For the purpose of supporting the development of Confucius Institutes, facilitating international promotion of Chinese language and dissemination of Chinese culture, as well as cultivating qualified Chinese-language teachers and excellent Chinese-language learners, Confucius Institute Headquarters/Hanban (hereinafter referred to as Hanban) launches a “Confucius Institute Scholarship” program to sponsor foreign students, scholars and Chinese language teachers to study Chinese in relevant universities of China (hereinafter referred to as “Host Institutes” ).

Category of Scholarship and Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship of 2014 is divided into 5 categories:

Scholarship for Students of Master's Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages（MTCSOL）,

Scholarship for Students of One-Academic-Year + MTCSOL,

Scholarship for Students of Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages（BTCSOL）,

Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Students,

Scholarship for One-Semester Students.

Scholarship for Four-Weeks Students.

Applicants shall be non-Chinese citizens in good health, aged between 16 and 35 (Chinese language teachers in post shall be aged below 45, and applicants for BTCSOL scholarship should be aged below 20).

1. Scholarship for Students of MTCSOL: The scholarship is oriented at excellent students from Confucius Institutes (Classrooms), overseas local Chinese language teachers, winners of the "Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students and for Foreign High School Students, excellent foreign college graduates majored in Chinese and outstanding performers on HSK exams, to undertake a Master's Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages. The scholarship winner shall begin the study in autumn 2015 and the duration of scholarship is two academic years. The applicant should have a bachelor degree or its equivalent, get a score of at least 180 on the HSK (level 5) and a score of at least 50 on the HSKK (intermediate level), or a score of at least 180 on the BCT (B) and at least 260 on the BCT (spoken Chinese) . The applicant make a written commitment stating that he/she will be engaged in Chinese language teaching for at least 5 years after graduation. The applicant with a specific teaching post arranged will be given prior admission (certification by the institution he/she will teach for is required). Scholar winner who passes the annual assessment with the score of at least 180 on the HSK (level 6) and the score of at least 70 on the HSKK (intermediate level) by the first-academic-year after admission, is qualified for continuing the scholarship. Hanban will provide support for outstanding graduates to teach in their home countries.

2. Scholarship for Students of One-Academic-Year + MTCSOL: The scholarship is oriented at students from Confucius Institutes in Africa and Latin America regions, who are interested in Chinese Language teaching. Time of enrollment for scholarship winners is autumn, 2015, and the duration is three academic years. The applicant shall sign an agreement with the Confucius Institute or an institute he/she will teach for. The Applicant is required to have a bachelor degree or its equivalent and achieve a score of at least 180 on the HSK (level 3) and a score of at least 60 on the HSKK (primary level), or a score of at least 180 on the BCT(A) and at least 180 on the BCT (spoken Chinese). Those who pass the first-academic-year assessment, score at least 180 on HSK (level 5) and at least 50 on HSKK (medium level) can proceed with their study in China for the Master’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages. Hanban will support graduates to teach Chinese in their home countries by recruiting them as local teachers, providing wage subsidies, etc.

3. Scholarship for Students of BTCSOL: The scholarship is oriented at students from Confucius Institutes in Asia (except Japan, Korea, Singapore, Israel) Latin America and Africa, who are interested in Chinese Language teaching. Scholarship winners will major in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (or Chinese in the direction of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages). Time of enrollment for scholarship winners is autumn, 2015, and the duration is four academic years. Applicants should have a high school degree or above, and meanwhile get no less than 180 scores in HSK (level 3) and at least 40 scores in HSKK (intermediate level), or at least 180 on the BCT (A) and at least 220 on the BCT (spoken Chinese). Students who pass the first-academic-year assessment with the score of at least 180 on the HSK (level 5) and at least 50 on the HSKK (intermediate level) are entitled to continue to receive the scholarships in the following year.

4. Scholarship for One-Academic Year Students : The scholarship is oriented at outstanding students of Confucius Institutes (Classrooms), overseas local Chinese language teachers, winners of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students and for Foreign High School Students, excellent foreign college students majored in Chinese, outstanding performers on the HSK, and those who intend to become Chinese teachers. The scholarship winner may choose to study in majors including Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History and Chinese Philosophy. The time of entrance is autumn 2015 and the grant term is one academic year with the training target for HSK level 5 and HSKK intermediate level. Applicants should achieve a score of at least 180 on the HSK (level 3) and at least 60 on the HSKK (primary level), or at least 180 on the BCT (A) and at least 180 on the BCT (spoken Chinese).

