After preparing your main scholarship documents, the next step is to complete the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) online application.
Applicants submit their scholarship information through the official Chinese Government Scholarship Information System and, for many university-based programs, may also need to submit a separate application through the selected university’s admission portal.
This guide explains how to fill the CSC Scholarship online application form for 2027–2028, including Program Category, Agency Number, personal information, study details, document uploads and final submission.
Before You Start
Prepare your basic information and documents before opening the application.
| Information | Prepare Before Applying |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid passport details and scanned copy |
| University | Confirm your target Chinese university |
| Program | Master’s, PhD or other eligible program |
| Agency Number | Confirm from the official university notice |
| Program Category | Usually Type B for university-based CSC applications |
| Education | Previous degree and university information |
| Language | HSK, IELTS, TOEFL or other details if applicable |
| Study Plan | Final Study Plan / Research Proposal |
| Documents | Clear scanned PDF/JPG files as required |
Do not guess the Agency Number or Program Category.
Where to Apply
The official CSC application is completed through the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (CGSIS).
Applicants can access the scholarship application through the official Campus China / Study in China platform.
Create an account and select:
Scholarship Application for Students
Always use the official CSC system rather than unofficial third-party application websites.
Step 1: Create Your CSC Account
Open the official CSC scholarship application system.
Select:
Create an Account
Register using an active email address that you regularly check.
After registration:
- Log in to your account.
- Open the scholarship application section.
- Complete your personal information before starting a new application.
Use an email address that you expect to keep throughout the entire admission process.
Step 2: Complete Personal Details
Open:
Edit Personal Details
Enter your information exactly according to your official documents.
This may include:
- Full name
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Passport number
- Passport validity
- Marital status
- Contact information
- Permanent address
- Current address
Your name and passport information should match your passport.
Avoid changing the spelling of your name between your:
- Passport
- CSC form
- University application
- Academic documents
After completing the information, save it before continuing.
Step 3: Select the Correct Program Category
When starting a new application, the system asks for the Program Category.
Two common categories applicants should understand are:
| Category | Common Application Route |
|---|---|
| Type A | Application through an Embassy, government authority or other designated dispatching authority |
| Type B | Application through a designated Chinese university |
For students applying directly to a Chinese university under programs such as the Chinese Government Scholarship High-Level Postgraduate Program, the category is commonly:
Type B
However, never select Type B simply because another student selected it.
Follow the scholarship notice issued by the university or authority through which you are applying.
Step 4: Enter the Agency Number
After choosing the Program Category, enter the correct:
Agency Number
An Agency Number is the identification code of the university or authority receiving your CSC application.
For example:
| University | Example Agency Number |
|---|---|
| Chongqing University | 10611 |
| Southwest University | 10635 |
| Xiamen University | 10384 |
| Huazhong University of Science and Technology | 10487 |
These examples are only for understanding the system.
You must verify the Agency Number from the latest official scholarship notice of your target university before submitting your application.
Why Is the Agency Number Important?
The Program Category and Agency Number are directly matched in the CSC system.
After entering the Agency Number, the corresponding university or receiving agency should appear automatically.
Check the displayed university name carefully.
If you intended to apply to one university but another institution appears, do not continue.
Correct the Agency Number first.
Step 5: Fill in Your Application Information
After confirming the Program Category and Agency Number, complete the scholarship application information.
The exact fields may vary slightly depending on the application cycle, but applicants generally provide information about:
- Preferred study level
- Major
- Teaching language
- Duration of study
- Previous education
- Employment experience, if applicable
- Language proficiency
- Study or research plan
Complete every required field carefully.
Selecting Your Degree
Choose the correct applicant category.
For example:
Master’s applicant → Master’s Degree
PhD applicant → Doctoral Degree
Do not select a non-degree Research Scholar category if you are actually applying for a degree program unless your scholarship notice specifically instructs you to do so.
Selecting Your Major
Use the major listed in your target university’s official CSC scholarship announcement.
The program name in CSC may sometimes appear slightly different from the wording on the university website.
Do not randomly choose a similar major.
If you cannot find the expected program, contact the university’s international admissions office before submitting.
Teaching Language
Select the correct teaching language for your intended program.
Common options include:
- Chinese
- English
Your selection should match the program listed by the university.
For example, if you are applying for an English-taught Master’s program, do not accidentally select Chinese as your preferred teaching language.
Step 6: Add Language Proficiency Information
The CSC system includes a section for language proficiency.
Depending on your program, you may provide information such as:
- HSK
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- Other recognized language qualifications
Enter only genuine test information.
Do not enter a score you have not officially received.
The scholarship system requirement and the university’s admission requirement may not always be identical, so also check your university’s language policy.
