The CSC Scholarship Guidebook

How to use this guide

Applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship is not a single form. It is a project that runs for most of a year: choosing universities, contacting professors, preparing a dozen documents, taking exams, applying online, waiting for results and getting a visa. This guide follows the order you will actually go through, in seven phases:

1. Understand: what the scholarship is, what it gives you, and whether you qualify
2. Decide: which degree level, which application route, which universities, and how good your chances are
3. Prepare: timeline, documents, exams, contacting supervisors, writing your statements
4. Apply: filling in the official online system step by step
5. Wait and get results: application status, interviews, and what to do whether you are admitted or not
6. Arrive and enrol: visa, entry, registration, residence permit, receiving your stipend
7. Stay safe and get help: spotting scams and knowing who to contact

Every chapter has three parts:

• What you need to know: the rules, explained plainly
• Your checklist: the things you need to do, which you can tick off as you go
• Sources: links to official pages so you can check for yourself

Right now (October 2026): four things to do first

If you plan to start studying in China in September 2027, time is already short.

1. Undergraduate applicants: register for the CSCA exam now. The CSCA is compulsory for undergraduate scholarship applicants. The next sitting on the official website is 14–15 November 2026, and registration is open for only one week, 15–21 October (Beijing time). Later sittings are on 19–20 December 2026 and 23–24 January 2027. Most embassy deadlines fall in January or February, so January is the latest sitting that is safe. November or December is better, because it leaves time to retake. See chapter 11.

2. Master's and PhD applicants: start contacting universities and supervisors now. For the 2026/2027 round, several embassy notices stated that "all applicants must provide a pre-admission document issued by the universities applying". Getting one usually takes weeks to months, which makes it the slowest step of the whole process. The university route (Type B) cannot wait until spring either: last year Chang'an University opened Type B on 1 November, closed its first batch on 28 February and its second on 15 April. Dates differ by university, and some set a separate deadline for the pre-admission letter, so check each one. See chapter 13.

3. Watch your local Chinese embassy's website. As of today, the 2027/2028 embassy notices have not been published. Last year, the earliest notice appeared on 21 October 2025 and most appeared between late October and November. The notice for your country will state your country's places, deadline and Agency Number. You can start the online application as soon as the notice is out; you do not need to wait until December.

4. Check your passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 12 months from your expected start date, which means valid until after September 2028. If it is not, renew it now and use the new passport details on every document.

1. Learn and self-checkOct
2. Choose routes and universitiesOct–Nov
3. Contact supervisors
   get pre-admissionOct–Jan
   Undergraduates take CSCANov–Jan
4. Submit onlineNov–Feb, Type B to Apr
5. Review and interviewsFeb–Jun
6. ResultsJun–Aug
7. Visa, travel, enrolmentAug–Sep

What this scholarship is

What you need to know

The Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS) is funding from the Chinese government for international students to study in China. It covers bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees, as well as non-degree study as a visiting scholar.

It is managed by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). That is why many people call it the "CSC scholarship". Both names refer to the same thing.

You will see these names again and again, so learn them now:

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in Micronesia, 2026/2027 notice: Campus China is the only official application website
• CSCA official website, exam introduction: the CSCA is organised by the China Scholarship Council

What the scholarship pays for, and what you pay for yourself

What you need to know

A full scholarship includes:

How the stipend is paid: the university pays it monthly. If you register on or before the 15th of a month, you receive the full stipend for that month. If you register after the 15th, you receive half. This rule comes from the official scholarship page of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and it is a good reason to arrive on time.

"Full scholarship" does not mean you pay nothing. You will usually pay these costs yourself, before the scholarship starts:

Why bring money for the first weeks: your stipend starts from the day you register, and the first payment often takes time to arrive. You will cover the first few weeks yourself.

The same stipend goes much further in some cities than others. Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen are expensive, and CNY 2,500–3,500 a month is tight there. Xi'an, Wuhan, Changsha, Chengdu and Harbin are much more comfortable. Make this part of how you choose universities.

Your checklist

• Estimate your total application costs (exams, notarisation and translation, medical exam, application fees)
• Set aside one to two months of living costs for your arrival
• Note the city next to each university on your shortlist and estimate the cost of living

Sources

• Xiamen University, 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship guide: stipends of CNY 2,500 / 3,000 / 3,500, insurance CNY 800 per year
• Chang'an University, 2026/2027 Type B notice: stipend amounts, CNY 600 non-refundable application fee
• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Government Scholarship: the rule on registering before or after the 15th
• CSCA official website, exam introduction: exam fees

Do you qualify?

What you need to know

These conditions come from embassy notices, and the wording is identical across many countries. They are the CSC minimum. Universities can ask for more, but they cannot lower these requirements.

General conditions:

• You are not a Chinese citizen and you hold a valid ordinary passport
• You are in good physical and mental health and can pass the foreigner medical examination
• If you are under 18, you must submit documents for a legal guardian in China
• You can apply before you graduate, using a certificate of enrolment or expected graduation from your school, but you must have your final degree before you register in China

How age is calculated: the Chinese Embassy in Chile's notice gives a clear method, using 1 September of the year of entry as the cut-off. For 2026 entry, undergraduate applicants had to be born on or after 1 September 2001. For 2027 entry, move each date forward by roughly one year, but follow the current notice from your own embassy.

Four common misunderstandings:

1. "The university accepts bachelor's students up to age 30, so I can get the CSC scholarship." No. A university's own age rule cannot go beyond the CSC limit.
2. "My last degree was taught in English, so I don't need IELTS." Not necessarily. Some universities accept a letter confirming English-medium instruction. Others insist on IELTS or TOEFL. Ask each university.
3. "The HSK requirement is the same everywhere." It is not. The levels above are minimums. Many universities ask for HSK 5 or higher, especially for humanities, social sciences and business.
4. "Married people can't apply." You can. Your marital status does not affect eligibility. Visas and housing for family members have to be arranged separately.

