Bourse de l'Institut Confucius : financement intégral pour le chinois et l'enseignement du chinois

What it funds

CIS covers tuition, on-campus accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500. Awards run for one semester, one academic year, a full four-year bachelor's degree or a two-year master's in TCSOL, and are subject to annual review.

Award holders must maintain the required attendance and pass the annual assessment. Students in bachelor's and master's programmes also have to register for and pass HSK and HSKK examinations at defined stages.

Programme types

Chinese Language Study (one semester or one academic year) — HSK 2 or equivalent is usually enough to apply. Bachelor's in Chinese Language and Literature — HSK 4 required. Master's in TCSOL — HSK 5 or above plus an interview. There are also specialised one-year programmes in Chinese language and culture and in Chinese for business.

Some host universities also accept "Confucius Institute at partner institution" nominations, which carry a separate allocation of places and are often less competitive than the open route.

How to apply

Register at cis.chinese.cn, choose up to two host universities, upload your HSK/HSKK certificate, transcripts, a study plan and a physical examination form, and pay attention to the annual window — historically mid-February to late April for September entry, with a second window in September for the following February intake.

If you are applying for the master's in TCSOL, expect a written test and an interview conducted in Chinese. Preparation should include a short teaching demonstration.

Who should consider it

CIS is the strongest option if you want to become a Chinese teacher, work in cultural exchange, or build a career in translation and interpreting. Host universities include Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Fudan, Beijing Language and Culture University and most major provincial universities.