The Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS) is an important scholarship program for international students who want to study or conduct research at universities and research institutions in Beijing, China.
The scholarship supports both newly admitted international students and eligible students who are already studying in Beijing.
Under the current official Beijing Government Scholarship framework, funding is divided into three categories:
Category A – Tuition, accommodation, living expenses and medical insurance
Category B – Tuition, accommodation and medical insurance
Category C – Tuition and medical insurance
International students preparing for the 2027 intake should understand these scholarship categories, eligibility requirements, academic standards, language requirements and university-specific application procedures before applying.
Beijing Government Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
| Item | Current Official Framework |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS) |
| Location | Beijing, China |
| Applicants | International Students |
| Degree Levels | Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD |
| Other Categories | Preparatory, Visiting and Research Scholars |
| Scholarship Categories | Category A, Category B and Category C |
| Category A | Tuition + Accommodation + Living Expenses + Medical Insurance |
| Category B | Tuition + Accommodation + Medical Insurance |
| Category C | Tuition + Medical Insurance |
| Application Route | Through Participating Beijing Institution |
| Application Deadline | Determined by Each Institution |
| Final 2027 Availability | Check Individual University Notice |
| Official Authority | Beijing Municipal Government / Studying in Beijing |
The final scholarship category offered to an applicant is determined by the host institution according to its evaluation process and available scholarship arrangements.
What Is the Beijing Government Scholarship?
The Beijing Government Scholarship was established to support outstanding international students studying or conducting research at higher education institutions and research institutes in Beijing.
Applicants apply through their intended host institution rather than submitting one general application to all Beijing universities.
The host institution reviews applications, conducts its own assessments where necessary and determines successful scholarship recipients and scholarship categories.
Beijing Government Scholarship Category A
Category A provides the most comprehensive financial support under the current BGS framework.
It covers:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation fees
- Living expenses
- Comprehensive medical insurance
Recipients studying in university accommodation can receive exemption from eligible on-campus accommodation fees.
Students who receive institutional approval to live off campus may receive an accommodation allowance according to the applicable scholarship standards.
Living expenses are distributed by the host institution according to its scholarship procedures.
Category A Benefits
| Benefit | Category A |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Covered |
| Accommodation | Covered / Supported |
| Living Expenses | Included |
| Medical Insurance | Included |
Category A can therefore be considered the comprehensive or full funding category under the current Beijing Government Scholarship framework.
Applicants should not assume, however, that every participating institution offers Category A for every program or applicant group.
Beijing Government Scholarship Category B
Category B provides substantial financial support but does not include the regular living-expense component provided under Category A.
Current official coverage includes:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation fees
- Comprehensive medical insurance
Category B Benefits
| Benefit | Category B |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Covered |
| Accommodation | Covered / Supported |
| Living Expenses | Not Included Under Standard Category B Coverage |
| Medical Insurance | Included |
Beijing Government Scholarship Category C
Category C provides:
- Tuition fee support
- Comprehensive medical insurance
It does not provide the same accommodation and living support included in the higher scholarship categories.
Category C Benefits
| Benefit | Category C |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Covered |
| Accommodation | Not Included Under Standard Category C Coverage |
| Living Expenses | Not Included |
| Medical Insurance | Included |
Category A vs Category B vs Category C
| Scholarship Benefit | Category A | Category B | Category C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accommodation | Yes | Yes | No |
| Living Expenses | Yes | No | No |
| Medical Insurance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
This distinction is important.
Do not describe every Beijing Government Scholarship award as fully funded.
Category A provides the broadest coverage, while Categories B and C provide more limited support.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must generally be:
- Non-Chinese citizens
- In good physical health
- In good mental health
- Eligible for admission to the intended Beijing institution
- Able to meet the academic and language requirements of the scholarship and program
Both prospective students and qualifying current international students may be considered under the current BGS framework.
Age and Academic Qualification Requirements
The current official Beijing Government Scholarship procedure specifies the following age and qualification requirements.
| Applicant Type | Required Qualification | Maximum Age at Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | Senior secondary education or equivalent | 25 |
| Master’s | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent | 35 |
| PhD | Master’s degree or equivalent | 40 |
| Preparatory Student | Senior secondary education + pre-admission letter | 24 |
| Visiting Student | Bachelor-level qualification or current undergraduate/Master’s enrollment | 45 |
| Research Scholar | Master’s degree or above, or associate professor-level academic title | 50 |
Applicants must also meet the specific admission requirements established by their target institution.
