The Chinese Government Scholarship, usually just called CSC, is run by the China Scholarship Council under China's Ministry of Education. It is fully funded, it covers Bachelor's, Master's and PhD study, and it places international students from over 180 countries at more than 300 designated Chinese universities. For a Pakistani student, it is one of the few fully funded programs where the numbers work in your favour: tens of thousands of seats every year, and a dedicated HEC route built for Pakistani applicants.
That does not make it easy. The process has two separate tracks, a new entrance test for undergraduates, and a few small mistakes that can sink an otherwise good file. This guide walks through all of it. You can also read the full scholarship details on our scholarship page.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded: tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, medical insurance |
| Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
| Country | China |
| Provider | China Scholarship Council (CSC), Ministry of Education of China |
| Deadline | Type A (HEC route): December-January. Type B (university route): varies by university, mostly December-March |
| Classes start | September |
| Official site | campuschina.org |
Dates for the coming cycle are still to be confirmed, so check the portals before you plan around any month listed here.
Type A or Type B: the choice that shapes everything else
Most confusion about CSC comes from not realising there are two different scholarships under one name.
Type A is the bilateral government track. For Pakistan, that means HEC. You apply on the HEC portal first, sit the HAT or USAT test, and HEC shortlists candidates and forwards nominations to CSC in China. On the CSC portal you enter the HEC Pakistan agency number, 5861, and you can choose up to 2 universities. Type A is the only route that includes round-trip airfare.
Type B is the direct university route. You apply yourself to CSC-authorized universities, using each university's own agency number, and you can pick up to 3 universities. There is no HAT test and no HEC nomination, and no airfare either. Deadlines are set by each university and mostly fall between December and March.
My honest view: Type B suits Master's and PhD applicants who are willing to email professors and do their own research on universities. Type A suits students who want the airfare and are comfortable with HEC's testing and timeline. Many serious applicants prepare for both, since the documents overlap heavily.
What the money looks like each month
CSC pays full tuition and gives either free on-campus accommodation or a monthly housing allowance. Medical insurance covers the whole program. On top of that, there is a monthly stipend that depends on your level:
| Level | Monthly stipend |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | ¥2,500 (approximately USD 350) |
| Master's | ¥3,000 |
| PhD | ¥3,500 (approximately USD 490) |
The dollar figures are rough conversions and will move with exchange rates. Typical monthly living costs in Chinese cities, including food, transport and entertainment, fall between ¥1,500 and ¥2,500, so the stipend should be enough for a normal student life, especially if you live on campus. There is also an allowance for settling-in expenses when you arrive, and most CSC-authorized universities charge no application fee.
The airfare point matters more than students expect. If you go Type B, budget for your own ticket to China.
Age limits and academic requirements
The age limits are firm and catch people out every year:
- Bachelor's: 12 years of education completed, under 25 years old
- Master's: a Bachelor's degree, under 35 years old
- PhD: a Master's degree, under 40 years old
You must be a Pakistani passport holder for the HEC route, be physically and mentally healthy (a medical fitness form is required), and you cannot hold another scholarship at the same time. Students from other countries apply through their own government's channel for Type A, or directly on campuschina.org for Type B.
There is no official minimum mark listed, but applicants with strong records, around 70% or more in their previous degree, tend to have the highest success rates.
Language: when you need IELTS and when you do not
For English-taught programs, an English Proficiency Certificate from your university is usually enough. IELTS or TOEFL is only needed if your previous degree was not taught in English. For Chinese-taught programs, you need HSK Level 4-5. This is one of the real advantages of CSC for Pakistani students, since most of our degrees are taught in English.
The CSCA test for Bachelor's applicants
Starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, Bachelor's applicants must take the CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) and upload a valid score report. HEC requires it for all Pakistani CSC undergraduate applicants. Many universities now ask for it from self-funded Bachelor's applicants too.
- Register and sit the exam at csca.cn before you submit your scholarship application.
- Mathematics is compulsory for everyone.
- Science Chinese is required for Chinese-taught programs, including CSC-funded MBBS, and waived for fully English-taught programs.
- Sittings are held in January, March, April, June and December.
- Scores are valid for 2 years.
Master's and PhD applicants do not need the CSCA at all.
If you are aiming for Type A, plan to register around August-September for the December sitting. That sitting lines up with the HEC deadline window, which leaves little room if anything goes wrong. Sitting an earlier exam in the year is the safer move.
CSC for MBBS: read this before you get your hopes up
CSC does fund MBBS (General Medicine) at MOE-listed Chinese universities, but only in Chinese. English-medium MBBS in China is self-funded and not covered by CSC. That means you should expect to study Chinese before the medical curriculum begins.
Pakistani students need to clear three separate tests for CSC MBBS: MDCAT, USAT-M (the pre-medical USAT used for HEC nomination) and CSCA. Even after all three, competition for Medicine seats is very high. Keep other options open in parallel.