Your checklist

• Use the table above to confirm that your degree level and age qualify
• Decide whether your programme is taught in Chinese or in English
• If it is taught in Chinese, find the HSK level your target universities require and book the test
• If you have not graduated yet, ask your school for a certificate of enrolment or expected graduation

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas, 2026/2027 notice: education, age, HSK and CSCA requirements for all five categories
• Chinese Embassy in Chile, 2026-2027 notice: age calculated from 1 September

Three application routes: Type A, Type B and Type C

What you need to know

In the application system you must choose a Program Category. It decides who reviews your application.

Type A: through the Chinese embassy or a dispatching authority in your own country

• Received and pre-screened by the Chinese embassy in your country, or by your country's ministry of education, scholarship board or similar body
• Your country has its own places, so you only compete with applicants from your country
• Covers the widest range of levels, from bachelor's to senior scholar
• Some countries pre-select through a national body first, such as HEC in Pakistan, ICETEX in Colombia and Pronabec in Peru

Type B: directly through a Chinese university

• The university uses its own scholarship places
• You usually submit in two systems: the CSC application system and the university's own international admissions system
• There is no country quota. You compete with everyone in the world who applies to that university
• Especially suitable for master's and PhD applicants who already have a supervisor

Type C: other special programmes

• Used for programmes run with specific organisations
• Choose it only if a programme notice tells you to. Most applicants never use it

Within Type A there are two kinds of places, with different benefits:

A real example: in 2026/2027 the Bahamas had 1 bilateral place (flights included) and 3 unilateral places (flights not included). If you live far from China, a return flight can cost more than CNY 10,000, so this difference matters.

Real Agency Numbers from 2026/2027, shown so you know what they look like. Always use the current year's notice.

Your checklist

• Find the scholarship notice on your local Chinese embassy's website (search for "Chinese Government Scholarship" + your country + "embassy")
• Write down the Type A Agency Number, deadline, number of places, whether flights are included, and whether a national body pre-selects applicants
• For each Type B university, write down its Agency Number and deadline

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: 1 bilateral place with travel, 3 unilateral places without travel, Agency 0441
• Chinese Embassy in Brazil: Agency 0761
• Chinese Embassy in Ireland: Agency 3722
• Chinese Embassy in Colombia, application requirements: pre-selection through ICETEX
• Chang'an University, Type B notice: Agency 10710

Choose your degree level and teaching language

What you need to know

Make two decisions first. Everything else follows from them.

Decision 1: which level.

Decision 2: taught in Chinese or in English.

If you speak no Chinese but want a programme taught in Chinese, look for programmes with a one-year Chinese preparatory course. You study Chinese for a year and then start your degree once you pass. Whether this is offered depends on the programme and the university, so check the admissions notice.

Your checklist

• Write down the level you are applying for
• Write down your preferred teaching language and the language certificates you have or plan to take
• List 2–3 subject areas (keep them broad for now and narrow them down when you choose universities)

How good are your chances?

What you need to know

The CSC never publishes acceptance rates and does not publish a combined list of places per country. The numbers do exist, though, spread across individual embassy notices. We collected some of them to help you set realistic expectations.

The overall picture. In 2024–25 there were about 380,000 international students in China from 191 countries and regions. Roughly 8–12% hold a Chinese Government Scholarship. In other words, most international students in China pay their own way or have other funding. The CGS goes to a minority.

Places by country (2026/2027, from official embassy notices):

Four things these numbers tell you:

1. Places follow diplomatic relationships, not population. The Bahamas has 400,000 people and 4 places. Pakistan has 240 million people and 75 places. Per person, the Bahamas has more than 30 times as many places as Pakistan.
2. More places does not mean a chance for you. Indonesia has 20 places, but only for five subject areas. If you study law or computer science, those 20 places are not open to you. When you read an embassy notice, the subject restrictions matter more than the headline number.
3. Level restrictions can rule you out completely. Colombia's 30 places are for master's and PhD only, and Argentina's bilateral programme covers only master's, PhD and Chinese language study. If you are applying for a bachelor's degree from one of these countries, the Type A route basically doesn't exist for you.
4. Large and small countries are hard in different ways. Small countries have few places but also few applicants, so what counts is a complete application and a strong pre-admission letter. Large countries usually have a national selection round first (such as HEC in Pakistan), and that round is where the real competition happens.

"Not many people apply from my country. Does that make it easier?" Partly. Students from the Americas and Oceania together make up only about 7% of international students in China, while Asia makes up 61%. So applicant pools from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific islands really are smaller. Under Type A, though, that advantage is capped by the number of places and by level restrictions. Where it really pays off is Type B. Universities want students from many countries, and an application from a less common country stands out to an admissions office.

Difficulty by level may be the opposite of what you expect:

Four steps to estimate your own chances

1. Find your country's places. Open your Chinese embassy's scholarship notice and note the number of places and any subject restrictions. If no number is given, email and ask.
2. Judge how popular it is in your country. How many agents promote the CSC scholarship? How much do people discuss it online? The more popular it is, the more crowded Type A will be and the more valuable Type B becomes.
3. Check that you are covered. Make sure your level and subject are included in the places on offer.
4. Count your routes. Applying through a single Type A route is the weakest strategy. A safer combination is Type A + Type B + at least one non-CSC backup (a university scholarship, a provincial or city government scholarship, and so on).

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: 4 places, bilateral and unilateral
• Chinese Embassy in Indonesia: 20 places and subject restrictions
• Chinese Embassy in Chile: 5–8 places
• Chinese Embassy in Colombia, news report: 30 master's and PhD places per year
• Argentina Ministry of Education, bilateral scholarships: master's, PhD and Chinese language only
• Pakistan HEC, Chinese Government Scholarship: 75 places (quoted second-hand, we could not open the page directly)
• China Daily, 13 April 2026: 380,000 international students in China and their regional breakdown

Choose your combination of routes

What you need to know

Pick a combination that fits your situation:

How many applications can you submit in a year? A rule repeated widely online says: up to 3 applications per intake year, with at most 2 under Type A (not to the same office) and at most 1 under Type B (one university only).

Can you apply for the CSC scholarship and other scholarships at the same time?

