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Scholarships

About CLEC scholarships

If you would like to spend some time studying in China then CLEC (Center for Language Education and Cooperation) Scholarships are a fantastic way to fund your studies. There are various types of scholarships available: you can study for a semester, a full academic year, or even do a degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.

Please see the details below. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, you first need to make sure that you carefully research the options via the scholarships website and check the requirements of the host institution(s) you wish to go to. Please also complete the form at the bottom of this page so that we know you are interested in applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What scholarships are available?

There are a range of different scholarships that you can apply for. Read about the options available on the Scholarships website.

What is covered?

If your scholarship application is successful you may be exempt from the following: 

  • Registration fees 
  • Tuition fees at the host institution in China*
  • Fees for basic learning materials 
  • Accommodation fees on campus. 

You may also receive: 

  • A one-off resettlement subsidy
  • A monthly allowance
  • Outpatient medical services
  • Comprehensive insurance for foreign students studying in China.

*Please note that the scholarship doesn’t cover any tuition fees due to the University of Leeds during your Study Year Abroad.

Who is eligible?

You should be a non-Chinese citizen in good health, aged between 16 and 35. Chinese language teachers currently in post should be under 45 years of age. Applicants for undergraduate studies should be 25 or under.

In order to receive a recommendation letter from our Business Confucius Institute, you must be able to demonstrate to us that you are a suitable candidate with links to our BCI. Suitable candidates include:

  • Business Confucius Institute students
  • EAST students at the University of Leeds
  • University of Leeds Chinese Bridge competitors

You will need to provide us with a reference, usually from your tutor.

How can I apply?

As soon as possible:

  1. Visit the Confucius Insitute Scholarship website at http://cis.chinese.cn and read the application details and eligibility criteria carefully. At this stage you can also set up an individual account on the site if you wish (you will need to do this before you can submit an application).
  2. Complete this form to advise the BCI of your intention to apply for a scholarship.
  3. Talk to your Chinese lecturer to ask for a reference to support your application. In order to produce a recommendation letter for you, we require a signed letter on headed paper from your teacher including the following information:
    • Student's name, course, year
    • Teacher's relationship to student
    • Character reference (study attitude and conduct)
    • Academic reference (current and predicted grades and achievements)
    • Reasons why the teacher recommends the student for a scholarship
    • Contact details of the teacher
  4. Start looking into potential host institutions and check if they have any specific application criteria of their own.
  5. Check HSK and HSKK exam dates and ensure that you will have taken the necessary exam (and received the results) prior to your application deadline.

Online registration for scholarships is available from March. After this date you need to:

  1. Log on to the Confucius Institute Scholarship website to select the programme and host institution that you want to apply for.
  2. Contact the host institution you are applying to and double check whether they have any additional eligibility criteria. They may ask you to provide additional documents with your application.
  3. Gather all the documentation required for your application.

Make sure you are aware of the application deadline for your chosen programme. Before this date you must:

  1. Upload your application materials online through your Confucius Institute Scholarships account.

After your application has been submitted you can track your application via the Confucius Institute Scholarship website.

Important dates

HSK and HSKK exam dates

We advise that you take the HSK and HSKK exams in March at the latest, so that you will receive results in time to apply for a scholarship starting in September.

See the HSK exam page for further information about the exams and registration process.

Online registration

You can apply via the Confucius Institute Scholarships website from March.

Obtaining a recommendation letter

Once we have received your online form submission and a reference letter from your tutor we require at least five working days to produce your recommendation letter. The letter will only be produced once we have confirmation of your HSK and HSKK exam results.

Application deadlines

For scholarships starting in September, the application deadline will be in June. Please make sure you check the final deadline for uploading your application documents online. You must allow plenty of time to gather all the required documentation.

Please check the details of your chosen scholarship carefully for application deadlines.

Scholarship Expression of Interest

    If you are interested in applying for a Confucius Institute Scholarship, please complete this form to tell us about yourself. This will help us to assess your suitability and provide the necessary advice to get your application started. It does not commit you to applying.
    * indicates required field

    Age in September 2019*

    Which kind of scholarship would you like to apply for?*
    You can select more than one if you are not sure at this stage

    Please select the options which apply to you:*



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    Please click once to submit your application.