The scholarship was established by the Shanghai Municipal Government to attract outstanding international students to pursue higher education in Shanghai. The Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) is an important scholarship opportunity for international students who want to study at universities in Shanghai, China. Depending on the university and program, international students may apply for undergraduate, Master’s and PhD degree programs under the Shanghai Government Scholarship. The scholarship is generally divided into:
Type A – Full Scholarship and Type B – Partial Scholarship
Students preparing for the 2027 intake should understand the scholarship types, eligibility requirements, benefits and university application process before applications begin.
Shanghai Government Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
| Item | General Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) |
| Country | China |
| Study Location | Shanghai |
| Funded By | Shanghai Municipal Government |
| Degree Levels | Undergraduate, Master’s and PhD |
| Scholarship Types | Type A and Type B |
| Type A | Full Scholarship |
| Type B | Partial Scholarship |
| Application Route | Through participating Shanghai universities |
| 2027 Deadline | Depends on individual university |
| Study Language | Chinese or English depending on program |
| Official Source | Study in Shanghai / Participating Universities |
What Is the Shanghai Government Scholarship?
The Shanghai Government Scholarship was established to support outstanding international students studying at higher education institutions in Shanghai.
Shanghai is home to many major Chinese universities and research institutions.
The scholarship allows participating universities to select qualified international applicants according to their academic background, program requirements and available scholarship quota.
Applicants do not simply apply to “Shanghai” in general.
In most cases, students first choose a participating university and degree program and then follow that university’s Shanghai Government Scholarship application procedure.
Shanghai Government Scholarship Type A
Type A is generally the full scholarship category.
Current official Shanghai university guidance shows that Type A can include:
- Tuition fee waiver
- Accommodation support
- Monthly living allowance
- Comprehensive medical insurance
At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the official Shanghai Government Scholarship information currently describes Type A as covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses and comprehensive medical insurance for the relevant study period.
Type A may be available for undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral students depending on the university and program.
Some universities may also offer support for a preparatory study period where applicable.
Type A Scholarship Benefits
| Benefit | Type A |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Covered |
| Accommodation | Covered or supported according to university rules |
| Living Allowance | Included |
| Medical Insurance | Included |
| Degree Study | Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD depending on university |
The exact accommodation arrangement and financial amount must be checked from the university offering the scholarship.
How Much Is the Monthly Stipend?
The stipend should be checked against the latest university scholarship notice.
For example, Fudan University’s official 2026 Shanghai Government Scholarship notice provided the following monthly living allowances for graduate scholarship recipients:
Master’s students:
RMB 3,000 per month
Doctoral students:
RMB 3,500 per month
These figures are useful for understanding the current scholarship structure, but applicants should not assume that the 2027 amounts or implementation will be identical at every Shanghai university.
Always check your target university’s 2027 scholarship notice.
Shanghai Government Scholarship Type B
Type B is generally the partial scholarship category.
Current official guidance from Shanghai Jiao Tong University states that Type B includes:
- Tuition fee support
- Comprehensive medical insurance
Type B normally does not provide the same complete living and accommodation package as Type A.
Type A vs Type B
| Benefit | Type A | Type B |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Yes | Yes |
| Accommodation Support | Yes | Normally No |
| Living Allowance | Yes | Normally No |
| Medical Insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Scholarship Level | Full | Partial |
University implementation may differ slightly, so always follow the current scholarship notice of your selected institution.
Who Can Apply?
General eligibility requirements commonly include the following.
Nationality
Applicants must normally be:
Non-Chinese citizens
and should be in good physical and mental health.
Undergraduate Applicants
Current Shanghai university scholarship rules commonly require undergraduate applicants to:
- Have completed high school
- Meet university admission requirements
- Meet the required language conditions
- Have a strong academic record
Shanghai Jiao Tong University currently states an age limit of no more than 25 years for undergraduate applicants under its Shanghai Government Scholarship rules.
