Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program

Guidelines

Scholarships are awarded for academic study, research, Chinese language training or a combination of these activities. Scholarships are not to be used towards a degree in China.

Scholarships are tenable at Chinese institutions that admit scholarship recipients of the Chinese Government Scholarship. These institutions are marked by an asterisk (*) in the list of participating Chinese institutions.

The scholarship is tenable between September 2022 and August 2023.

Competition process

1. Candidates complete the three-step application process.
2. A selection committee consisting of Canadian and Chinese government representatives and academic experts will nominate a list of pre-selected candidates to the China Scholarship Council (CSC).
3. Pre-selected candidates submit a pre-admission letter and Foreigner Physical Examination Form (if applicable) to CSC.
4. Final selection and placement at Chinese institutions is made by CSC.

Scholarship value

There are two award components to the CCSEP scholarship:

1. The award component provided by the Chinese Government Scholarship includes:
   • tuition fees at participating Chinese institutions;
   • a monthly stipend appropriate to the recipient’s status (approximate values):
     • 2,500 Yuan for undergraduate students;
     • 3,000 Yuan for Master‘s students/general scholars; and
     • 3,500 Yuan for Doctoral students/senior scholars.
   • on-campus accommodation or a subsidy for off-campus accommodation (if permitted by the host institution); and
   • comprehensive medical insurance.

   Funds for this component are disbursed by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

2. Funding provided by Global Affairs Canada through its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) provides travel to and from the destination in China via the most cost-effective route between the scholarship recipient’s point of origin and the final destination, under the conditions:
   • the funding only covers the flights for travel to China at the beginning of the scholarship and the return flights to Canada upon completion of the scholarship;
   • the itinerary must be approved by DFATD or the scholarship administrator, the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE);
   • scholarship recipients must arrive in China from Canada a maximum of 15 days before the start of the scholarship and must depart from China back to Canada within a maximum of 15 days after the end of the scholarship;
   • scholarship recipients must make travel arrangements through CBIE’s designated travel agency as soon as they obtain their visa;
   • DFATD can only cover the cost of approved flights; any additional costs are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient; and
   • flights must be booked before March 15, 2023 by CBIE’s designated travel agency.

Scholarship duration

Scholarships are awarded for:

• four to 12 months for students; and
• eight weeks to 12 months for mid-career professionals, faculty members and researchers.

The scholarship is tenable between September 2022 and August 2023.

The Chinese academic year typically begins in September and ends in mid-July, including a winter vacation of approximately three weeks in January or February.

For the 2022-2023 Chinese academic year, the fall semester will be from September 2022 to January 2023, and the spring semester will be from February 2023 to July 2023.

Eligibility

Candidates must:

• be Canadian citizens;
• be either:
  • a full-time teaching or research staff at a post-secondary or research institution in Canada;
  • a student enrolled in either a college, undergraduate or graduate program at Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada; or
  • a mid-career professional from a Canadian government, media or cultural organization, or a national education association, who has a graduate (Master's or doctoral) degree and has had managerial, policy development or decision making responsibilities within this organization for at least three years;
• have achieved the required level of written and spoken Chinese by the host institution in China, if applicable;
• undertake studies in an approved subject area in a Chinese institution;
• not be seeking a degree in China;
• be under 45 years of age if applying under the “General Scholar” category of the China Scholarship Council (CSC); and
• be under 50 years of age if applying under the “Senior Scholar” category of the CSC.

Please note that employees of the Government of Canada’s departments and agencies (including those on leave), although eligible for this scholarship, are not eligible for the travel benefit funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).

Qualifications

• Applications will be assessed on the candidate's academic or professional merit, rationale for going to China, and the content and feasibility of the proposed study or research plan.
• Mid-career professionals must demonstrate strong leadership qualities through a commitment to innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Preference will be given to those candidates whose study or research plan is related to China.
• If applying for Chinese language training, priority may be given to those who have demonstrated a previous interest in the Chinese language and have a basic knowledge of the Chinese language.
• Where Chinese is the language of instruction, proficiency must be HSK level 3 for undergraduate studies and HSK level 4 for graduate studies. Candidates should contact the host institution for more information and visit the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK).

Terms and conditions

Scholarship recipients:

• must be enrolled at their host university for the time periods approved by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Requests for deferred registration may not be accepted. Scholarship recipients who are unable to register on time must get permission from the Chinese institution directly;
• must return to Canada upon completion of their exchange program;
• may not concurrently hold other scholarships offering similar benefits;
• must sign a Letter of Agreement with DFATD in order to receive the in-kind grant towards the round-trip flight to and from China;
• must have appropriate medical insurance coverage for the duration of the scholarship;
• must submit a report to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada concerning their research, study and/or Chinese language training in China within two months after the completion of their scholarship. The host post-secondary institution is also expected to evaluate the recipient's academic performance;
• who are going to China for less than six months must apply for the X2 Visa and include the Admission Notice, the Visa Application Form for Study in China (JW201) and a passport valid for the duration of their stay in China;
• who are going to China for more than six months must apply for the X1 Visa and include the completed Chinese Foreigners Physical Examination Form, the Blood Test Report, the Admission Notice, the Visa Application Form for Study in China (JW201) and a passport valid for the duration of their stay in China;
• must register with the Chinese institution with the original copies of the Admission Notice, the Visa Application Form for Study in China, the Chinese Foreigners Physical Examination Form and the Blood Test Report (if applicable); and
• must focus on their studies, research and/or Chinese language training at the Chinese host institution. Recipients may not undertake paid employment in China during their scholarship.

