I. Eligibility
All applicants shall be:
1. Be a Non-Chinese citizen;
2. Be in good physical and mental health, be in good academic and behavioral standing;
3. Be interested in Chinese language education and related work;
4. Be aged between 16 and 35 on September 1st, 2025. The maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45.
5. should be friendly to China, have no criminal record, and abide by the laws and regulations of the Chinese government and the rules and regulations of the university.
II. Categories and Qualifications
1.Master Degree in International Chinese Language Education
The program commences in September 2025, and scholarship is provided for a maximum of two academic years.
Applicants shall hold a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants shall have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 5) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).
Priority will be given to applicants who may provide an employment contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.
2.One-Year Study Program
The program commences in September 2025, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of eleven months.In principle, applicants who have received a similar scholarship within three years are not eligible for the One-Semester Study Program or One-Year Study Program.
1) International Chinese Language Education program
Applicants shall have a minimum score of 270 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.
2) Chinese Language and Literature program
Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 4) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).
3) Chinese Language Study program
Applicants 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.
3. One-Semester Study Program
The program commences either in September 2025 or March 2026, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of five months. In principle, applicants who have received a similar scholarship within three years are not eligible for the One-Semester Study Program or One-Year Study Program.
1) International Chinese Language Education program 2) Chinese Language and Literature program
Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.
III. Application Procedures
Step 1. Search for recommending institutions and host institutions：
Online registration is available on the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship website (http://cis.chinese.cn ). Please log on to search for recommending institutions (e.g. Confucius Institute) and host institutions (e.g. Shanghai Normal University).
Step 2. Upload the following application documents on the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship website (http://cis.chinese.cn )：
For all applicants
1) a scanned copy of passport photo page. (Applicants under the age of 18 shall provide certified documents of designation signed by their entrusted legal guardians in China.)
2) a scanned copy of score reports of the HSK and HSKK tests (within the two-year validity).
3) a reference letter by the head of the recommending institutions(in English or Chinese)
4) In-service Chinese language teachers shall provide proof of employment and a reference letter from the employer.
For applicants of the Scholarship for Master program, the following additional documents are needed
1) a certificate of the highest education diploma (or proof of expected graduation) and an official transcript.
2) 2 reference letters from professors or associate professors.
3) Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a employment contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China.
Step 3. Apply on the International Student Application System of SHNU website (The master Scholarship applicants ONLY)
The master Scholarship applicants are also required to visit the International Student Application System of SHNU website http://apply.shnu.edu.cn, register and submit all the application documents to apply. (See the picture below for the list of application documents.)
Step 4.
Please track the application process, comments and result on the scholarship website. CLEC (Center For Language Education And Cooperation) will complete the scholarship review and announce the results about three months before the program starts.
Step 5.
After receiving confirmation of studying in SHNU, the university will offer the registration documents.Students should register at university on the designated date as per the letter of admission.
IV. Application Deadline
Master of Chinese International Education, one-year program, one-semester program (autumn semester, 2025)
Deadline:May 15, 2025.
One-semester program (spring semester, 2026)
Deadline: October 31, 2025.
V. Contact Information
International Student Center, Shanghai Normal University
Address：International Student Center, No.100, Guilin road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200234
Tel：+86-21-64323905
E-mail：samli@staff.shnu.edu.cn
Division of Test and Scholarships of CLEC (Center For Language Education And Cooperation)
Email: scholarships@chinese.cn
Fax: +86-10-58595727
Website for Scholarship：http://cis.chinese.cn
Website for HSK test：https://www.chinesetest.cn/HSK
VI. Coverage
International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship supports tuition, accommodation, living allowance and comprehensive medical insurance.
Tuition: the tuition fee is waived.
Accommodation: free on-campus accommodation(double room) is provided. Students may also live off-campus upon application and approval from the university. Students who live off-campus are entitled to an accommodation allowance of RMB 700.00 per person/month paid on a monthly basis.
Living allowance: the students will be entitled to a living allowance on a monthly basis. The monthly allowance for non-degree students is RMB2,500.00 per person /per month. For master student, the allowance is RMB3,000.00 per person/ per month.
Comprehensive Medical Insurance:The comprehensive medical insurance is purchased by the university in accordance with applicable regulations on overseas students stipulated by the Ministry of Education of China. The insurance premium for one-semester study program students is RMB400 per person, and that for students studying more than one year is RMB800 per person /per year.
VII. Notice
1. Students must register with the university within the period stipulated in the Letter of Admission. Those who fail to register on time, fail to pass the health assessment, drop out midway and/or suspended from school will be deprived of their scholarship. Students registered before the15th (inclusive) of the month are entitled to the full allowance of that month, while those registered after the 15th are entitled to half of the amount.
2. During the study period, for any student who leaves China for more than 15 days for personal reasons (excluding winter and summer vacations), the living allowance during the period of absence from China will be suspended.
3. For students who are suspended or withdrawn from school for personal reasons, or is subject to disciplinary action, the living allowance from the date of suspension, withdrawal, or notification of disciplinary action will be suspended.
4. The living allowance for graduating student will be granted until half a month after the graduation date.
VIII. The Annual Assessment
Degree students are subject to the annual assessment according to the Annual Assessment Procedure of the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship. The annual assessment is based on the comprehensive evaluations of academic performance, Chinese proficiency, attendance and participation in cultural activities and so on. Those who achieve excellence in the annual review can continue to have the full scholarship in the second year, and those who have achieved good will receive partial scholarships, and the rest will be suspended from scholarship.
