Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027 for Pakistani Students

By ask2mudasar · Updated 16 October 2026 · How we verify

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027: fully funded study in China

The Chinese Government Scholarship, run by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), pays for a bachelor's, master's or PhD at a Chinese university: tuition, a room on campus, medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Pakistani students can apply through two routes.

• Type A (bilateral, through HEC): HEC nominates Pakistani students to CSC. For 2026-27, CSC gave HEC 75 seats: 35 bachelor's, 25 master's and 15 PhD, and the HEC portal closed on 5 January 2026.
• Type B (university program): you apply directly to a Chinese university that has CSC seats, usually between December and April.

Quick facts

Provider	Government of China, through the China Scholarship Council
Levels	Bachelor's, master's, PhD, plus non-degree scholars
Funding	Tuition, accommodation, medical insurance, monthly stipend
Stipend	2,500 RMB (bachelor's) · 3,000 RMB (master's) · 3,500 RMB (PhD) a month
Pakistan routes	Type A via HEC · Type B via a Chinese university
Usual deadlines	Type A: early January · Type B: December – April, set by each university
New for undergraduates	China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is mandatory
Apply at	HEC (Type A) and the CSC online system (both routes)

CSC scholarship stipend and what it covers

A full CSC scholarship covers your degree and living costs in China; you pay only your flight and visa.

Level	Monthly stipend
Bachelor's	2,500 RMB
Master's	3,000 RMB
PhD	3,500 RMB

Also covered	Details
Tuition	Waived in full
Accommodation	Free university dormitory, or a monthly accommodation subsidy
Medical insurance	Comprehensive insurance (800 RMB a year, paid by the scholarship)
Chinese language year	Students in Chinese-taught programmes get a preparatory year of Chinese first

The stipend is paid monthly by your university. International flights are not covered.

Eligibility for Pakistani students

You must be a Pakistani citizen (not a Chinese citizen), in good health, and within the age limit for your level.

Level	Age limit	Required qualification	Pakistani equivalent
Bachelor's	Under 25	High school diploma with good results	Intermediate (FSc, ICS, FA) or A Levels
Master's	Under 35	Bachelor's degree	16-year BS / MSc
PhD	Under 40	Master's degree	MS / MPhil

Language:

• English-taught programmes: meet the university's English requirement (IELTS, TOEFL or a medium-of-instruction letter, depending on the university).
• Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 3 for bachelor's, HSK 4 for master's and PhD.

Bachelor's applicants must take the CSCA. From the 2026-27 intake, the China Scholastic Competency Assessment is mandatory for all undergraduate applicants, including those nominated by HEC.

Required documents

CSC rejects incomplete applications, and the medical form and police certificate take time, so start with those.

• CSC online application form (printed from the CSC system after you submit)
• Passport valid for at least 12 months after your study start date
• Highest degree, notarised (current students: an expected-graduation certificate)
• Transcripts / detailed marks certificates, notarised
• Language proof: IELTS/TOEFL or English-medium letter, or HSK for Chinese-taught programmes
• Study or research plan: at least 200 words for bachelor's and 1,000 words for master's and PhD
• Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors (master's and PhD)
• Pre-admission or acceptance letter from a Chinese professor or university (master's and PhD; strongly recommended for Type B)
• Foreigner Physical Examination Form, completed within six months
• Police character certificate (non-criminal record), issued within six months
• CSCA result (bachelor's applicants)

For Type A HEC may ask for additional documents in its call. Follow HEC's list exactly.

How to apply for the CSC scholarship from Pakistan

Type A: through HEC

1. Watch HEC's scholarships page from November. The 2026-27 call closed on 5 January 2026, so expect the 2027-28 call around November–December 2026.
2. Apply on the HEC scholarship portal before its deadline.
3. Complete the CSC online application with the agency number HEC gives you, and upload your documents.
4. HEC shortlists and nominates candidates to CSC within its seat quota (75 seats in 2026-27).
5. CSC makes the final decision and places you at a university; results usually come in July–August.

Type B: directly through a Chinese university

1. Pick universities that offer CSC (Chinese University Program) seats in your field, and check each one's deadline and agency number.
2. Email a professor (master's and PhD) with your CV and research plan to ask for a pre-admission letter.
3. Apply on the university's own portal if it has one, then fill in the CSC online application with that university's agency number.
4. Post or upload documents as the university instructs.
5. The university shortlists you and recommends you to CSC; results usually come in June–August.

Typical timeline

Stage	Type A (HEC)	Type B (university)
Applications	November – early January	December – April
Shortlisting	January – March	February – May
CSC results	July – August	June – August
Arrival in China	September	September

Timings are typical patterns; always follow HEC's call and each university's notice.

Tips for a stronger CSC application

For master's and PhD, a supervisor's pre-admission letter is the single biggest advantage, because the university has already chosen you.

• Contact professors early (October–December). Read two of their recent papers and explain in a short email how your research fits their lab.
• Write a real research plan. For master's and PhD: question, method, data and expected result in 1,000+ words, matched to the professor's work.
• Choose universities realistically. Top-ranked universities get the most applications; strong programmes at mid-ranked universities often have more CSC seats.
• Bachelor's applicants: prepare for the CSCA as seriously as an entry test.
• Get the medical form and police certificate done in December, so they are valid for both routes.

Common mistakes

• Using the wrong agency number in the CSC system, which sends your file to the wrong place.
• Uploading unclear scans, or documents that are not notarised.
• Sending one generic research plan to every university.

Scam warning: CSC does not sell seats, and agents who charge for "guaranteed" CSC scholarships cannot influence its decision. Some universities charge a small application fee; pay it only on the university's official portal. Check offers with our Scam check.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CSC Type A and Type B? Type A is the bilateral route: HEC nominates Pakistani students to CSC. Type B is the university route: you apply directly to a Chinese university, which recommends you to CSC.

How many CSC scholarships does HEC get? For 2026-27, 75 seats: 35 bachelor's, 25 master's and 15 PhD.

Is the CSC scholarship fully funded? Yes. It covers tuition, accommodation, medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Flights are not included.

How much is the CSC stipend? 2,500 RMB a month for bachelor's, 3,000 RMB for master's and 3,500 RMB for PhD.

What is the age limit for the Chinese Government Scholarship? Under 25 for bachelor's, under 35 for master's and under 40 for PhD.

Is IELTS required for the CSC scholarship? Not by CSC itself. English-taught programmes set their own English requirement; many accept a medium-of-instruction letter.

Is HSK required? Only for Chinese-taught programmes: HSK 3 for bachelor's and HSK 4 for master's and PhD.

Can I get an MPhil scholarship in China? China does not have a separate MPhil. Apply for a master's (usually 2–3 years), which HEC treats as the 18-year level; confirm equivalence with HEC for your field.

When is the CSC 2027 deadline? Type A follows HEC's call, which closed in early January in 2026. Type B deadlines are set by each university, mostly December to April.

Sources

We checked these sources on 16 October 2026:

• HEC – Chinese Government Scholarship Program: 75 seats (35/25/15), 5 January 2026 deadline, CSCA mandatory for undergraduates, HEC handles Type A only
• China Daily Study in China – Application guide for the Chinese Government Scholarship (August 2025): coverage, stipends, age limits, language rules, documents, programme types
• Campus China – Introduction to Chinese Government Scholarships: official CSC page (did not load when checked)

Last checked against official sources on 16 October 2026. Always confirm dates and requirements on the official website before applying.