarship students).
- Apply for an X1 visa for study longer than 180 days (or X2 for shorter programmes such as one semester or a four-week programme) at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country.
- After arrival you register your address with the police within 24 hours; the international students’ office usually helps you.
- Convert your X1 visa into a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.
Source: China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law. China joined the Apostille Convention, which took effect on 7 November 2023, so documents issued in member states need only an apostille, while those from other countries need full legalisation (convention status table).
Costs the scholarship does not cover
- Flights to and from your country.
- Visa fees, the medical examination, and document notarisation and translation in your home country.
- Application fees at universities that charge them (some waive them for scholarship holders).
- Expenses for the first weeks before your first monthly stipend is paid, so bring enough money for at least one month.
To calculate these items in your own currency, use the study cost calculator.
Can I work to cover my expenses?
Regular employment under a contract is forbidden for international students in China. The only thing allowed is university-organised “work-study”: up to 8 hours a week and 40 hours a month during term, and 16 hours a week and 80 hours a month during holidays; violations are punishable by a fine of CNY 5,000–20,000. So do not build your financial plan on working. Source: China’s Ministry of Education.
FAQ
Is the Silk Road Scholarship a full scholarship?
Yes. It covers tuition, on-campus accommodation, medical insurance and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500 for bachelor’s and CNY 3,000 for master’s students, but it does not cover airfare.
Is the Silk Road Scholarship the same as the Belt and Road Scholarship?
The Silk Road Program is the official programme within the Chinese Government Scholarship for Belt and Road countries. There is no single official programme called the “Belt and Road Scholarship”. Read Belt and Road scholarships.
Can I apply through the embassy?
No. The Silk Road Program is Type B: you apply to the university first, then register on the CSC portal after you are nominated.
Is the programme open to bachelor’s students too?
Yes, at some universities. Nankai, for example, offers bachelor’s degrees in business economics, business administration and finance taught in Chinese, and master’s degrees in international business and international affairs.
Last updated: October 2026. Requirements and figures come from the official announcements of the universities named; details vary between universities and application years.
Official sources
- China’s Ministry of Education – work-study for international students
- China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law
- Hague Conference – Apostille Convention status table
- Peking University – Silk Road Program
- Nankai University – Silk Road Program 2026
- HUST – scholarship information
- CTGU – Silk Road Scholarship
- Chinese Government Scholarship portal
- Campus China (CSC)
Read also: scholarships for studying in China.