The following document outlines a Chinese scholarship program for “self-financed” students who are studying abroad. The scholarship provides as much as $16,000 for a year of overseas study for PhD candidates under the age of 40. The scholarship also includes provisions to keep track of recipients and to aid them in returning to China after earning their degrees.

The Chinese source text is available online at: https://web.archive.org/web/20160717234515/http://newyork.china-consulate.org/chn/fwzc/zxtz/P020160510288891770725.pdf

Translator: Etcetera Language Group, Inc.

Editor: Ben Murphy, CSET Translation Lead

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1 In order to reward the academic achievements of self-financed students abroad for academic excellence, encourage self-financed students abroad to return to work and serve the country in various forms, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council (hereinafter referred to as the “CSC”) has established the “State Scholarship for Outstanding Self-Financed Study Abroad Students.”

Article 2 The scholarship is awarded once per year.

Article 3 Evaluation work for the State Scholarship for Outstanding Self-Financed Study Abroad Students shall be carried out in accordance with the principles of “openness, fairness, and justice.”

Chapter 2 Scholarship Target

Article 4 The 2016 scholarship target is a self-financed student abroad who is studying for a doctorate abroad for more than one year (excluding one-year studies), holds a valid passport of the People’s Republic of China, and is under the age of 40 (inclusive) at the time of registration.

Article 5 Applicants who have previously received this scholarship shall not be accepted. Applicants who have received or are currently receiving funding from CSC shall not be accepted. Applicants who received a doctorate before January 1, 2016 shall not be accepted.

Chapter 3 Application and Evaluation Procedures

Article 6 Online applications shall be used for 2016. Applicants who meet the requirements log in to the CSC Online “Management System for the State Scholarship for Outstanding Self-Financed Study Abroad Students” (http://yxzfs.csc.edu.cn) from May 20 to July 10 to submit electronic materials as required. In order to ensure the smooth progress of evaluation work, applicants are requested to simultaneously submit two sets of hard copy application materials to the education division (group) of the Chinese embassy (consulate) abroad. The specific acceptance time is subject to the notice of the education division (group) of the given embassy (consulate).

Article 7 The education division (group) of the embassy (consulate) abroad shall conduct an eligibility examination and preliminary evaluation of the application materials and publicize a list of recommended candidates for 10 days.

Article 8 After the list of recommended candidates is publicized, the education divisions (groups) of the embassies (consulates) in foreign countries shall submit the list and the status of the preliminary evaluation to CSC before August 20. Thereafter, no other hard copy application materials shall be sent.

Article 9 CSC appoints experts to form a review committee to review the recommended candidate materials and publicize the results of the review on CSC Online.

Article 10 After CSC reports the evaluation results to the Ministry of Education for approval, it will then inform the education division (group) of the relevant embassy (consulate) abroad.

Chapter 4 Scholarship Amount and Distribution Method

Article 11 The scholarship amount is USD $6,000 per person, and the special merit award is $10,000 per person.

Article 12 The education division (group) of the embassy (consulate) abroad shall distribute scholarships to recipients according to the exchange rate at the time of scholarship distribution and organize a scholarship award ceremony.

Chapter 5 Miscellaneous

Article 13 After the recipient finally obtains the corresponding degree, if they intend to return to work in China, the education division (group) of the embassy (consulate) abroad may assist in giving priority recommendations to domestic professional counterparts and may assist in arranging work contacts.

Article 14 If recipients are temporarily unable to return to China due to various factors, CSC and the education division (group) of the embassy (consulate) abroad should keep in touch with them and encourage or support them in serving China through various means.Article 15 CSC reserves the right to interpret these measures.