Any questions?

Please direct all inquiries regarding the eligibility requirements to: scholarships-bourses@cbie.ca or 613-237-4820.

Deadline

The deadline to complete the three-step application process is January 20, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Candidates must submit:

1. the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) online application;
2. the China Scholarship Council (CSC) online application form; and
3. supporting documentation by mail.

Pre-selection

Candidates will be contacted by February 22, 2022 regarding the status of their application. Pre-selected candidates will receive a letter of intent from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, which they will need to submit as soon as possible to the three Chinese institutions listed on their application to obtain a letter of pre-admission.

Pre-selected candidates are expected to submit the Letter(s) of Pre-Admission from their selected participating Chinese institution(s) and, if required, the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, to the CSC online application form within two weeks of receiving their award letter or by March 7, 2022, whichever is later. The Letter of Pre-Admission will be helpful in obtaining an Admission Notice for the China Scholarship Council program and the visa application document (JW201).

Pre-selected candidates who do not obtain a Pre-admission Letter by March 7, 2022 will be allowed to continue to the next step of the CCSEP selection process. CSC makes the final decision on the Chinese host institutions for the selected recipients.

Final selection

CBIE will communicate with successful candidates by June 2022.

Successful candidates will receive an Admission Notice from the Chinese host institution along with materials related to the visa application process and travel to China around the same time as the final selection.

Selection of the scholarship recipients is subject to the CSC agreeing to the terms of admission of the host university or institution in China.

Application process

To be considered for the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program, the candidate must complete the three-step application process.

1. Step one: Complete and submit the online application form of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) available on this site and provide the supporting documents as requested.
2. Step two: Complete and submit the CSC online application on the China Scholarship Council (CSC) website as well as print and mail the application package to the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) in Ottawa, Canada.
3. Step three: Mail additional supporting documents to CBIE.

Candidates are required to submit both the DFATD application form and the CSC application form. Any application submitted to only one of the government scholarship portals will not be considered.

Step one: DFATD online application

Candidates are encouraged to carefully read the instructions before beginning the online form. If candidates experience difficulty filling out or submitting the form, they should send an email to scholarships-bourses@cbie.ca.

Instructions

Candidates must:

• complete the online form;
  • Individuals who do not have an account will first need to Create an account on Momentum.
  • Under “For Canadians” section, candidates will need to go to the Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program and click on "Apply Now".
• enter data in the fields marked mandatory, following the instructions for each item;
• upload all required supporting documents;
• upon completion, verify the data prior to submission;
• print the form for their records using the print function in the browser; and
• click "SUBMIT" to provide their form electronically to DFATD. The candidate will receive a confirmation message and reference number once their form is submitted.

NOTE: Candidates will have the ability to save their application and complete it at a later time. Both saved and submitted applications will appear on the candidate's profile homepage.

Information required in the application form:

• Letter of intent: In the box provided, the candidate must explain, in English or French: the nature of the research or study to be undertaken; their motivation/rationale for going to China and for the choice of the institution, program, and supervisor, if applicable; how their experience and skills would ensure a successful completion of the planned academic activity, and how they will accommodate the stay in China within their work or study schedule (maximum 10,000 characters).
• Letters of recommendation: The candidate must provide the name, title, relation and organization of the two referees submitting letters of recommendation.
• Academic qualifications: The candidate must provide a list of degrees obtained and other vocational/language studies relevant to this application.
• Academic distinction: The candidate can list up to three distinctions, prizes, or scholarships received and/or expected, and indicate the value in each case.
• Publications: The candidate can list up to three scholarly publications in the bibliographic format appropriate to his/her discipline including an abstract for each.
• Relevant work experience: this section is mandatory for mid-career professional, professors or research staff.
• Other achievements (maximum 1500 characters): The candidate must include any other information about their studies or career to date that shows their academic merit, leadership abilities, accomplishments and/or commitment to innovation and creativity.

Supporting documentation to upload to the application form

Candidates must upload and attach supporting documents to the online application form. Each document must be smaller than 5Mb and in .pdf, .jpg, .doc, .docx, .txt or .gif format in order for the application to upload successfully.

