Confucius Institute Scholarship

Application Guide for International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship 2020

For the purpose of cultivating qualified International Chinese language teachers and facilitating Chinese language education in other countries, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (CIH) will continue with the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute Scholarship) Confucius Institutes, independently operated Confucius Classrooms, certain HSK test centers, Chinese language (education) departments of foreign universities, professional associations for Chinese language instruction of other countries, Chinese embassies (consulates) abroad (collectively “recommending institutions”) may recommend outstanding students and currently-employed Chinese language teachers to study International Chinese Language Education or related majors in Chinese universities and colleges (“host institutions”).
 

ELIGIBILITY

All applicants shall be:
a) non-Chinese citizens;
b) in good physical and mental conditions, and with good academic performance and conduct;
c) committed to the Chinese language education and related work;
d) between the ages of 16 and 35 (as of September 1st, 2020). Applicants currently working as Chinese language teachers shall not be over 45, while undergraduate student applicants shall not be over 25.

SCHOLARSHIP TYPES AND QUALIFICATIONS

A. Scholarship for Doctor’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (DTCSOL)
The program commences in September 2020 and provides scholarship for a maximum four academic years. Applicants shall hold a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Linguistics, Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages or education-related majors. Applicants shall have a minimum score of 200 on the HSK Test(Level 6), 60 on the HSKK test (Advanced Level) and more than 2 years’ work experience in Chinese language teaching and related fields. Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.

B. Scholarship for Master’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL)
The program commences in September 2020 and provides scholarship for a maximum of two academic years. Applicants shall hold a Bachelor’s degree, and have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 5) as well as 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level). Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.

C. Scholarship for Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (BTCSOL) 
The program commences in September 2020 and provides scholarship for a maximum of four academic years. Applicants shall hold a senior high school diploma and a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 4) as well as 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).

D. Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Study
The program commences in September 2020, and provides scholarship for a maximum of eleven months. International students currently studying in China are not eligible.
i. TCSOL
Applicants shall have a minimum score of 270 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.
ii. Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy, etc.
Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 4) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).
iii. Chinese Language Study
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.

E. Scholarship for One-Semester Study
The program commences either in September 2020 or March 2021, and provides scholarship of a maximum of five months. Applicants holding the X1 or X2 visa are not eligible.
i. TCSOL, Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy, etc.
Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.
ii. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taiji Culture
An HSK test score is required. Priority will be given to applicants who provide an HSKK test score.

F. Scholarship for Four-Week Study
The program commences either in July or December 2020, and provides a four-week scholarship. Applicants holding the X1 or X2 visa are not eligible.
i. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taiji Culture, Chinese Language plus Home-Stay Experience in a Chinese Family, Special Four-week Program for Confucius Institutes
An HSK test score is required. The program may be organized and applied for by a Confucius Institute with 10-15 participants per group. Prior to the trip, a detailed study plan shall be made in consultation with host institutions and such plan shall be submitted to CIH for approval.

G. Cooperative Scholarships
i. Cooperative Scholarship between CIH and Host Institutions. CIH has established a scholarship in cooperation with some host institutions. Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Study, Scholarship for MTCSOL and Scholarship for BTCSOL shall be enrolled by the relevant institutions according to the standards stipulated in this Guide. Scholarship for “Chinese + Vocational Training” shall be enrolled according to the standards announced by the relevant institutions in the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship Application System (the categories and enrollment quota of relevant institutions are listed in Appendix 3).

ii. Cooperative Scholarship between CIH and Educational Departments and Universities of Other Countries. The enrollment methods, quota and forms of support under this scholarship will be updated on the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship application website.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Online registration will be available from March 1, 2020 on the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship application website (cis.chinese.cn). Please log on to search for recommending institutions and host institutions; upload application materials online; and track the application progress, comments and result. Scholarship holders need to confirm with the host institutions to go through the procedures of studying in China, print out the scholarship certificate online, and register at host institutions on the designated date as per the letter of admission.
The application deadlines (Beijing Time) are:
a) For programs commencing in July, student application must complete before April 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before April 20th;
b) For programs commencing in September, student application must complete before May 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before May 20th;
Affected by coronavirus pandemic, HSK Test Centers worldwide have gradually cancelled the HSK and HSKK tests since February. Some International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship applicants were unable to get the score reports, which affected applying for scholarships before May 10th, the Confucius Institute Headquarters hereby extend the deadline for September 2020 admission to June 30th.
c) For programs commencing in December, student application must complete before September 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before September 20th;
d) For programs commencing in March 2021, student application must complete before November 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before November 20th.
CIH will entrust an expert panel to review the applications. Decisions will be made based on HSK and HSKK scores and levels, and in consideration of country distribution as well as other factors. The results will be published about three months before school starts.