Academic Performance Requirements
The current BGS framework sets different academic expectations for Category A and Categories B/C.
Category A
Applicants should, in principle:
- Have graduated from a university ranked within the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings
or, for applicants entering undergraduate study:
- Have graduated from a key senior secondary school in their home country
and generally have:
- An average score of at least 85
or
- A GPA of at least 3.6
Current students applying for Category A should generally have achieved an average score of at least 85 during the previous academic year.
Category B and Category C
Applicants should, in principle, come from:
- A key university
- A key research institute
- A key senior secondary school, where applicable
and generally have:
- An average score of at least 80
or
- A GPA of at least 3.0
Current students applying for Category B or C should generally have achieved an average score of at least 80 in the previous academic year.
What If You Do Not Meet These Exact Academic Standards?
The official procedure allows institutions to consider exceptional circumstances.
Applicants who do not fully meet the normal academic criteria may submit additional evidence demonstrating strong:
- Academic ability
- Research potential
- Professional achievements
- Other relevant strengths
The final decision is made by the host institution through its scholarship review process.
Chinese Language Requirements
For programs taught in Chinese, the current official requirements generally include:
Preparatory and visiting programs:
HSK Level 3 or above
Degree programs:
HSK Level 4 or above
A university or individual academic program may apply additional language requirements.
Always check the exact admission guide for your intended degree.
English-Taught Programs
Applicants to programs taught in English or another foreign language must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the language of instruction.
For English-taught programs, non-native English speakers are generally expected to provide recognized English proficiency evidence.
For Category A applicants, the current official BGS procedure specifies:
TOEFL:
Minimum 85
or
IELTS:
Minimum 6.5
or another equivalent recognized form of English-language proficiency.
Individual universities and departments may have additional requirements.
Recommendation Letters
Applicants for:
- Master’s programs
- Doctoral programs
- Research scholar programs
must submit two recommendation letters.
The letters should be written in Chinese or English by referees holding the academic title of:
Associate Professor or above
in a relevant academic field.
Can You Receive BGS With Another Scholarship?
Under the current official Beijing Government Scholarship rules, applicants must not simultaneously receive other scholarships provided by:
- Chinese government bodies
- Social organizations
- The admitting institution
One-time awards are excluded from this restriction.
If you receive multiple scholarship offers, confirm the funding rules with your university before accepting them.
Scholarship Duration
For degree students, scholarship funding generally cannot exceed the standard duration of the degree program.
This applies to:
- Bachelor’s students
- Master’s students
- Doctoral students
Doctoral students who cannot complete their program within the standard duration because of special circumstances may apply for an extension of BGS funding according to the applicable procedure.
For non-degree students:
Preparatory students:
Up to one academic year
Visiting students:
Up to one academic year
Research scholars:
Up to one academic year
Do All Beijing Universities Offer All Three Categories?
No.
The municipal framework defines Categories A, B and C, but individual institutions determine which scholarship categories are available for particular students and programs.
For example, Beijing Normal University’s 2026–2027 scholarship notice for current international students offered Category B and Category C awards.
Therefore:
University participation does not automatically mean every applicant can apply for Category A.
Always check your target university’s latest scholarship notice.
Documents Required
There is no single identical document checklist for every Beijing university.
The current municipal procedure instructs applicants to follow the requirements of their intended institution.
Common university admission and scholarship documents may include:
- Passport
- Highest degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Application form
- Academic CV
- Study plan or research proposal
- Language proficiency certificate
- Recommendation letters
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form where required
- Non-Criminal Record Certificate where required
- University admission documents
- Additional scholarship forms required by the institution
Master’s, PhD and research scholar applicants should pay particular attention to the official two-recommendation-letter requirement.
Always follow your university’s final document checklist.
How to Apply for Beijing Government Scholarship 2027
The general application process is:
Step 1:
Choose a Beijing university or research institution.
Step 2:
Find your intended Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD or other eligible program.
Step 3:
Check whether the institution offers Beijing Government Scholarship for your applicant category.
Step 4:
Review Category A, B and C availability.
