The SWUFE President's Scholarship is a fully funded award at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) in Chengdu, for international students doing a Master's or PhD in finance, economics, business or management. If you are a Pakistani student with a commerce, economics or business background and you want a funded graduate degree in China without fighting for a CSC seat at a Tier-1 university, this one deserves a close look. You can find the full scholarship details on our listing, and this guide walks through what the award pays, who it fits, and where applicants usually slip up.
One thing to settle before anything else: SWUFE is a specialist university. It teaches Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Management, Statistics, International Business and Management Science. It does not offer engineering, medicine or science programs. If your plan is a computer science or MBBS degree, this scholarship is the wrong door.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded (tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, medical insurance) |
| Levels | Master's and PhD |
| Host | Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu |
| Country | China |
| Portal usually opens | March (estimated) |
| Deadline | May 31 (estimated, varies by intake cycle, confirm on the portal) |
| Official site | SWUFE International Admissions Portal |
A finance university with Ministry of Finance ties
SWUFE operates under the direct oversight of China's Ministry of Finance. That link gives the university close connections with China's banking, insurance, securities and government finance sectors, which is the main reason a finance or economics student would choose it over a general university with a bigger name. If you want a career in banking, financial analysis, accounting or economics research with an Asian angle, the subject focus here is an advantage rather than a limitation.
The President's Scholarship is one of the university's main funding routes for international graduate students. SWUFE also runs a separate but related Belt and Road Scholarship for students from Belt and Road Initiative countries, which includes Pakistan, and the university regularly takes part in the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) program. So a strong applicant has more than one funded route into the same university.
What the 1,500 and 1,800 RMB stipends really mean
The package covers four things:
- A full tuition fee waiver
- Free on-campus accommodation
- A monthly stipend of 1,500 RMB for Master's students (approximately USD 210) or 1,800 RMB for PhD students (approximately USD 250)
- Comprehensive medical insurance
Let's be honest about the stipend. It is lower than what CSC or ANSO awards pay, and you should not expect to send money home or travel much on it. What makes it workable is the combination: rent is already covered, and Chengdu has one of the lowest costs of living among China's major cities. Many recipients find the stipend covers daily expenses with some left over. Still, plan a careful monthly budget, and once enrolled, look into part-time research assistant positions if you need extra income.
The listing does not mention airfare, visa costs or a settlement allowance, so assume those come out of your own pocket and keep some savings aside for the first month.
Who is eligible, and the age limit question
The scholarship is open to non-Chinese citizens, and Pakistani nationals are eligible. The other requirements depend on your level and the language of your program:
- Master's applicants need a Bachelor's degree. The age limit is listed as under 35-40, so confirm the exact cut-off for your program with SWUFE if you are in your mid-thirties.
- PhD applicants need a Master's degree and must be under 40.
- English-taught programs require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 at minimum.
- Chinese-taught programs require HSK Level 4 at minimum.
- A relevant academic background in finance, economics or business is preferred.
That last point is listed as a preference, not a hard rule. In practice, someone with a BS in Economics, BBA, B.Com or a finance-heavy degree will have an easier case than an engineer switching fields. If you are switching, your study plan has to explain why, and show you have done some groundwork.
The language choice matters too. Most Pakistani applicants will go for English-taught programs, which keeps it simple: get your IELTS or TOEFL score above the minimum before you apply. If you have already studied Chinese, the Chinese-taught route is open with HSK 4. Start HSK 4 preparation at least 6 months in advance if you choose that path.
The ten documents SWUFE asks for
- Valid passport
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Bachelor's degree certificate (Master's applicants)
- Master's degree certificate (PhD applicants)
- Official academic transcripts
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Study plan or research proposal
- Two recommendation letters
- Medical fitness form
- Police clearance certificate
The police clearance certificate and medical fitness form take the longest for most Pakistani students, so start them early. Transcripts and degrees may also need attestation, so read our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide before you book anything. Each uploaded file has to meet the portal's size limits, so scan cleanly and compress where needed instead of uploading huge phone photos.