CHINESE BRIDGE AWARD RECIPIENT POLICIES

Chinese Bridge winners who have been awarded the 2020 Confucius Institute Scholarship Certificate shall log onto the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship website and submit documents to relevant host institutions upon presentation of their scholarship certificates. For inquiry, please contact chinesebridge@hanban.org.

RECOMMENDING INSTITUTIONS AND HOST INSTITUTIONS

Recommending institutions and host institutions shall, pursuant to the Guide, fulfill relevant responsibility, provide consulting, recommendation and enrollment services.
 

OTHERS

a) Please contact host institutions for curriculum and course listings.
b) Applicants shall be familiar with the specific criteria and deadlines for registration, and submit necessary documents according to specific requirements.
c) Degree students are subject to the annual assessment according to the Annual Appraisal Procedures of Confucius Institute Scholarship.
d) 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.
  

Appendix 1

International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship Coverage and Criteria
The scholarship provides full coverage on tuition fee, accommodation fee, living allowance (four-week study students are excluded) and comprehensive medical insurance expenses.

a) Tuition is under the overall planning and utilization of host institutions to provide teaching and management of scholarship students organizing cultural and social activities, as well as organizing Chinese language proficiency tests. Tuition fee does not cover the textbook expenses and tourist tickets.

b) Accommodation fee is under the overall planning and utilization of host institutions to provide students with in-campus apartments (usually double rooms). Students may also live off-campus upon application and getting permission from the host institutions. Students who live off-campus are entitled to accommodation allowance of 1000 CNY per person/month for doctoral students and 700 CNY per person/month for other students paid on a monthly / quarterly basis from the host institutions.

c) Living allowance is granted by host institutions on a monthly basis. The monthly allowance for undergraduates, one-academic-year study students and one-semester students is 2,500 CNY per person. For MTCSOL student, the monthly allowance is 3,000 CNY per person. For DTCSOL student, the monthly allowance is 3500 CNY per person.

Students are required to complete enrollment procedures for every semester within stipulated period; otherwise, their scholarship may be cancelled. Students who are enrolled before the 15th (or on the 15th) of the month are entitled to the full allowance of that month while those enrolled after the 15th of that month are only entitled to half of the amount.

During the study period, for any student who is absent from China due to personal reasons for more than 15 days (excluding winter and summer holidays), the allowance during absence will be suspended.

For students who suspend study or drop out of school for personal reasons, or who are given disciplinary punishment by the host institutions, allowance will be terminated on the date of such suspension, dropping out or when the decision of such punishment is announced.

The living allowance for the month of graduation will be granted half a month after the date of graduation or expiration day of the study confirmed by host institutions.

Comprehensive medical insurance is purchased by the host institutions in accordance with relevant regulations of studying in China stipulated by the Ministry of Education of China. Insurance fee per person is 160 CNY for four-week study students, 400 CNY for one-semester students, and 800 CNY per year for students engaged in program longer than one academic year.

Appendix 2

Application Documents for International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship

A. For all applicants 
a) a scanned copy of passport photo page;
b) a scanned copy of score reports of the HSK and HSKK tests (within the two-year validity);
c) a reference letter by the head of the recommending institutions.

B. For degree scholarship program applicants
a) a certification of the highest education diploma (or proof of expected graduation) and an official transcript;
b) applicants of the Scholarship for DTCSOL students are required to provide 2 reference letters from professors or associate professors or experts with equivalent professional and technical titles in relevant fields and a 3000-character personal statement in Chinese (including knowledge of the intended field of study and research proposal). Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.
c) applicants of the Scholarship for MTCSOL students are required to provide 2 reference letters from professors or associate professors. Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.

Applicants currently working as Chinese language teachers shall provide proof of employment as well as a reference letter by the employer.

D. Applicants under the age of 18 shall provide certified documents of designation signed by their entrusted legal guardians in China.

Applicants shall also provide additional documents required by the host institutions.
 

Appendix 3

Categories and Enrollment Quota of Cooperative Scholarship between CIH and Host Institutions in 2020

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Contact Information

Division of Test and Scholarships at Hanban
Email: scholarships@hanban.org
Fax: +86-10-58595727

Groningen Confucius Institute, in English or Chinese for a recommendation.
Contact person： Ms. Jingfan Xie
Email: j.xie@confuciusgroningen.nl

Please note: Groningen Confucius Institute (GCI) only provides assistance and consultation in the issuance of recommendation letters, host institution recommendations and online application. Decisions on the award of a scholarship shall be made by the host institution and the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) .