Step 7: Study Plan or Research Proposal
The system may request information related to your:
Study Plan / Research Proposal
Your plan should be consistent with:
- Your previous academic background
- Intended degree
- Selected major
- Research interests
- Prospective supervisor, where applicable
Do not describe one research area in the CSC form and submit a completely different Research Proposal as a supporting document.
We have already prepared a separate guide:
How to Write a Study Plan or Research Proposal for CSC Scholarship 2027–2028 | Step 4
Follow that guide when preparing this document.
Step 8: Upload Supporting Documents
Upload the documents requested by the system and your university.
Common documents may include:
- Passport copy
- Highest diploma
- Academic transcripts
- Study Plan / Research Proposal
- Recommendation letters
- Language certificate
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form
- Non-criminal record certificate
- Acceptance or pre-admission document, where required
- Other university-specific supporting documents
The exact document list differs by program and university.
Upload Clear Documents
All uploaded documents should be:
- Clear
- Complete
- Authentic
- Correctly oriented
- Easy to read
Avoid:
- Blurry phone photos
- Cut-off documents
- Missing pages
- Wrong files
- Password-protected PDFs
Check each uploaded file before moving to the next section.
Pay particular attention to the Program Category and Agency Number.
An incorrect combination can prevent the correct university or authority from receiving your application.
Step 9: Submit the CSC Application
Once everything has been checked, select:
Submit
Your application will then enter the CSC scholarship system.
After submission, follow the system instructions for downloading or printing your application form where available.
Save a copy for your records.
You may need the CSC application form or application number when completing your university application.
Can You Edit the Form After Submission?
Do not rely on being able to edit a submitted application freely.
The CSC system may allow an applicant to withdraw an application before it has entered certain processing stages, make corrections and resubmit it.
However, withdrawing an application unnecessarily can create problems close to the deadline.
The best approach is:
Check everything carefully before submission.
If your application is already being processed and you discover an important mistake, contact the receiving university or responsible authority before taking further action.
Important Rule for Type B Applicants
Current CSC system instructions state that an applicant can submit only one Type B application in an academic year.
Therefore, Type B applicants should confirm their intended university carefully before making the final submission.
Because application-system rules can be updated, applicants preparing for 2027–2028 should confirm this again when the final application instructions for that academic year are released.
Do You Also Need to Apply on the University Website?
Very often, yes.
Submitting the CSC application does not automatically mean that your university application is complete.
Many Chinese universities require applicants to submit through:
- CSC Scholarship System
- University International Student Application System
For example, current official scholarship notices from several Chinese universities require applicants to complete both systems.
The university portal may separately request:
- Personal information
- Academic documents
- CSC application form
- Supervisor information
- Application fee, where applicable
- Additional university documents
Always read the complete university scholarship notice.
CSC Portal vs University Portal
| CSC Portal | University Portal |
|---|---|
| Chinese Government Scholarship application | University admission application |
| Requires Program Category | Requires selected degree/program |
| Requires Agency Number | May require CSC application number/form |
| Used for CSC scholarship processing | Used for university review and admission |
| Operated through CSC | Operated by individual university |
Completing one portal does not necessarily replace the other.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these mistakes:
- Choosing the wrong Program Category
- Entering an incorrect Agency Number
- Applying to the wrong university in the system
- Selecting the wrong degree level
- Selecting a major not offered under the scholarship
- Uploading blurry documents
- Providing inconsistent passport information
- Uploading an outdated Study Plan
- Forgetting recommendation letters
- Submitting before checking the form
- Completing CSC but forgetting the university portal
- Waiting until the final day to submit
What Happens After Submission?
For university-based Type B programs, the general process is:
Applicant submits application → University reviews applications → University selects/recommends candidates → CSC conducts final review → Final scholarship results are announced
Some universities may also conduct:
- Academic review
- Interview
- Written examination
- Supervisor evaluation
Being recommended by a university does not automatically guarantee the final CSC scholarship.
Official CSC Application Information
Applicants should use the official:
Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (CGSIS)
Click Here to Visit Official Scholarship Website
and the:
Campus China / China Scholarship Council
Click here to Visit CSC Scholarship Portal
for scholarship applications.
Applicants must also check the latest scholarship announcement published by their selected Chinese university.
For the 2027–2028 intake, university deadlines, available programs, Agency Numbers and additional requirements should be confirmed from the final official announcement before submission.
Final Advice
Filling the CSC online application form is not difficult, but small mistakes can affect your application.
Before submitting, pay particular attention to:
Program Category → Agency Number → University → Degree → Major → Uploaded Documents
For most university-based CSC applications, applicants will commonly use Type B, but you should only select it when the official university announcement instructs you to do so.
Complete both the CSC portal and university application portal when required, save your submitted application form and keep checking your email for further instructions.
Important Note
This guide is prepared for applicants planning for the CSC Scholarship 2027–2028. The final 2027–2028 scholarship instructions may introduce changes to the system, available programs or application requirements. Always follow the latest official CSC and university announcements.
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