1. Certificate of pre-admission or copy of correspondence: a certificate of pre-admission from the host institution or copy of correspondence testifying that the candidate has requested admission or will have access to the facilities needed to complete the proposed research project. Email correspondence with the international admissions office or a potential academic collaborator is accepted.
2. Proof of Canadian citizenship: copy of passport (valid for the duration of the scholarship); a baptism certificate is not accepted as proof of Canadian citizenship.
3. Copy of official transcripts: an official transcript of the highest post-secondary studies completed (including colleges and CÉGEPs) and an official transcript of studies in progress (if applicable).
4. Study or research proposal: an essay describing your study or research plan (maximum two pages).
5. Copy of diploma: for the highest degree or diploma obtained. College or undergraduate students who have not yet obtained a post-secondary degree or diploma can upload a high school diploma.
6. Proof of registration for studies in progress (if applicable): Proof of registration must be issued by the Registrar’s Office at the candidate’s Canadian home institution to confirm full-time enrolment in an academic program.

Step two: China Scholarship Council (CSC) application

Candidates must complete and submit the online application from the China Scholarship Council website. Please use Firefox or Internet Explorer (11.0) to fill out the online application. The CSC requires that all candidates submit their online application form in English or in Chinese.

Candidates must:

• create a profile by clicking on “Create an account”;
• select “Type A” under the “Program Category”;
• indicate on the form “1241” as the “Agency Number”;
• select three institutions on the application. Those who indicate that they are not willing to consider alternatives may be withdrawn from consideration if the institution that they have indicated is deemed inappropriate by CSC, or is not able to offer a place;
• download, print and sign one copy of the application once completed. Candidates should include a signature in the blank space at the bottom of the last page of the application; and
• ensure to include a photo of the candidate on the first page of the application form.

Additional information:

• Candidates must select “1241” as the “Agency Number” and ensure that the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China is listed under the “Agency Name”. Candidates should not submit the application to a Chinese consulate in Canada.
• Candidates must apply either under the “General Scholar” category or the “Senior Scholar” category of the CSC. Candidates applying under the “General Scholar” category must hold at least a high school diploma and be under the age of 45. Candidates applying under the “Senior Scholar” category to undertake research in China must hold at least a Master’s degree or be associate professors or research staff and be under the age of 50.
• The CSC application may require additional documentation than that required for the DFATD application.

All inquiries regarding the CSC application should be directed to:

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada
Attention: Education Office - Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program
Email: daoyuwang@moe.edu.cn

For additional information, consult the Bilateral Program on the CSC website.

Step three: Additional supporting documents to be sent by mail

Candidates must submit additional supporting documents by mail to the scholarship administrator at:

Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE)
Attention: Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program
220 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1550
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5Z9

Additional supporting documents:

• CSC online application form: the completed and signed CSC online application form.
• Two letters of recommendation: Two letters of recommendation from a professor, supervisor or employer, on letterhead, dated and signed, and stating the candidate’s name. The letters should explain the nature of the study or research and how the candidate will benefit from this scholarship program.
• Proof of Chinese language proficiency: results of the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK), or other Chinese language course results, if applicable.
• CV: The candidate’s CV, including: work experience; most relevant scholarly publications and other knowledge dissemination activities, if applicable; most important distinctions, prizes, or scholarships received to date and their value, if applicable; and other relevant professional and/or academic accomplishments demonstrating academic merit, leadership abilities, and/or commitment to innovation and creativity (maximum 6 pages).
• Candidates in fine arts, painting, graphic arts, sculpture and photography¹ must submit three color pictures of three art pieces on a USB key, CD or DVD.
• Filmmakers and video artists¹ must submit at least one recent film, indicating when it was made, how the candidate was involved in its production, and the running time. These must be provided on a USB key, CD or DVD, be dated, and clearly identified with the candidate's name.
• Candidates in music¹ must submit a USB key, CD or DVD of three original compositions totaling no more than 30 minutes.
• Candidates in architecture¹ must submit up to three reproductions of drawings, provided on a USB key, CD or DVD.

Additional information:

• It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that CBIE receives all required documents by the deadline.
• An acknowledgement of receipt will not be provided.
• It is strongly recommended that candidates send the documents to CBIE in one package using a method that provides confirmation of delivery, such as a courier or registered mail.

Conditions

All recommendations of the Canadian scholarship selection committee and decisions made by the CSC are final. There is no appeal process.

The selection committee does not provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates. Applications submitted directly to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada will not be considered.

Scholarships cannot be deferred.

Submitted applications and documents are not returned.

The scholarships are subject to the availability of funds.

Any questions?

Please direct all inquiries regarding the eligibility requirements to: scholarships-bourses@cbie.ca or 613-237-4820.

Background

The Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program (CCSEP) is based on reciprocal agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

Established in 1973, the CCSEP was the result of an undertaking by then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Over the past 48 years, more than 1,100 scholars have participated in the program. Canadian scholars have brought new perspectives to their host country and returned to Canada with enhanced knowledge and understanding of China.

The original Memorandum of Understanding underpinning the scholarship program was modified in 2016 to allow for a wider range of candidates.