The study plan is where most applications are won or lost. A generic plan that could be sent to any university reads weakly. Name SWUFE's research areas and, where you can, faculty whose work matches yours. Explain what you will study, why at SWUFE, and what you intend to do with the degree.
Applying through the SWUFE portal, with both scholarship boxes ticked
- Go to the SWUFE international portal and create an account.
- Choose the President's Scholarship, which is the first scholarship option in the portal.
- Also select the President's Belt and Road Scholarship, the second option. Both run at the same time and use the same documents and form.
- Upload all required documents within the portal's file size limits.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee. The amount is shown on the portal when you apply.
- Review every entry and submit before the portal deadline.
Selecting both scholarships costs nothing extra, so there is no reason to skip the second box. Pakistan falls under the Belt and Road group, which means you are a fit for both.
For pre-application questions about scholarship scope or English-taught programs, the SWUFE International Education College is the contact point.
When things happen in the SWUFE cycle
The portal typically opens around March, and the deadline has been around May 31, but both dates are estimates. Deadlines vary by intake cycle and there is no fixed annual opening date publicly advertised. Check the portal regularly from early in the year rather than waiting for an announcement.
After the deadline, the SWUFE admissions team reviews applications, which usually takes 4-8 weeks. Admission offer timing varies. Successful candidates receive official admission letters, and the main intake starts in September. That leaves a short window for the student visa, so have your passport and finances in order before results come out.
Mistakes that cost Pakistani applicants this award
Paying the fee before your file is ready is the first one. The application fee is non-refundable, so only submit once every document is final. A missing recommendation letter is not something you can fix after paying.
The second is applying with the wrong subject. Every program at SWUFE is in finance, economics, business or management. If your goal is a different field, spend your effort elsewhere.
Third, students underestimate the stipend gap. Compared with CSC, 1,500 RMB a month is modest. It works in Chengdu with free housing, but go in with a budget, not assumptions.
Fourth, ticking only one scholarship option. Both the President's and the Belt and Road schemes are available in the same application at no extra cost, and leaving one out narrows your chances for no reason.
Finally, keep the bigger picture in mind. The President's Scholarship is described as less competitive than CSC scholarships at Tier-1 universities, which makes it a sensible choice for a well-qualified applicant who wants a realistic shot at full funding. It suits focused finance and economics students. It does not suit someone who wants a big stipend or a non-business degree. To compare it with other options, see all China scholarships.
Life in Chengdu on a scholarship
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is consistently ranked among China's most livable cities. It has a mild climate, a famous food culture and a slower pace than Beijing or Shanghai, with cleaner air and good transport links. The city has over 60 universities, a growing tech and finance sector, and a sizeable international student and expat community, with English-language services widely available. For a student on a modest stipend, the low living costs matter more than any ranking.
For visa matters, the Embassy of China in Pakistan handles student visa (X1/X2) applications and JW201/JW202 form verification. Once you are in China, the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing provides consular services to Pakistani students.
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS required for the SWUFE President's Scholarship?
For English-taught programs, yes: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 is the minimum. For Chinese-taught programs, you need HSK Level 4 instead.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is open to non-Chinese citizens and Pakistani nationals are eligible. Pakistan is also a Belt and Road Initiative country, so you can select the Belt and Road Scholarship in the same application.
How much is the monthly stipend?
1,500 RMB a month (approximately USD 210) for Master's students and 1,800 RMB a month (approximately USD 250) for PhD students, alongside free accommodation, tuition and medical insurance.
Is there an application fee?
Yes. A non-refundable fee is charged when you submit through the SWUFE portal. The exact amount is listed on the portal at the time of application.
Can I study engineering or medicine with this scholarship?
No. SWUFE only offers programs in finance, economics, accounting, business administration, public management, statistics, international business and management science.
When is the deadline?
It has been around May 31, with the portal opening around March, but these are estimates and deadlines vary by intake cycle. Confirm the current dates on the official portal.
Before you apply, check the current cycle on the official SWUFE portal and review the SWUFE President's Scholarship page for the latest details.