Master’s Applicants
Applicants normally need:
- A Bachelor’s degree
- Strong academic performance
- Required language proficiency
- To meet the university/program admission criteria
Current SJTU scholarship guidance states that Master’s applicants should normally be no older than 35.
PhD Applicants
Applicants generally need:
- A Master’s degree
- Appropriate academic or research background
- Strong academic performance
- Required language proficiency
- To meet department and university requirements
Current SJTU guidance sets an age limit of no more than 40 for doctoral applicants.
Eligibility at a Glance
| Degree | Typical Previous Qualification | Current SJTU Age Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | High School | ≤25 |
| Master’s | Bachelor’s Degree | ≤35 |
| PhD | Master’s Degree | ≤40 |
These are current official reference requirements and should be rechecked for your target university and the 2027 intake.
Academic Requirements
The Shanghai Government Scholarship is competitive.
Universities normally evaluate applicants based on factors such as:
- Academic performance
- Previous degree
- Research ability
- Study plan or research proposal
- Language proficiency
- Recommendation letters
- Program compatibility
- Overall admission performance
Meeting minimum eligibility conditions does not guarantee a scholarship.
Language Requirements
Language requirements depend on the university and program.
For Chinese-taught programs, universities may require:
- HSK certification
For English-taught programs, universities may require:
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- Previous English-medium education evidence
- Other university-approved proof
The required score can differ between universities and degree programs.
Do not assume that one HSK, IELTS or TOEFL requirement applies to all Shanghai universities.
Do You Need an Acceptance Letter?
An acceptance letter from a professor is not a universal requirement for every Shanghai Government Scholarship application.
For research-based Master’s and PhD programs, however, identifying a suitable supervisor can be useful and some departments may request supervisor approval or related supporting material.
Applicants should check:
Program requirements → Department requirements → Supervisor requirements → Scholarship notice
before contacting professors.
Documents Commonly Required
The exact 2027 checklist will depend on the university.
Commonly requested documents can include:
- Passport copy
- Highest degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Study plan or research proposal
- Recommendation letters
- Language proficiency certificate
- Academic CV
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form
- Non-Criminal Record Certificate
- University application form
- Shanghai Government Scholarship application form where required
- Supervisor or pre-admission documents where required
- Additional program-specific documents
Applicants should prepare clear and properly certified documents according to university instructions.
How to Apply for Shanghai Government Scholarship 2027
The general application process is:
Step 1:
Choose a participating Shanghai university.
Step 2:
Find an eligible undergraduate, Master’s or PhD program.
Step 3:
Read the university’s international admission guide.
Step 4:
Check whether Shanghai Government Scholarship is available for your program.
Step 5:
Check whether you are applying for Type A, Type B or being considered automatically for available scholarship categories.
Step 6:
Prepare all required documents.
Step 7:
Complete the university’s online international student application.
Step 8:
Select or indicate Shanghai Government Scholarship where instructed.
Step 9:
Upload the scholarship application form or additional documents if the university requires them.
Step 10:
Submit before the university-specific deadline and monitor the application system for results.
Is There One SGS Application Portal?
Applicants should follow the procedure published by their chosen university.
Universities may use their own international student admission platforms and scholarship procedures.
For example, Fudan University’s 2026 scholarship instructions required applicants to complete the university’s online application and select the Shanghai Government Scholarship option.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University similarly directs applicants to its international student application system.
Therefore, do not submit documents through a random third-party scholarship website.
When Will Shanghai Government Scholarship 2027 Open?
There is no single application deadline for every university.
Application periods differ significantly between institutions and programs.
For reference, during the 2026 cycle:
Fudan University opened its graduate Shanghai Government Scholarship application from October 2025 to December 2025.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University accepted Shanghai Government Scholarship applications for different international programs through different deadlines extending into early 2026.
This means students targeting the 2027 intake should begin monitoring universities from late 2026.
