[Call for Applications] 2025 Silk Road-Chinese Government Scholarship Program at Sun Yat-sen University
Application Guide for the 2025 Silk Road-Chinese Government Scholarship Program at Sun Yat-sen University
In accordance with the relevant regulations stipulated by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education and the China Scholarship Council, as well as the actual conditions of SYSU, the application guide of this scholarship is formulated as follows:
I. Introduction
The “Silk Road” Chinese government scholarship program is established to implement the Vision and Proposed Actions Outlined on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and the related requirements of the Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative. The program aims to cultivate leaders and excellent skilled personnel for the countries along the “Belt and Road” and the co-built countries. The program, which adheres to the principle of “strategy orientation, precise delivery, coordinated promotion, mutual benefit, and win-win results,” focuses on supporting the development of green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence, energy, taxation, finance, disaster mitigation, education, and other areas in urgent need of professional talents for countries jointly building the “Belt and Road”.
The program is based on the principles of “individual application, institutional recommendation, expert evaluation, and merit-based admission” and will benefits international students with excellent academic backgrounds, professional abilities, and future development potential.
As one of the designated universities, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) welcomes international students to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees under this program. The final admission results are contingent upon the expert review of the China Scholarship Council.
II. Target Applicants
Applicants shall be from the 10 countries jointly building the “Belt and Road”, including UAE, Cuba, South Africa, Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Egypt, Vietnam.
III. Enrollment Quota
A maximum of 10 students will be admitted, with the final number subject to adjustment based on the international application pool. Selection will be based on competitive merit.
IV. Eligibility
1. Applicants must maintain good health and satisfy the physical standards necessary for applying for a student visa or residence permit.
2. Applicants for bachelor’s programs should be academically excellent holders of a high school diploma or its equivalent under the age of 25; applicants for master’s programs should be academically excellent holders of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent under the age of 35; applicants for doctoral programs should be academically excellent holders of a master’s degree or its equivalent under the age of 40.
3. Applicants must be friendly to China, hardworking and diligent in their studies, excellent in their academic performance, and upstanding and law-abiding in their conduct. They should have a commendable record of adherence to school regulations, devoid of any instances of rule violations, security penalties, or criminal records. Applicants for the Master of Public Administration program shall have at least three years of relevant academic or professional experience in public administration and hold a government position at the division level (or above), academic leadership role (e.g., department director or higher), or equivalent administrative position.
4. Language Proficiency
(1) To apply programs instructed in Chinese: applicants of bachelor’s degree shall meet the minimum requirement of HSK (level III) certificate with a score of 180 points or above. Applicants of master’s/doctoral degrees shall meet the minimum requirement of HSK (Level IV) with a score of 180 or above. Entrance requirement: Applicants shall achieve HSK (Level V) with a score of 180 or above prior to registration. Those who have taken courses with Chinese as the instruction language shall submit a proof issued by their former university. Upon verification by SYSU, the applicants may be exempted from providing HSK certificates.
(2) To apply for programs instructed in Chinese: applicants whose native language is not English shall submit valid proof of English language skills to demonstrate that their English proficiency is sufficient to meet the academic requirements, such as TOEFL (minimum score of 79 on iBT, with no less than 15 in each section) or IELTS Academic (minimum score of 6.5, with no less than 5.5 in each section). Applicants who have previously studied with English as the medium of instruction may submit an official proof from their institution for confirmation. Upon verification by the university, these applicants may be exempt from submitting English test scores.
V. Scholarship Coverage and Standards
The scholarship program covers tuition fee, on-campus accommodation, living allowance, comprehensive medical insurance. The coverage and standard of the scholarship are subject to the announcement of the China Scholarship Council in the same year (http://www.campuschina.org).
VI. Application Procedure
1. Application on the China Scholarship Council Website
Applicants will log in to the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (http://www.campuschina.org), complete the Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form online, and submit required documents (Program Category: Type B; SYSU Enrollment Code: 10558). The completed application form shall be printed and signed by hand on the last page.
2. Application on the SYSU Website
Applicants shall also register on the SYSU International Student Office website (http://iso.sysu.edu.cn), select the “2025 Silk Road-Chinese Government Scholarship Program”, and complete the online application. Below are the documents required for the application:
(1) Valid passport and personal profile photo
The passport must be valid until at least December 1, 2025. Please renew the passport if necessary. Applicants who are staying in China at the time of application shall provide scanned copies of their passport pages showing the Chinese visa or residence permit, and the page with the most recent entry stamp. Applicants who have acquired foreign nationality but were previously residents of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan Region shall submit a certificate of cancellation of household registration or a certificate of renunciation of Chinese nationality, or an official document issued by the Chinese diplomatic representation and consular authorities certifying that they do not hold Chinese nationality.