Two checks are non-negotiable. First, confirm your university is on the official Ministry of Education list at laihua.moe.edu.cn, because a non-MOE degree cannot be used for medical licensing in most countries. Second, confirm the university holds current PMDC/PMC recognition before you apply.
The paperwork
Gather these early. Several need signatures from other people, which always takes longer than planned.
- CSC Application Form, filled online at campuschina.org
- Passport with at least 1 year validity
- Degree certificates and transcripts, notarized and officially translated
- Study plan or research proposal, 200-800 words, typed and signed
- Two recommendation letters from Professors or Associate Professors
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form, signed and stamped by a registered physician
- English Proficiency Certificate from your university (English-taught programs), or IELTS/TOEFL if your previous degree was not in English
- HSK certificate (Chinese-taught programs only)
- Police Clearance Certificate from your local police station or NADRA
- HEC Nomination Letter (Type A only)
- CSCA score report (Bachelor's only)
- Acceptance letter from a Chinese professor or university (optional, but it strongly helps Type B)
For help with attestation and the general document set, see our scholarship documents checklist and the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide.
Applying through HEC (Type A)
- Bachelor's applicants only: sit the CSCA first.
- Create an account on the HEC scholarship portal and apply under "Learning Opportunities Abroad - Chinese Government Scholarship".
- Fill the form completely and upload clear, readable scans of every document.
- Appear in the HAT or USAT test when it is scheduled. It is mandatory for shortlisting.
- Go to campuschina.org, select Program Type A, enter agency number 5861 and choose up to 2 universities.
- Upload your documents on the CSC portal, submit, and print the CSC Application Form.
- HEC shortlists and forwards nominations. CSC and the universities finalize results between May and July.
Applying directly to universities (Type B)
- Bachelor's applicants only: sit the CSCA first.
- On campuschina.org, select Program Type B and enter the agency number of your chosen university. You will find it on that university's website.
- Complete every section, upload documents and apply to up to 3 universities.
- Check each university's own CSC page for extra steps such as online interviews or professor recommendation letters.
Selected students on either route receive an Admission Notice with a JW201 or JW202 form, which you need for the student visa. The Embassy of China in Islamabad handles student visa applications and JW201/JW202 verification.
A realistic calendar for a September start
Every CSC program starts in September, and the work starts a full year earlier.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| August | Start gathering documents, write your study plan, contact professors (Type B) |
| August-September | Register for the December CSCA sitting if you have not taken it yet (Bachelor's) |
| October | HEC portal opens for Type A |
| November-December | HAT/USAT test for Type A |
| December | Type B applications open at universities |
| December-January | Type A deadline on HEC and CSC portals |
| December-March | Most Type B university deadlines |
| May-July | Results announced |
| September | Classes begin |
Internal nomination deadlines can fall weeks before the published portal deadline, so confirm the exact dates on the official portals rather than relying on a general timeline.
Where applications actually go wrong
A generic study plan. Among applicants with similar grades, the study plan is the document that most often separates acceptances from rejections. Reviewers spot a template immediately. Name the research group, mention the university's published work, and explain why that specific institution fits your goals. Write a different plan for each university.
The wrong agency number. Entering the wrong number sends your application to the wrong institution, and it cannot be corrected afterwards. Check it twice before you submit.
Blurry scans. Phone photos of certificates taken in poor light are a common reason for rejection. Use a scanner or a well-lit, flat-surface photo.
Not contacting professors for Type B. Even an informal email of support from a potential supervisor significantly improves your chances, especially for Master's and PhD research programs. Start these emails months before applications open.
Only applying to famous universities. Everyone lists Peking University, Tsinghua, Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong. Applying early and including less competitive universities on the Type B route improves your odds considerably.
Once you have an admission, the visa stage has its own pitfalls. Our guide to common student visa rejection reasons is worth reading before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply through both Type A and Type B?
The two routes run on separate portals with separate agency numbers, and the documents largely overlap. Check the current rules on campuschina.org and the HEC portal before submitting to both in the same cycle, since you cannot hold two scholarships at once.
Do I need IELTS for CSC?
Not if your previous degree was taught in English. An English Proficiency Certificate from your institution is enough. IELTS or TOEFL is needed only if your previous education was not in English.
Does the scholarship pay for my flight to China?
Only on Type A, the HEC route. Type B applicants pay their own airfare.
Do Master's and PhD applicants need the CSCA?
No. The CSCA is only for Bachelor's applicants, from the 2026-2027 intake onward.
Is CSC MBBS taught in English?
No. CSC-funded MBBS is taught in Chinese only. English-medium MBBS in China is self-funded. Pakistani applicants also need MDCAT, USAT-M and CSCA.
When should I start preparing?
By August of the year before you want to start. That gives you time for the CSCA, the study plan, recommendation letters and professor outreach before portals open.
Browse all China scholarships if you want alternatives to compare. For the current cycle's dates and university list, check campuschina.org and see the full CSC scholarship page.