• While applying, yes. You can apply for the CSC scholarship, university scholarships, provincial or city government scholarships, the Confucius Institute scholarship and others, as backups for each other.
• In the end you can only keep one. The embassy notice states that Chinese Government Scholarship students may not also hold other scholarships set up by Chinese governments at any level or by their university. One-time awards are an exception.
• Hiding it has serious consequences. If discovered, your scholarship is cancelled and you must pay back what you received. Anyone who deliberately hides their funding status cannot apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship again for 3 years.

So the right approach is: apply widely, but be honest in every system. If you receive more than one offer, choose one in writing as soon as you can and formally decline the others.

Your checklist

• Use the table above to write down your combination of routes (at least two)
• If you plan to submit more than one CSC application, email the embassy and the universities to confirm this is allowed
• Pick at least one non-CSC backup scholarship (see the end of chapter 8)

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: no other scholarships at the same time, one-time awards excepted, 3-year ban for hiding funding
• chinesescholarshipcouncil.com, applying to more than one university: source of the "2 Type A + 1 Type B" claim (no official source given on the page)

Choose your universities

What you need to know

Where to find universities that accept CGS students: the Campus China website has a list of universities that accept Chinese Government Scholarship students, and the CSCA website lets you look up universities that accept the CSCA. Choose only from these lists.

You will often see "985", "211" and "Double First-Class". Here is what they mean:

Look at these things when choosing a university. Ranking is only one of them:

1. Is your subject offered this year, in your teaching language?
2. Is the university strong in your field? Many universities with an average overall ranking are excellent in particular subjects.
3. Does the international office answer emails? People often overlook this. A university that replies quickly and clearly will make your whole application much smoother.
4. Cost of living in the city. See chapter 2.
5. Application fee, deadline, and whether a pre-admission letter is required.
6. Are there students from your country there already? If so, the university knows your country's education system.

Sort your shortlist into three groups:

• Reach: highly ranked and competitive, but a very close match for your subject
• Match: the subject, language and document requirements all fit you
• Safer: less competition and an established admissions process. Seriously consider non-211 universities here

Other scholarships worth considering alongside the CSC scholarship:

Your checklist

• Use the Campus China university list to find 8–12 universities that offer your subject in your teaching language
• For each one, check: programme list, teaching language, application fee, deadline, whether pre-admission is required, and the Type B Agency Number
• Send each university's international office a short enquiry email and record who replied and how fast
• Sort them into reach, match and safer, then narrow down to 3–6 universities
• Choose at least one non-CSC backup scholarship

Sources

• Campus China university list (the list linked from the official CSCA website)
• CSCA official website: "Universities accepting CSCA" search

Work backwards from your deadlines

What you need to know

This example is for September 2027 entry. CSCA dates come from the official website. Everything else is the usual pattern based on last year's embassy notices. Your country's actual dates are in its embassy notice.

Last year's Type A deadlines for some countries, so you can see the pattern (all in 2026): Brunei 9 January, Brazil 5 February, Indonesia and Estonia 8 February, the Bahamas 14 February, Ireland 15 February, Micronesia 24 February, Chile 28 February.

Your checklist

• Copy the table above into your own calendar and mark your country's deadline
• For each document, write a "start by" date and a "must have by" date

Sources

• CSCA official website, November 2026 to June 2027 exam schedule ("News" section on the home page, published 24 September 2026)
• Country deadlines: see the embassy notices listed in chapters 4 and 6
• Chinese Embassy in Estonia, 2026/2027 notice (published 8 November 2025): deadline 8 February, shortlist sent to the CSC 9–28 February, results in July and August
• Chang'an University, 2026/2027 Type B notice (published 6 November 2025): first batch 1 November to 28 February, second batch 1 March to 15 April; results by 30 June and 31 July

The complete document list

What you need to know

These are the standard documents listed in embassy notices. Each one must be scanned clearly and uploaded as a PDF. One embassy notice puts it plainly: use a proper scanner, because the applicant bears the consequences if a document is unclear or cannot be read.

Five rules:

1. Your name, date of birth, passport number, university name and subject name must match exactly across every document.
2. Any document not in Chinese or English needs a notarised translation.
3. Use a scanner. Don't take quick photos with your phone.
4. The medical exam and police certificate are each valid for only 6 months, so don't get them too early. For a February deadline, December or January is about right.
5. Keep your originals safe. You may need them for the visa and for registration.

Your checklist

• Make a folder with one subfolder for each document on the list
• Use consistent file names, such as Passport_YourName.pdf and Transcript_Bachelor_Notarised_YourName.pdf
• For each document, record its status, the date you received it and its expiry date
• Before you submit, check your name and passport number on every document one more time

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: full requirements for documents a) to m)
• Chinese Embassy in Indonesia: the same compulsory pre-admission document

The CSCA exam (essential for bachelor's applicants)

What you need to know

What the CSCA is: the China Scholastic Competency Assessment, an admissions test for international students who want to study for a bachelor's degree in China. It is organised by the China Scholarship Council and developed with experts from Chinese universities. Universities use it in undergraduate admissions and scholarship decisions. If you apply for a Chinese Government Scholarship bachelor's programme, you must take it. Master's and PhD applicants do not.

Subjects:

Which subjects you need for a Chinese Government Scholarship bachelor's programme:

• Compulsory: Mathematics and Professional Chinese. Your university and subject decide whether you take the humanities or the science version of Professional Chinese.
• Optional: Physics and Chemistry. Your target university and subject decide whether you need them.

Format: mainly taken online at home, with test centres gradually opening in key countries. Both formats have the same questions, length and marking.

Fee: CNY 450 for one subject, CNY 700 for two or more. Scholarship applicants take at least two subjects, so you will pay CNY 700.

Scores: each subject is scored out of 100. There is no pass mark for the CSCA itself. Each university sets its own requirements. From the November 2026 sitting onwards, scores are released within 10 working days of the exam.

All sittings from November 2026 to June 2027 (Beijing time, UTC+8):

Registration for the November sitting: 15–21 October 2026 (Beijing time). Registration dates for later sittings have not been announced yet. Exam times are in Beijing time, so convert them to your local time. Some sittings may fall in the middle of the night where you live.

Choosing a sitting: find your embassy and university deadlines and work backwards. Scores take up to 10 working days, so take the exam at least 3 weeks before your deadline. The safest plan is to sit in November or December, which leaves the January sitting as a retake if needed.