5.Scholarship for One-Semester Students : The scholarship is oriented at excellent students of Confucius Institutes (Classrooms), winners of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students and for Foreign High School Students, overseas local Chinese language teachers, excellent foreign college students majored in Chinese, and outstanding performers on the HSK. The scholarship winner may choose to study in majors including Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History and Chinese Philosophy. The time of entrance is autumn 2015 or spring 2016, and the grant term is one semester with the training target for HSK level 4 and HSKK intermediate level. Applicants should achieve a score of at least 120 on the HSK (level 2) and at least 40 on the HSKK (primary level), or at least 100 on the BCT (A) and at least 120 on the BCT (spoken Chinese).

6. Scholarship for Four-Weeks Students：The scholarship is oriented at excellent students of Confucius Institutes (Classrooms) with a priority of language study and supplemented with cultural study. The time of enrollment is July to August, 2015 for four weeks. Applicants need to take HSK or BCT exam and submit a score report, with no prior experience of studying in China. Hanban will adjust the arrangement according to applicants’ language level to assign host institutes for their study.

Scholarship Coverage and Criteria

Scholarship winners are exempt from tuition, accommodation fees on campus, and are provided with monthly living allowance, and comprehensive insurance for foreign students studying in China. Monthly living allowances are provided at the following rates (CNY Yuan per month):

a. CNY 2,500 for Bachelor’s Degree Students ,One-Academic-Year Students and One-Semester Students.

b. CNY 3,000 for Master’s Degree Students.

Recruitment Procedures

From the issue date of the Procedures, applicants can log on to the Confucius Institute Scholarship website at http://cis.chinese.cn, set up an individual account, read information and introduction of host institutes and majors, complete and submit the Confucius Institute Scholarship Application Form online. The deadline is May 10.

Confucius Institutes (independently set-up Confucius Classrooms), overseas Chinese test centers, educational and cultural offices (sections) of Chinese Embassies (Consulates), host institutes and institutions of higher education in those countries with no Confucius Institutes are entrusted by Hanban as the recommending institutions. The recommending institutions shall examine the qualification and application materials of applicants, and submit the list of recommended applicants to Hanban by May 20th, 2015.

Host institutes are responsible for reviewing the qualification of applicants and submitting the proposed enrollment name list of qualified candidates to Hanban by May 31st, 2015.

Hanban will organize an expert panel to make the final selection, and publish the name list of successful applicants on the Scholarship website by June 15th, 2015. Hanban will also inform the host institutes and the recommending institutions, and the recommending institutions will inform the applicants.

The host institutes will post “Admission Letter”, “Enrollment Instructions”, “Visa Application Form for Foreigners to Study in China" (JW202 Form) and other related materials to successful applicants through their recommending institutions.

Application Documents

pplicants should log onto the Scholarship website, fill out the “Confucius Institute Scholarship Application Form”, and attach the electronic files of the following materials:

1. Photocopy of passport photo page.

2. Photocopies of HSK、HSKK score reports.

3. Notarized highest education diploma attained（scheduled graduation proof or official proof of student status）.

4. Reference letter and letter of commitment. The BTCSOL Scholarship applicants should submit pre-admission notice issued by the host institutes designated by Hanban. The MTCSOL Scholarship applicants are required to submit two reference letters from professors or associate professors (in Chinese or English) and a written commitment stating that the applicant will be engaged in Chinese language teaching for at least 5 years after graduation (written in Chinese and signed). College students majored in Chinese in countries with no Confucius Institutes established shall submit a reference letter signed and issued by the university President.

5. Applicants under the age of 18 shall submit relevant legal documents of entrusted legal guardians in China.

6. Winners of the finals of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competitions for Foreign College Students and for Foreign High School Students in China shall submit the certificate of scholarship. Winners of preliminary rounds of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competitions in their countries shall submit award proof and a reference letter from the Chinese Embassy (or Consulate) in the competition area.

7. Chinese language teachers shall submit the proof of the length of time in teaching and weekly teaching hours provided by institutes they work for.

8. Those applying for scholarship of One-Academic-Year + MTCSOL are required to provide the agreement signed with the Confucius Institute or the institute which they will be working for.

9. Other materials required by host institutes.

Notices:

1. If the name on application is inconsistent with the name on the attached passport scanning file, or relevant certification material is incomplete, the application will be invalid.

2. If the scholarship winner cannot register for certain reason, he/she shall inform the host institute 15 days prior the registration day with a written explanation. Those who cannot complete registration without any reason, the scholarship qualification will not be remained and no longer have the qualification of applying the scholarship.

3. Scholarships will be canceled for those who cannot pass the health examination.