(2) Diploma, certificates, and verification reports
Applicants for bachelor’s programs are required to submit proof of high school graduation. Students who have not yet graduated by the application deadline may submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their high schools. Those who fail to provide their high school education certificates before registration will have their admission revoked.
Applicants who apply for master’s programs and have graduated from universities within the Chinese mainland shall submit the Record of Electronic Registration of Academic Certificates from the Ministry of Education and the Online Verification Report of Chinese Higher Education Degree for bachelor’s degrees, available on Chinese Higher Education Student Information website (https://www.chsi.com.cn). Applicants who graduated from universities outside the Chinese mainland shall submit Verification of Foreign Academic Degrees for bachelor’s degrees issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (https://www.cscse.edu.cn). Students yet to graduate before the application deadline may submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their university. Those who fail to provide their bachelor’s degree certificates before registration will have their admission revoked.
Applicants who apply for doctoral programs and graduated from universities within the Chinese mainland shall submit the Record of Electronic Registration of Academic Certificates from the Ministry of Education and the Online Verification Report of Chinese Higher Education Degree for both master’s and bachelor’s degrees, available on Chinese Higher Education Student Information website (https://www.chsi.com.cn). Applicants who graduated from universities outside the Chinese mainland shall submit Verification of Foreign Academic Degrees for both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (https://www.cscse.edu.cn). Students yet to graduate before the application deadline may submit a pre-graduation certificate issued by their university. Those who fail to provide their master’s degree certificate before registration will have their admission revoked.
3) Complete transcripts of studies
Applicants for bachelor’s programs are required to submit standard test transcripts (High School Graduation Examination transcripts, Matriculation Examination transcripts, and transcripts of international standard tests such as SAT/ACT/ A-Level/IB in high school). Students yet to graduate can first submit transcripts from their high schools. Those who do not submit complete high school transcripts before registration will have their admission revoked.
Applicants for master’s programs shall submit undergraduate transcripts issued and stamped by the academic affairs department or relevant student administration department of the applicants’ university. Applicants who have not yet graduated by the application deadline may submit their most recent transcript issued by their university. Those who fail to provide a complete transcript of undergraduate studies before registration will have their admission revoked.
Applicants for doctoral programs shall submit the transcripts issued and stamped by the academic affairs department or the relevant student administration department of the applicants’ university. These transcripts shall include the academic performance of both undergraduate and graduate studies. Applicants who will have not yet graduated by the application deadline may submit their most recent transcript issued by their university. Those who fail to provide a complete transcript of undergraduate and graduate studies before registration will have their admission revoked.
4) Language proficiency certificate
Applicants of the programs instructed in Chinese shall submit a valid certificate of Chinese language proficiency (HSK) or proof of completing courses instructed in Chinese language. Applicants of English-taught programs shall submit TOFEL, IELTS certificates, or any proof of having taken program instructed in English or other proof demonstrating their English language proficiency.
5) Two academic recommendation letters (see Attachment 1 for template)
Applicants for bachelor’s programs shall submit two letters of recommendation provided by the principal and a teacher respectively of the applicant’s high school.
Applicants for master’s and doctoral programs shall submit letters of recommendation provided by professors, associate professors, or senior professionals in the academic field relevant to the applicants’ chosen field of study.
6) Personal statement and plan of study and research in China (see Attachment 2 for template)
The personal statement shall include self-introduction, learning experience, interests, study goals, reasons for application, and career plans after graduation.
Applicants for master’s or doctoral programs shall submit a plan of study and research in China. For applicants for master’s program, it shall be over 1,500 words/characters; for applicants for doctoral program, it shall be over 3,000 words/characters. The plan for study and research in China may encompass various aspects including, but not limited to, relevant research or working background, past achievements in academic research, comprehensive study and research plan for the doctoral program, and career goal after graduation. If the applicant has published journal papers, please also submit the abstract of the published papers.
7) Report of physical examination and result of blood test (see Attachment 3 for template)
Applicants shall submit scanned copies of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, chest X-ray, ECG, and laboratory test reports for specific items, all stamped by the issuing hospital and within six months prior to the date of submission. Applicants who are currently residing in the Chinese mainland, with a valid foreigner’s residence permit or permanent residence ID card, and over 18 years of age, may substitute either of these documents for the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.
8) Employment Verification if the applicant has a job.
A letter from the employer stating the applicant’s job position and primary responsibilities is required.