Registering:

• Register only on the official csca.cn website. There are no agents and no in-person registration
• Your account details must match your passport exactly (not verified: third-party sites give this advice, but the official registration page is only visible after logging in)
• Third-party sites say scores are valid for 2 years (not verified: the official public pages don't say)

Preparing: the "Preparation resources" section of the official website has the syllabus, study materials and a mock test, all free.

Your checklist

• Ask your target universities: humanities or science Professional Chinese? Do you need Physics or Chemistry? Should you take Mathematics in Chinese or English?
• Register on csca.cn for the November sitting between 15 and 21 October
• Convert the exam times to your local time and check your computer, internet connection and a quiet place to sit the test
• Download the syllabus from the official website and take a mock test
• Download your score report when results come out, ready to upload with your application

Sources

• CSCA official website, home page: November, December and January sittings, and November registration dates
• CSCA official website, exam introduction: subjects, number of questions, compulsory and optional subjects, format, fees, score release
• CSCA official website, "News: CSCA exam schedule November 2026 to June 2027" (24 September 2026): subject times for all six sittings
• chinesescholarshipcouncil.com, CSCA page: third-party claims on matching registration details and score validity
• CSCA exam support: cscasupport@cscdf.org

Language certificates

What you need to know

Programmes taught in Chinese: submit your HSK score report. The CSC minimum is HSK 4 for master's and PhD and HSK 3 for scholars, but many universities and subjects ask for more. HSK has fixed test dates and takes time to release results, so plan ahead.

Programmes taught in English: submit proof of English as the university requires. Common options are:

• IELTS
• TOEFL iBT
• Duolingo English Test (accepted by some universities)
• Cambridge English exams (accepted by some universities)
• A Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from the university where you studied, confirming your courses were taught in English

Applicants from English-speaking countries: many universities waive the English test, but you have to provide proof of your nationality or education yourself and confirm this by email.

Your checklist

• For each target university, note which language certificates it accepts and the minimum score
• If you need a test, book it now (make sure results arrive before your deadline)
• If you want to use an MOI letter, ask the university by email whether it's accepted before you request one from your school

Contact supervisors and get a pre-admission letter

What you need to know

Why this matters most right now: for 2026/2027, embassy notices for the Bahamas, Belgium, Indonesia and other countries stated that all applicants must provide a pre-admission document issued by the universities they apply to. Without one, your application is incomplete.

Three kinds of document, with very different weight:

Getting a pre-admission letter usually takes four steps:

1. Find the right professors or departments. Look up faculty lists on the university's school pages, read their papers from the last 2–3 years, and pick people whose research is genuinely related to yours.
2. Apply in the university's international admissions system. Many universities only issue a pre-admission letter after you have formally applied in their system.
3. Send everything at once. CV, transcripts, degree certificate, research proposal or study plan, and language scores, all together.
4. Wait, but follow up. If you hear nothing after 7–10 days, one polite follow-up is fine.

What to do depends on your level:

• PhD: contacting a supervisor comes first. Without one, a PhD application rarely succeeds.
• Research master's: strongly recommended.
• Taught master's and bachelor's: you usually apply to the university's international office for pre-admission directly, without needing a specific supervisor.

Write your own email. Don't use a template.

Professors receive a large number of almost identical emails every year, most of them built from the same few templates that circulate online, and they can tell straight away. A template email makes you look exactly like hundreds of other applicants. Your only advantage is the part nobody else could write.

After reading a good email, the professor should be able to answer these questions:

• Who are you? Your education, subject and university, in a sentence or two.
• Why this professor? Which specific piece of their research you read, and what in it genuinely connects to your own work. This has to be your own understanding after reading the paper, not general praise.
• What have you done? One concrete thing that shows what you can do, such as your thesis, a project or an experiment, ideally with a result.
• What do you want to study? The question you want to work on during your degree, in one sentence.
• What are you asking for? Ask clearly whether they would be willing to support your application.

On form:

• Send each email to one professor only. Never send a group email or copy several professors.
• Use a subject line that says who you are, what you're applying for and your research area
• Keep it short enough to read in a minute
• Attach only your CV and a short research proposal summary, and keep the files small
• Ideally send it between October and December of the year before you start

Following up: if there's no reply after 7–10 days, one polite follow-up is fine. Briefly remind them who you are and what you're applying for, and offer to send more documents. If there's still no reply, put your effort into other professors.

Once a professor says yes:

1. Submit your formal application in the university's international admissions system right away (if there are rounds, aim for the first one)
2. Ask who will issue the pre-admission letter and how long it will take
3. The letter can take weeks or even months to arrive, which is why starting early matters

Your checklist

• For each target university, find 2–3 professors whose research matches yours
• Read their recent papers and write a sentence or two for each on how their work connects to yours
• Prepare a one-page CV and a one-page research proposal summary
• Write each email yourself, one professor at a time, and record the date you sent it
• Follow up once after 7–10 days without a reply
• When someone agrees, submit your application in the university's system straight away and track your pre-admission letter

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: definition of the pre-admission document and the requirement to submit one
• Chinese Embassy in Belgium: the same requirement
• Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago: applicants must obtain pre-admission from their target institution

Write your study plan or research proposal

What you need to know

The difference between them:

• Study plan: for bachelor's, taught master's and non-degree applicants. It explains why you want to study this subject, why in China, why at this university, and what you plan to do afterwards.
• Research proposal: for PhD and research master's applicants. It explains the question you want to investigate, how you will investigate it, and why it is worth doing.

Official minimum length: 200 words for bachelor's, 500 for non-degree scholars, 800 for postgraduates. These are minimums. Postgraduate proposals of 1,000–1,500 words are common.