Do not treat previous deadlines as confirmed 2027 deadlines.
Recommended Preparation Timeline
September–October 2026:
Shortlist universities and programs.
October–December 2026:
Monitor universities for 2027 admission and scholarship announcements.
Late 2026–Early 2027:
Prepare and submit applications according to each university’s deadline.
Always follow the exact dates published by your selected university.
Can You Apply for SGS and CSC?
Shanghai Government Scholarship and Chinese Government Scholarship are separate scholarship programs.
Individual universities may allow applicants to be considered through different scholarship routes during admission.
However, scholarship recipients generally cannot simultaneously receive overlapping Chinese government scholarship funding.
For example, current Shanghai Government Scholarship eligibility information published by Shanghai Jiao Tong University states that applicants should not simultaneously receive other Chinese Government scholarships.
Check your university’s rules carefully before accepting multiple scholarship awards.
Is Shanghai Government Scholarship Fully Funded?
Type A can correctly be described as a full scholarship because current official university guidance includes:
Tuition + Accommodation + Living Allowance + Medical Insurance
Type B is a partial scholarship because its support is more limited.
Therefore, students should always identify the scholarship category before describing an SGS award as fully funded.
Is There an Application Fee?
Application fees are determined by individual universities.
Receiving or applying for the Shanghai Government Scholarship does not automatically mean that every participating university waives its admission application fee.
Before applying, check:
- University application fee
- Scholarship application requirements
- Payment rules
- Whether the fee is refundable
Do not assume that all Shanghai universities have the same fee policy.
Annual Scholarship Review
Receiving the Shanghai Government Scholarship does not necessarily mean funding continues without review.
Universities conduct annual evaluations of scholarship students.
The review can consider:
- Academic performance
- Study progress
- Attendance
- Student conduct
- Compliance with university regulations
Students who fail the annual review may have their scholarship suspended or cancelled.
Why Study in Shanghai?
Shanghai is one of China’s major higher education and research centers.
International students can find programs in areas such as:
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Business
- Finance
- Economics
- Medicine
- Life Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- International Relations
- Chinese Language
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
Shanghai is also home to several internationally recognized universities.
How to Choose a University
Do not select a university only because it offers the Shanghai Government Scholarship.
Check:
Program → Teaching Language → University Requirements → Scholarship Type → Supervisor/Research Fit → Application Fee → Deadline
For Master’s and PhD applicants, research compatibility can be especially important.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Assuming every Shanghai university offers SGS for every program
- Treating Type A and Type B as the same scholarship
- Using an old scholarship deadline
- Applying without checking program eligibility
- Missing the university’s separate admission application
- Uploading incomplete documents
- Ignoring language requirements
- Assuming an acceptance letter is mandatory everywhere
- Assuming all universities have the same stipend or accommodation arrangement
- Depending on unofficial websites for final application information
Official Information
For official Shanghai education and international student information, use:
Study in Shanghai – Shanghai Municipal Education Commission:
Applicants should also use the official international admissions website of their selected Shanghai university.
Final Advice
For the Shanghai Government Scholarship 2027, follow this sequence:
Choose University → Check Program → Check SGS Availability → Compare Type A & Type B → Check Eligibility → Prepare Documents → Submit University Application → Apply for Scholarship → Monitor Results
Start your preparation before the official 2027 deadlines are announced.
The most important point is that Shanghai Government Scholarship applications are university-specific.
Scholarship category, available programs, deadline and application procedure should always be confirmed from the university’s latest official notice.
Important Note
This guide is prepared for international students planning for the Shanghai Government Scholarship 2027.
As of September 2026, final 2027 scholarship notices and deadlines have not yet been published by all participating universities.
The scholarship structure and preparation guidance in this article are based on current official Shanghai Government Scholarship information and the latest available 2026 university application notices.
Applicants must verify the final 2027 scholarship category, benefits, eligible programs, deadlines and application requirements when their selected university publishes its official notice.