Step 5:
Check academic, age and language requirements.
Step 6:
Prepare all required documents.
Step 7:
Complete the university or institution’s international student application.
Step 8:
Apply for or select Beijing Government Scholarship according to the institution’s instructions.
Step 9:
Complete any admission examination, interview or institutional assessment where required.
Step 10:
Wait for the university’s scholarship evaluation and admission result.
Where Do You Apply?
Applicants apply directly through their intended Beijing institution.
There is no need to send one general scholarship application to every Beijing university.
The official Beijing guidance directs students to:
Studying in Beijing
where they can search for institutions, programs and scholarship information.
After choosing an institution, applicants should follow that institution’s international admission procedure.
Beijing Government Scholarship 2027 Deadline
There is no single BGS deadline covering every university.
The official Beijing procedure states that:
Application deadlines are determined by individual institutions.
Therefore, one university may close applications earlier or later than another.
For the 2027 intake, applicants should begin checking university admission websites from late 2026 and continue monitoring them as 2027 application announcements are released.
Do not use an old deadline as the confirmed 2027 deadline.
Do You Need an Acceptance Letter From a Professor?
A professor acceptance letter is not listed as a universal Beijing Government Scholarship requirement.
However, Master’s and particularly PhD programs may have:
- Supervisor requirements
- Research-group requirements
- Pre-admission procedures
- Department-specific conditions
For research-based programs, finding a suitable supervisor may still strengthen your academic preparation.
Follow the exact requirement of your target department.
Is Beijing Government Scholarship Fully Funded?
The correct answer depends on the scholarship category.
Category A:
Comprehensive funding including tuition, accommodation, living expenses and medical insurance.
Category B:
Tuition, accommodation and medical insurance.
Category C:
Tuition and medical insurance.
Therefore, applicants should not simply describe BGS as one identical fully funded scholarship.
Always mention the scholarship category.
Annual Scholarship Review
BGS recipients undergo annual assessment by their host institutions.
The evaluation can consider:
- Academic performance
- Study attitude
- Attendance
- Conduct
- Overall performance
Students who fail the annual review may have their scholarship:
- Suspended
- Revoked
Institutions may also adjust scholarship categories according to review results and their internal procedures.
Why Study in Beijing?
Beijing is one of China’s largest higher education and research centers.
Students can find programs in areas including:
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Engineering
- Economics
- Business
- Finance
- Medicine
- Public Health
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Agriculture
- International Relations
- Law
- Languages
- Education
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
The city contains many major Chinese universities and national research institutions.
How to Choose a Beijing University
Do not select a university only because it is famous.
Use this sequence:
Degree → Major → Teaching Language → BGS Availability → Scholarship Category → Admission Requirements → Research/Supervisor Match → Deadline
For Master’s and PhD applicants, research compatibility should be an important consideration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Assuming BGS has only one scholarship category
- Calling every BGS award fully funded
- Assuming every university offers Category A
- Using outdated application deadlines
- Ignoring academic-score requirements
- Ignoring language requirements
- Submitting incomplete recommendation letters
- Applying without checking program eligibility
- Assuming one application covers every Beijing university
- Receiving overlapping scholarships without checking the rules
- Waiting until the final application week to prepare documents
Official Information
Applicants should use the official Studying in Beijing portal and the international admissions website of their selected university.
Official Beijing Government Scholarship Application Procedures
Official Studying in Beijing Portal
Official Scholarship Applications Portal
Final Advice
For Beijing Government Scholarship 2027, follow this sequence:
Choose University → Find Program → Check BGS Availability → Compare Category A, B & C → Check Eligibility → Prepare Documents → Submit University Application → Complete Scholarship Application → Monitor Results
Category A is the most comprehensive scholarship category.
However, scholarship availability depends on the individual institution, degree level, program and scholarship quota.
Start preparing before the final 2027 university announcements are released.
Important Note
This guide is prepared for international students planning to apply for the Beijing Government Scholarship 2027.
As of September 2026, the official Beijing Municipal Government has published the current Beijing Government Scholarship application procedures, but final 2027 admission notices and deadlines have not yet been released by every participating university.
Applicants should therefore use the current framework for preparation and confirm the final scholarship category, program availability, deadline and document requirements from their selected university when the official 2027 admission notice is published.
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