What a study plan covers:

1. Your academic background: what you studied and which projects you did
2. Why this subject: how it follows from your background and experience
3. Why China, why this university and school: name specific courses, labs and professors
4. What you plan to do during your studies
5. What you plan to do after graduating: what you will do back home and how you'll use what you learned

What a research proposal covers (suggested lengths):

Where reviewers most often mark applicants down:

• Only writing "China is developing fast" or "I love Chinese culture", with no academic content
• Sending the same plan to every university, so it's clear you don't know any of them
• Changing subjects without explaining why
• A PhD proposal with no research question, no methods and no literature
• A proposal that doesn't match the research of the supervisor you contacted

Your checklist

• Confirm whether you need a study plan or a research proposal, and the minimum length
• Write a first draft using the structure above
• Rewrite the "why this university" section for each university you apply to
• Ask a lecturer or a former applicant to read it, then revise again

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: minimums of 200, 500 and 800 words

Recommendation letters

What you need to know

Who needs them: master's, PhD and senior scholar applicants need two letters.

Who writes them: professors or associate professors, in Chinese or English.

What a good letter looks like:

• Printed on the recommender's institutional letterhead, with a signature, date, job title and contact details
• Explains how the recommender knows you and for how long
• Gives specifics: a course you did well in, research you did, papers you published, problems you solved
• Makes a comparison, such as "in the top 5% of students I have taught"

How to ask:

1. Ask at least 3–4 weeks in advance
2. Give your recommender your CV, transcripts, research proposal, and the 2–3 things you'd most like them to mention
3. Tell them the deadline and the format required (paper or electronic, sealed or not)
4. Send one polite reminder a week before the deadline
5. When you receive it, check the signature, date, letterhead and the spelling of your name

Your checklist

• Choose two recommenders (professors or associate professors)
• Prepare a pack for them: CV, transcripts, research proposal, the points you'd like them to emphasise, and the deadline
• Ask formally 3–4 weeks ahead and remind them a week before the deadline
• When you receive the letters, check the signature, date, letterhead and spelling

Medical examination form and police clearance certificate

What you need to know

These two documents cause the most trouble: each is valid for only 6 months, so get them too early and they expire, too late and you run out of time.

Foreigner Physical Examination Form:

• Required if you will stay in China for more than 6 months
• The form is designed by the Chinese quarantine authorities. Embassy notices say you can get it from your dispatching authority. Copies also circulate online, so make sure you are using the latest version
• It must be completed in English, and every item on the form must be done
• It needs the doctor's signature, the hospital stamp and your photo stamped across the edge. If anything is missing, it is invalid
• Valid for 6 months
• You upload a scan of a copy. Keep the original yourself, as you may need it after you arrive

Police clearance certificate:

• Issued by the police in the place where you live
• Usually must be issued within 6 months before you submit your application
• Needs a notarised translation if it is not in Chinese or English
• In some countries it takes several weeks, so ask early

When to do it: if your country's deadline is in February, December to January is about right.

Your checklist

• Download the latest version of the medical form and read every item on it
• Check whether your target universities require any extra tests
• Find a hospital that can do every item, and confirm it can provide the signature, stamp and stamped photo
• Find out how long the police certificate takes in your country and work back from your deadline
• When you have them, check the signatures, stamps, stamped photo and dates

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: full requirements for item l) medical examination and item m) police clearance

Filling in the CSC system, step by step

What you need to know

You reach the application system through the Campus China website. The login address is studyinchina.csc.edu.cn. You fill in the form in Chinese or English and upload documents as PDFs. Below is the usual order of steps. Button names can change slightly from year to year, so follow what the system actually shows.

Step 1: Create an account Register with an email address you use every day and verify it. Every notification will go to this address, so make sure you will keep using it and that you check your spam folder.

Step 2: Fill in your personal details After logging in, open your personal details page ("Edit Personal Details"). Your name, date of birth, nationality and passport number must match your passport exactly, including name order, spaces and hyphens. Check everything and save.

Step 3: Start an application and choose the category and Agency Number Choose the Program Category (Type A or Type B), then enter the Agency Number. The system checks that the two match, and a wrong number will produce an "agency not found" message.

• Type A: use the number from your country's embassy notice
• Type B: use the number from your target university's admissions notice

Step 4: Fill in the application details This covers your student category (bachelor's, master's, PhD, scholar), teaching language, subject, preferred universities and length of study. Under Type A you can list several universities in order of preference (commonly up to three; follow what the system allows). Under Type B you list only the one university you are applying to.

Step 5: Fill in your education and work history Use your degree certificate and transcripts as the source of truth for start and end dates, the full name of each institution and the name of your subject. If you are still studying, enter your expected graduation date. Copy your subject name as it appears on your transcript rather than translating it into something else.

Step 6: Fill in your contacts "Other Contacts" is usually a family member or emergency contact. It must be a real person who can be reached, with a working phone number and email.

Step 7: Upload your documents Upload each PDF from the list in chapter 10. This step takes the longest. Watch the file type and size limits shown by the system. If a file is too large, compress it, but make sure the text is still clearly readable afterwards.

Step 8: Preview, tick the declaration, submit Preview the whole application and check every item. Tick the applicant declaration and submit.

Step 9: Download and save the application form PDF After submitting, download the PDF of your application form that the system generates and keep it safe. Type B applicants usually upload it to the university's own system, and some countries' Type A processes ask you to give it to the embassy or a national body.

Extra steps for Type A

In many countries, Type A involves more than the CSC system:

• Some countries ask you to submit again on a national platform (for example ICETEX in Colombia or Pronabec in Peru)
• Some ask for paper documents at the embassy, while others state clearly that no paper documents are needed (for example the Bahamas and Brazil)
• Some hold a national written test or interview

All of this is in your country's embassy notice or in the national body's own rules. Read both.

Extra steps for Type B

1. Register in the target university's international admissions system
2. Choose the Chinese Government Scholarship application type
3. Upload your CSC application form PDF and any other documents the university asks for
4. Pay the application fee, if there is one (usually non-refundable)
5. You must submit successfully in both systems. If one is missing, your application is not complete

Your checklist

• Register in the CSC system with an email address you use every day
• Fill in your personal details with your passport in front of you
• Check that your Program Category and Agency Number come from this year's official notice
• Upload every document on the list
• Download the application form PDF after submitting
• Type A: complete any extra steps required by your national body or embassy
• Type B: complete the university application and pay the fee

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in Micronesia: login address studyinchina.csc.edu.cn
• Chinese Embassy in Brazil: Program Category and Agency Number, no paper documents required
• Chang'an University, Type B notice: university application system and fee

Final checks before you submit

Tick every item. Submit only when everything is done.

