Language teaching

International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (formerly Confucius Institute Scholarship)

Funds foreign students to learn Chinese, take a BA or MA in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages, or do short residential courses. Six categories carry six different HSK thresholds, from HSK 2 (120) to HSK 5 (180) — picking the wrong category is the single most common reason applications fail.

Official portal ↗ All scholarships

What it covers

  • Tuition waived in full, with the host university covering HSK/HSKK testing and cultural activities
  • Free twin room on campus, or a CNY 700/month off-campus allowance
  • Stipend: CNY 2,500/month for bachelor and visiting students, 3,000 for MTCSOL students
  • Comprehensive medical insurance: CNY 800 per person per year

Amounts and standards

MTCSOL (2 years)Full tuition + housing + CNY 3,000/month + insurance, roughly CNY 74,000 a year
BA in teaching Chinese (4 years)Full tuition + housing + CNY 2,500/month + insurance, roughly CNY 64,000 a year
One-academic-year course (11 months)Full tuition + housing + CNY 2,500/month + insurance
One-semester / four-week courseSame package, stipend paid for the months in residence

Who is eligible

  • Generally 16–35 years old; in-service Chinese teachers up to 45; bachelor applicants must be under 20
  • MTCSOL: bachelor’s degree, HSK 5 (180) and HSKK intermediate (50); a teaching contract is an advantage
  • One year of Chinese + MTCSOL (3 years): HSK 3 (180) and HSKK elementary (60), plus an agreement with a Confucius Institute or employer
  • BA in teaching Chinese: high school diploma, HSK 3 (180) and HSKK intermediate (40)
  • One-year course: HSK 3 (180) + HSKK elementary (60), or BCT (A) 180 + BCT speaking 180; not open to students already in China
  • One-semester course: HSK 2 (120) + HSKK elementary (40), or BCT (A) 100 + BCT speaking 120, with no prior study in China
  • Four-week course: an HSK or BCT report and no prior study in China; aimed at Confucius Institute students and top test takers

How to apply

  1. 1

    Register at cis.chinese.cn

    Complete the application form and upload HSK/HSKK or BCT results, diploma, passport and study plan.

  2. 2

    Get a recommending institution

    One of: a Confucius Institute or Classroom, an overseas Chinese test centre, the education office of a Chinese embassy or consulate, or the host university itself.

  3. 3

    Institution verifies and forwards

    Once the file is confirmed valid it goes to the host university, which screens academic eligibility and submits a pre-admission list.

  4. 4

    CLEC reviews

    Awards are made on merit; results are normally issued within 45 working days of a valid file.

  5. 5

    Host university sends documents

    Within 15 working days of confirmation: admission notice, JW202 visa form and scholarship certificate.

Deadline and timing

Rolling intake, with main rounds in March–May for September entry and September–November for March entry. Four-week courses need a separate class request three months ahead.

Since 2020 the scheme is run by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) under its current name. Thresholds and categories are adjusted each year — always read the circular for your intake.

Source: campuschina.org · Last verified 2026-10-19