About China
China has built one of the largest and fastest growing international education systems in the world, hosting around 380,000 international students, roughly 205,000 of them in full degree programmes, across hundreds of universities offering English-taught options. The Chinese Government Scholarship, known as CSC, is one of the most generous in Asia, covering full tuition, campus accommodation, a monthly living allowance and comprehensive medical insurance for thousands of international students every year. Tuition for self-funded students typically runs from CNY 20,000 to CNY 50,000 a year, with total costs including living expenses usually falling between CNY 50,000 and CNY 100,000. Non-EU graduates with a Master's degree or above no longer need to leave China to convert their student visa into a work visa; regulations introduced in 2026 let them apply for a Z work visa within one year of graduating, and cities including Shanghai and Beijing run their own internship and start-up permits for recent graduates on top of the national rules.
Institutions
300+
Tuition fees
CNY 20,000 – CNY 50,000/year
Student life
82%
International students
380,000+
Employability
80%
Work rights
The China advantage
The Chinese Government Scholarship, or CSC, covers full tuition, campus accommodation, a monthly living allowance of CNY 2,500 to CNY 3,500 and comprehensive medical insurance, and is awarded to thousands of international students every year.
With hundreds of universities offering English-taught programmes and around 205,000 international students in full degree study, China offers a breadth of institutions, cities and specialisations that few other destinations can match.
Master's and PhD graduates no longer need two years of overseas work experience to qualify for a Chinese work visa; regulations introduced in 2026 let them apply for a Z visa within one year of graduating, directly from their student status.
Academic specialties
The journey ahead
Decide between a Chinese Government Scholarship application, run through your home country's education authority or directly through a host university, and a self-funded application. CSC deadlines typically fall between December and March for the following autumn intake.
Submit transcripts, a study plan and, for programmes taught in Chinese, an HSK score. Accepted students receive an Admission Notice and the JW202 or JW201 form needed to apply for a visa.
Use your Admission Notice and visa form to apply for an X1 visa (courses over 180 days) or X2 visa (under 180 days) at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country.
X1 visa holders must convert their visa into a residence permit within 30 days of arrival, through their university's international student office and the local Public Security Bureau.
Common questions
Not for every programme. A large and growing number of degrees, particularly at Master's level in business, engineering and international relations, are taught fully in English. Programmes taught in Chinese typically require an HSK language score.
Tuition for self-funded students typically runs from CNY 20,000 to CNY 50,000 a year. Including living costs, total annual spending usually falls between CNY 50,000 and CNY 100,000, though CSC scholarship recipients cover most of this through their award.
Only with authorisation. Formal part-time work requires a Consent Letter from your university, a certification from the employer and registration with the local Public Security Bureau, after which you can typically work up to 8 hours a week during term and 16 hours a week during official breaks.
The Chinese Government Scholarship, or CSC, is China's national scholarship for international students. It covers full tuition, campus accommodation, a monthly stipend and medical insurance, and is one of the most comprehensive scholarship programmes in Asia.
Yes, if you hold a Master's degree or above. Regulations introduced in 2026 let these graduates apply for a Z work visa within one year of graduating, without needing prior overseas work experience, and cities such as Shanghai and Beijing offer additional internship and start-up permits.
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