• I chose the correct Program Category (Type A or Type B)
• My Agency Number comes from this year's official notice, not from a social media post
• My name, date of birth and passport number match my passport exactly
• My subject and university names match my transcript and degree certificate
• Every document is clear and complete, with nothing cut off
• Every document not in Chinese or English has a notarised translation
• My medical form and police certificate are still valid
• My recommendation letters have signatures, dates and letterheads
• My study plan or research proposal meets the minimum length and names specific universities and supervisors
• My pre-admission document matches the university and route I am applying through
• Bachelor's applicants: my CSCA score report is uploaded
• I know whether the deadline is in Beijing time or local time
• I have downloaded and saved the application form PDF

Understanding your application status

What you need to know

After you submit, your status in the system will change. Here are the common statuses and what to do:

When results come out: last year's notice from the Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas said July to August. Applicants can check their results in the system themselves, and the embassy then tells successful applicants to download their admission notice and JW201 visa form.

Your checklist

• Check your email once a day, including the spam folder
• Log in to the system once a week to check your status
• If your application is returned, deal with it immediately and record the date you resubmitted

Preparing for interviews

What you need to know

Who gets interviewed: not everyone. Type B applicants are often interviewed by the school or the supervisor. Some countries' Type A routes include an interview with the embassy or a national body. Interviews are usually online.

Typical questions, by type:

Embassy interviews and university interviews look for different things:

• Embassy or national body interviews focus more on your motivation, what your study means for relations between the two countries, and what you'll contribute when you return home
• University or supervisor interviews focus more on your academic ability, whether your research plan is realistic, and how well you fit the supervisor's work

How to prepare:

1. Turn your research plan into a 3-minute spoken version and practise until you can give it without notes
2. Prepare 2–3 answers for each type of question, backed by concrete experiences and numbers
3. Test your camera, microphone and internet connection in advance, and choose a quiet, well-lit place
4. Prepare 2 questions to ask the interviewer, such as what projects the research group is working on now
5. Dress appropriately and join on time, in Beijing time

What if you're not invited to an interview? It doesn't mean you've been rejected. Many programmes don't interview at all. Just keep waiting for your result.

Your checklist

• Prepare a 3-minute spoken version of your research plan
• Prepare 2–3 answers for each type of question above and practise them out loud
• Prepare 2 questions to ask the interviewer
• Test your equipment and connection the day before

After the results

If you are admitted

1. Confirm your result in the system and download your admission notice and JW201 form. (Chinese Government Scholarship students receive the JW201. The JW202 is for self-funded students and doesn't apply to you.)
2. If you applied for other scholarships, choose one in writing as soon as possible and formally decline the others (see chapter 7)
3. Read the registration date and place on your admission notice carefully
4. Move on to Phase 6: visa and preparing to leave

If you receive more than one offer

Compare them in this order:

1. Is it a full scholarship?
2. Does the subject match your long-term goals?
3. Is the supervisor reliable? (Ask current students in the group)
4. The cost of living in the city
5. Whether the teaching language suits you
6. Graduation requirements (thesis, publication requirements)

If you are not admitted

This is common and doesn't mean you aren't good enough. Work through these steps:

1. Check which backups are still open: university scholarships, provincial and city government scholarships, the Confucius Institute scholarship. Some close later than the CSC scholarship
2. Ask whether you can enrol as a self-funded student and apply for a scholarship later: some universities offer scholarships to students who are already enrolled
3. Look back at what happened: too few places? Only one route? Incomplete documents? No pre-admission letter? A research plan that wasn't specific enough?
4. Prepare for next year: embassy notices usually come out in October and November. You can contact the same professors again next year and tell them what you've done since

Your checklist

• Admitted: download your admission notice and JW201, and confirm your registration date
• More than one offer: compare them in the order above, accept one in writing and decline the others
• Not admitted: list the backup scholarships that are still open and write notes on what to change next time

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: results checked in the system in July–August, admission notice and JW201 downloaded

Getting your student visa (X1)

What you need to know

To study in China for more than 180 days, you need an X1 student visa. The X1 only lets you enter China. It is not permission to stay long term. Within 30 days of arrival you must exchange it for a residence permit (see chapter 23).

Documents usually required (follow the requirements of the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa centre in your country):

• Your original passport (with enough validity and blank visa pages)
• Visa application form and photo
• Your admission notice, original and copy
• Your JW201 form, original and copy
• Some embassies also ask for the original medical examination form

Where to apply: the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country, or the Chinese Visa Application Service Center.

Your checklist

• Find the X1 visa document list and booking process for the Chinese visa centre in your country
• Prepare the original and copies of your admission notice and JW201
• Book early to leave time for processing and courier delivery
• Book your flight to arrive within the registration period on your admission notice, and if possible register before the 15th of the month (see the stipend rule in chapter 2)

Your first 30 days in China

What you need to know

Days 1–3:

• Register at your university. Bring your passport, admission notice and original JW201. Register on the date and at the place given on your admission notice. Missing the registration period can put your place at risk.
• Register your accommodation. If you live in a university dormitory, the university usually does this for you. If you live off campus, Article 39 of China's Exit and Entry Administration Law requires you or your landlord to register with the local police station within 24 hours of moving in.
• Get a Chinese SIM card. You need your passport, and the number is registered in your real name. Almost everything afterwards (banking, payments, university systems) needs a Chinese phone number.

Weeks 1–2:

• Open a bank account. Bring your passport, proof of enrolment or your admission notice, and your Chinese phone number. Your stipend will be paid into this account.
• Set up mobile payments. WeChat Pay and Alipay both accept foreign bank cards, and they are easier to use once you have a Chinese bank account.
• Get your medical check verified. Many cities require international students to have their medical results verified, or re-examined, at a designated local centre after arrival. Your university will tell you when and where.

Within 30 days (compulsory):

• Apply for your residence permit. Students who enter on an X1 visa must apply for a study residence permit at the exit-entry administration office of the local public security bureau within 30 days of entering China. Your university's international office usually guides everyone through this together and tells you what to bring. Your passport will be held for a while during processing, so plan any travel around that.