9) Certificate of Non-Criminal Record
Applicants shall submit a valid non-criminal record issued by local authorities; the document shall be issued within six months before the date of application submission.
10) Supporting documents
Fill in the application form on the application website (Program Category: Type B; SYSU Enrollment Code: 10558), print the completed application form, sign on the last page, and scan and upload according to the requirements of the Chinese Government Scholarship (http://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn).
11) Supporting documents
Applicants shall submit award certificates or proof of experience as supporting documents.
12) Letter of commitment (see Attachment 4 for the template)
Applicants must certify that all application information provided is true, legal and valid. They shall print, sign, and upload the signed Commitment Letter to the system.
13) Personal Information Form
The Personal Information Form is generated automatically by the International Student Management System. After printing and signing it, please upload the completed form back to the system.
Note: Application documents shall be original and in either Chinese or English. For documents in other languages, both the original documents and their notarized Chinese or English translations shall be provided. Translations must be authenticated by either the Hague Apostille Convention or a Chinese embassy or consulate. Applicants shall ensure the accuracy of the email address, WeChat account number, and contact phone number entered in the application system. Notification regarding supplementary materials will be issued via the application system(https://apply.sysu.edu.cn). Failure to submit the scanned copies of supplementary materials, translations, or translation notarized certificates in a timely manner, submission of materials that do not meet the requirements, or incorrect contact information may result in an unsuccessful application, for which the applicant shall assume full responsibility.
VII. Majors for International Students
The Catalog of Majors for the 2025 Silk Road-Chinese Government Scholarship Program (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D) at SYSU can be found in Attachments 5. Specific Catalog of Majors is subject to the approvement by the Ministry of Education. If the major applied for is beyond the scope, the application will be considered invalid.
VIII. Deadline for Letter of Invitation Application
May 25th, 2025
IX. Selection Procedures
1. Qualification Review
After receiving the letter of invitation from the China Scholarship Council, SYSU will review the applicant’s information such as foreign status, highest academic qualification, academic performance, Chinese language proficiency, plan of study, and research and recommendations to determine the assessment list
2. Assessment
The assessment will be organized by admission teams of the respective schools or departments using one of the following mehtods: (1) an interview; (2) an interview combined with a written test.
Applicants who pass the qualification review will be notified by the admission team of the specific assessment method, location, and time.
3. Pre-admission
SYSU will determine pre-admission results based on the applicant’s qualification review, assessment performance, and major preferences, with selection made based on competitive merit.
4. Admission
The admission results are subject to the approval of the Chinese Scholarship Committee. SYSU will release the conditional admission results, electronic Admission Letter, and the Confirmation Form for Study in China through its application system (https://apply.sysu.edu.cn). Applicants shall ensure that the email address and phone number provided in the application system are accurate and valid.
5. Study and Research in China
Admitted applicants shall apply for an X1 visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate using the Admission Letter and Foreign Student Visa Application Form. Upon arrival in China, they shall convert the X1 visa into a student residence permit within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from admission. Students with non-student visa shall not be allowed to register. International students holding expired visas or residence permits shall not be allowed to reside on campus or participate in activities.
X. Others
1. Registration: Admitted students shall register on the specified date and location as indicated in the Admission Letter. Early registration is not permitted. Failure to register on time without prior approval will result in disqualification from admission and scholarship eligibility.
2. Responsibility for Submitted Materials: Applicants are responsible for the authenticity of their submitted materials. According to national regulations and university rules, those found to have submitted falsified materials will have their admission, enrollment, and student status revoked, and the incident will be reported to relevant authorities.
3. Post-Admission Physical Examination and Eligibility Review
SYSU will conduct a physical examination and admission eligibility review for all enrolled students. Those who fail to meet the requirements or are found to have falsified materials will have their admission, enrollment, and scholarship qualifications canceled.
4. Annual Review: Applicants shall participate in the annual assessment of the scholarship as required. Applicants who have not passed the assessment will have their scholarship eligibility suspended or or revoked.
5. Supervision: The Admissions Office (Office of International Students’ Affairs) of SYSU shall oversee the admissions process, while the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department shall perform dedicated supervisory duties.
XI. Contact information
- Office of International Students’ Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University
- Website of the Office of International Students’ Affairs: http://iso.sysu.edu.cn
- Online Application Website: https://apply.sysu.edu.cn
- Email：admissions@mail.sysu.edu.cn
- Tel: 0086-20-84110819
- Supervision Department Tel: 0086（20）84115582
- Address: Office of International Students’ Affairs, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou, P.R.China, 510275
For more information: https://iso.sysu.edu.cn/en/application/scholarship/1418849.htm