Your checklist

• Register at the university on time
• Confirm your accommodation registration is done (off campus: go to the police station yourself within 24 hours)
• Get a SIM card and a bank account, and set up WeChat Pay and Alipay
• Complete your medical check verification as your university instructs
• Apply for your residence permit within 30 days of entering China

Sources

• Peking University, visas and residence permits
• Fudan University, residence permits for new students
• Shanghai Municipal Government, FAQs on visas and residence permits for international students
• Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 39: accommodation registration

Keeping your scholarship

What you need to know

Winning the scholarship doesn't mean it is guaranteed until you graduate.

There is an annual review. Each year your university and the CSC review whether you still qualify. They usually look at:

• Your grades and credits
• Attendance and participation in class
• Your supervisor's or school's assessment
• Research progress (for postgraduates)
• Whether you follow university rules and Chinese law, and keep your residence documents in order

If you fail the review, your scholarship can be suspended or cancelled.

Your stipend is paid monthly. It starts in the month you register and is paid by the university into your Chinese bank account each month (see chapter 2 for the rule about the 15th).

Be especially careful with:

• Work and internships. Under the Exit and Entry Administration Law, a student who works beyond the scope or hours allowed for work-study is working illegally. Before any part-time job or internship off campus, get your university's approval and have it noted on your residence permit as required.
• Leaving China. Tell your university before you go home for the holidays or travel abroad. Long absences can affect your stipend. Follow your own university's rules.
• Holding other scholarships. A reminder: you can't also hold other scholarships from Chinese governments or your university, except one-time awards.

Your checklist

• When you arrive, ask about your university's annual review requirements and timing
• Keep up your attendance and complete your credits on time
• Ask your university before taking work or an internship, or leaving China for a long time

Sources

• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Government Scholarship: monthly payment and annual review
• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: no other scholarships at the same time
• Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 43: students working beyond the allowed scope or hours are working illegally

Practical checklist before you leave

What you need to know

These things look small, but they decide how smoothly your first month in China goes.

Money:

• Bring one to two months of living costs (deposits, bedding, transport, food, SIM card)
• Bring a bank card that works abroad to use until you open a Chinese account

Phone and internet:

• Install the apps you'll need before you leave, and tell your family how to reach you in China
• Some foreign websites and apps can't be accessed directly in China, so find out what internet services your university provides
• Get a Chinese SIM card as soon as you arrive

Everyday apps:

Clothes: the north and south of China have very different climates. Winters in Harbin reach minus 20–30°C, while summers in Guangzhou are hot and humid. Pack for your city.

Chinese: learn at least the basic phrases for asking directions, ordering food, paying, seeing a doctor and dealing with university offices.

Expectations: food, teaching styles and how things get done will all be different from home. Finding the first few months hard is normal. Universities usually have international student advisers and counselling services, so use them when you need to.

Your checklist

• Prepare your starting money and a bank card that works internationally
• Install the apps you'll need before you leave
• Pack for your city's climate
• Learn 20 everyday Chinese phrases
• Save the phone number and email of your university's international office

Spotting scams

What you need to know

The Chinese Embassy in Ireland's 2026/2027 notice states clearly that the China Scholarship Council has not authorised any individual or agency to apply for scholarships on anyone's behalf. Applicants must apply only through the official receiving agency and the designated online system, to avoid fraud.

If you see any of these, it is almost certainly a scam:

• Claims of "guaranteed admission", "inside places" or "partnership with the CSC"
• Charging money to fill in the CSC system or to apply for the scholarship for you
• Asking you to pay an "application fee" into a personal account
• Offering an "internal Agency Number"
• Asking you to apply on any website other than Campus China, an embassy, or a university's official system
• Promising "no pre-admission needed" or "a bachelor's scholarship without the CSCA"

Payments that are normal:

• An application fee charged by a university in its own official system
• Language test fees and CSCA fees (paid on the official csca.cn website)
• Notarisation, translation, medical examination and police certificate fees
• Visa fees

Your checklist

• Only use campuschina.org, studyinchina.csc.edu.cn, csca.cn, embassy websites and official university websites
• If someone offers to apply for you for a fee, check your embassy notice or email the embassy directly

Sources

• Chinese Embassy in Ireland, 2026/2027 notice: the CSC has not authorised any individual or agency to apply on applicants' behalf

Who to contact

Tips for emailing offices:

• Put your full name, the programme and the route you applied through in the subject line, so they know who you are and what it's about before opening it
• Ask about one thing per email and number your questions
• Include your application number if you have one
• If there's no reply after 5 working days, follow up politely once

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chinese Government Scholarship only for developing countries? No. Students from 191 countries and regions study in China, and embassies in many developed countries publish scholarship notices too (Ireland, Belgium and Estonia, for example). The number of places varies widely by country, though. See chapter 6.

Are the CSC scholarship and the CGS the same thing? Yes. CGS is the name of the scholarship and CSC is the organisation that manages it. People use the two names interchangeably.

I don't speak Chinese. Can I still apply? Yes. Choose a programme taught in English and submit IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted English certificate. See chapters 5 and 12.

Do bachelor's applicants have to take the CSCA? Yes. Chinese Government Scholarship bachelor's applicants take Mathematics and Professional Chinese, plus Physics or Chemistry if their university requires them. See chapter 11.

Do master's and PhD applicants take the CSCA? No.

I haven't graduated yet. Can I apply? Yes. Use a certificate of enrolment or expected graduation from your school. You need your final degree before you register in China.

I'm 26. Can I still apply for a bachelor's degree? Not with a CSC bachelor's scholarship. The age limit is under 25, and universities can't extend it. Consider a university scholarship or self-funding.

Do I have to contact a supervisor first? For a PhD, almost always. For a research master's, it's strongly recommended. Taught master's and bachelor's applicants usually just apply to the university for pre-admission. Many countries now require a pre-admission document from everyone, though. See chapter 13.

Where do I find the Agency Number? For Type A, in your country's Chinese embassy scholarship notice. For Type B, in the target university's Chinese Government Scholarship admissions notice. See chapter 4.

How many applications can I submit in a year? The rule repeated online is "at most 2 Type A + 1 Type B", but we couldn't find an official source for it. Check with your embassy and universities. See chapter 7.

Can I apply to the same university through both Type A and Type B? It may count as a duplicate application. Whether it's allowed is up to the university, so ask them before you submit.

Does the scholarship include flights? Bilateral places usually do. Unilateral places and Type B usually don't. See chapter 4.

Is the stipend enough to live on? In central, western and north-eastern cities it usually covers basic living costs. In Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen it's tight. See chapter 2.

When do results come out? Usually in July or August. See chapter 19.

What if I'm not selected? Check which university and provincial scholarships are still open, work out what went wrong, and prepare for next year. See chapter 21.

Can I change university after I win the scholarship? It's very difficult and needs several parties to agree. Choose carefully before you apply.

Can I work while I study? Only within the scope and hours allowed for work-study. Off-campus part-time work and internships need your university's approval and a note on your residence permit. See chapter 24.

An agent says they can guarantee admission. Can I trust them? No. The CSC has not authorised any agent to apply on anyone's behalf. See chapter 26.

Application tracker

Copy this table and add one row for each application. Update it once a week. The first row shows how to fill it in.

Recommended videos

These YouTube videos walk through the same application process and are useful for seeing what the screens look like as you read this guide. Our summaries are based on each video's title, chapters and description, and view counts were recorded on 8 October 2026. The videos were made in earlier years, so the system and rules may have changed since. Always follow the current official notice.

The points these videos keep coming back to match this guide:

• Contact supervisors early. Their support matters most for master's and PhD applications
• Know the difference between Type A and Type B, and never enter the wrong Agency Number
• Uploading documents is the slowest and most error-prone step
• Prepare for interviews, especially a spoken summary of your research plan

Further reading

These articles from chinesegovernmentscholarship.com are grouped by chapter, for when you want to go deeper on a topic.

Routes and your chances (chapters 4–7)

• CSC Type A vs Type B (2027): Should You Apply to Both?
• Bachelor vs Master vs PhD: Which Level Gives You the Best Shot at CSC?
• Beyond Rankings: Choosing a University with Higher Scholarship Odds
• Does City Selection Affect Your Chances to Win Chinese Government Scholarship?
• Can You Apply to the Same University in Type A and Type B? How to Avoid 'Double Application' Rejection
• How Many Universities Should You List in Type A? A Strategy That Doesn't Require 6 PALs

Choosing universities and other scholarships (chapter 8)

• Targeting Safe Schools: Non-211 Universities with Higher Acceptance Rates
• How to choose the right Chinese university for your Master's degree
• China Provincial Scholarships : The Only Way For Bachelor
• CSC scholarship vs university scholarship: key differences
• China-AUN Scholarship 2027: Complete Guide for ASEAN Students

Documents (chapters 10, 12 and 16)

• Complete list of documents for CSC scholarship application
• Notarized vs Sworn Translation vs Legalization: What These Words Mean in Real CSC Applications
• Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK) for CSC Scholarship: Complete Guide (2027)
• CSC English Proficiency Requirements: IELTS vs TOEFL vs Cambridge vs ITP (2027)
• No IELTS? No HSK? Don't Worries. How to Get Language Requirement Waivers for CSC?
• Medical examination for CSC scholarship: what to expect
• HIV, Syphilis, HBsAg, HCV, Cholera: Why Universities Ask for Different Medical Tests

Supervisors and written statements (chapters 13–15)

• How to Get a CSC Pre-Admission Letter (2027 Step-by-Step)
• CSC Without Contacting a Professor: When It Works (2027)
• How to write a study plan for CSC scholarship (with examples)
• How to write a research proposal for CSC scholarship
• Winning Recommendation Letters : A Guide for CSC Applicants

Filling in the system (chapter 17)

• How to fill out the CSC online application form (step by step)
• Agency Number Not Found: How to Tell You’re Using a Type B University Code by Mistake
• Applicant Declaration Checkbox Greyed Out on CSC Portal: Fixes That Actually Work
• CSC Portal 'Other Contacts' Section: What It Is, When It’s Mandatory, and What to Write
• Education Background on the CSC Portal: What’s Reviewer‑Critical vs ‘Nice to Have’

Interviews and results (chapters 20–21)

• CSC scholarship interview questions and how to answer them
• Why CSC Applications Get Rejected (2027) and How to Fix It
• What to Do If Your CSC Application Fails?
• How to choose between multiple CSC university offers
• What happens after CSC scholarship acceptance? (next steps)
• Can you change university after getting CSC scholarship?

After you arrive (chapters 23–25)

• Your First Week in China: A Step-by-Step Survival Guide
• Visa, Police Registration and Residence Permit: What to Do After You Land in China
• How to Get a Chinese SIM Card and Phone Number (2027 Guide)
• How to open a Chinese bank account as an international student
• WeChat Pay and Alipay for International Students in China (2027)
• Cost of living in China for international students (2027 breakdown)
• CSC Scholarship Renewal & Annual Review: What Happens Each Year (2027)
• Mental Health & Wellness for International Students in China: A Realistic Guide (2027)

Official resources

Official notices cited in this guide (2026/2027 round):

• Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas: https://bs.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/sggg/202510/t20251028_11742714.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Indonesia: https://id.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sgdt/202510/t20251027_11741674.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Ireland: https://ie.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/tz/202511/t20251121_11757227.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Micronesia: https://fm.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/xwdt/202510/t20251021_11737164.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Belgium: https://be.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sghd/202511/t20251111_11751167.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago: https://tt.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sgxw/202601/t20260107_11807431.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Brazil: https://br.china-embassy.gov.cn/por/sghds/202511/t20251108_11749408.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Chile: https://cl.china-embassy.gov.cn/esp/fzxz/202510/t20251028_11742685.htm
• Chinese Embassy in Colombia: https://co.china-embassy.gov.cn/esp/sghd/202512/t20251210_11769877.htm
• Xiamen University, 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship guide: https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/info/1038/1863.htm
• Chang'an University, 2026/2027 Type B notice: https://webplus.chd.edu.cn/en/2025/1106/c8645a256964/page.psp
• University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Government Scholarship: https://ic-en.ucas.ac.cn/page/chinese-government-scholarship
• CSCA exam introduction: https://csca.cn/about/examintro