Study in China for Free in 2027: 11 Scholarships and What They Cover
Published on March 7, 2026 · Updated on November 8, 2026 | By Foorsa Team
Yes, you can study in China for free in 2027. The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) pays tuition, campus accommodation, medical insurance and CNY 2,500–3,500 a month. Its 2027/2028 cycle has been open since late October 2026.
“Free” still leaves three bills: the flight, the CSCA fee (undergraduates) and your personal spending.
The free routes in 2027
| Route | What it covers, and how you apply |
|---|---|
| CSC Type A Bachelor's, master's, PhD (+ a language year if needed) | Covers: Tuition, campus accommodation, medical insurance, monthly stipend Apply: Through the Chinese embassy or government channel of your country, on campuschina.org |
| CSC Type B Bachelor's, master's, PhD (+ a language year if needed) | Covers: Same as Type A Apply: Directly to a CSC-designated university, on campuschina.org |
| CSC Bilateral Program (Morocco–China) Master's, PhD | Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, round-trip airfare Apply: Moroccan nationals only, through the Moroccan Ministry of Education |
| Belt and Road Scholarship Bachelor's, master's, PhD | Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance Apply: Chinese Ministry of Education; Morocco eligible, priority to STEM |
| Confucius Institute Scholarship (CIS) Language, bachelor's, master's | Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance Apply: CLEC; HSK 3+ for language, HSK 4+ for degrees; age 16–35 |
| MOFCOM Scholarship (Ministry of Commerce) Master's, PhD | Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, teaching materials Apply: 1+ year of work experience; economics, trade, public administration |
| Provincial Government Scholarships All levels | Covers: Full or partial tuition, monthly stipend, sometimes accommodation Apply: The province of your university; rules vary by province |
| Beijing Government Scholarship (BGS) All levels | Covers: Tuition, living allowance, accommodation subsidy Apply: Enrol at a Beijing university |
| Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) All levels | Covers: Full or partial tuition; living allowance for top students (levels A, B, C) Apply: Enrol at a Shanghai university |
| Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship Bachelor's, master's, PhD | Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation allowance Apply: Enrol at a Zhejiang university |
| University Full Scholarships Bachelor's, master's, PhD | Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, free or subsidised accommodation Apply: The university itself; rules vary |
| Chinese Language Scholarship (Foundation Year) Language year | Covers: 50–100% of language-year tuition; priority admission to a degree afterwards Apply: Chinese universities via Foorsa; March and September intakes |
Source: Foorsa's scholarship data. Not free, but it cuts the bill: University Partial Scholarships (25–75% off tuition), offered by almost every university. Find your match with the scholarship finder.
What CSC pays you each month
| Level | Monthly stipend | ≈ in MAD |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | CNY 2,500 | ≈ 3,700 MAD |
| Master's | CNY 3,000 | ≈ 4,400 MAD |
| PhD | CNY 3,500 | ≈ 5,100 MAD |
Plus the tuition waiver, campus accommodation and medical insurance. Indicative rate, November 2026: 1 CNY ≈ 1.46 MAD. Results usually come in summer; classes start in September.
Undergraduates: no CSCA, no CSC
- Who: every CSC university has required the CSCA from undergraduate applicants since the 2026 intake, scholarship or not. The 2027/2028 CSC application includes a “CSCA Score Report” appendix.
- Subjects: Mathematics (all majors); Physics or Chemistry for science, engineering and medicine; Professional Chinese for all scholarship applicants and Chinese-taught programmes.
- Next sessions: 19–20 Dec 2026, 23–24 Jan, 13–14 Mar, 24–25 Apr and 26–27 Jun 2027. Register on csca.cn.
- Fee: ¥450 for one subject, ¥700 for two or more (≈ 650 / 1,000 MAD). Online from home (proctored) or at a test centre.
- No pass mark: each university sets its own scores. Results within 10 working days, valid 2 years.
Practise free: full timed mock exam and lessons. Full guide: CSCA test guide.
What “free” does not cover
| Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Flight to China | Not covered by CSC. In Foorsa's data, only the bilateral Morocco–China programme includes round-trip airfare |
| CSCA fee (undergraduates) | ¥450–700 (≈ 650–1,000 MAD) |
| X1 visa | 0 MAD until 31 Dec 2026; check the embassy for 2027. Express service: +300 MAD |
| Personal spending | Phone, transport, clothes and anything beyond the stipend |
Foorsa's arrival package bundles the flight from Casablanca, airport pick-up to the university, Chinese snacks and a first meal (Harbin, Nanjing, Qingdao, Tianjin, Jinan).
Apply for CSC 2027 in 5 steps
- Pick your route: Type A (embassy or government channel) or Type B (a CSC-designated university).
- Undergraduates: sit the CSCA in December or January if your deadline falls in February or March.
- Prepare the file: diploma and transcripts (notarized, translated), study plan, physical examination form, CSCA Score Report. Full checklist.
- Submit on campuschina.org before your deadline. 2027 examples: 14 Feb (Chinese embassy in Indonesia, Type A), 20 Mar (Nankai University, Type B). Every embassy and university sets its own date.
- Results usually come in summer; classes start in September 2027. Then the X1 visa.
Step-by-step CSC guide: CSC scholarship guide.
4 rules that raise your odds
- Apply to several, accept one. You can hold only one scholarship at a time, so file 3–5 applications: CSC, the provincial scholarship of your university's city, the university's own.
- Spread the risk. One top university, one or two mid-tier, one safe choice.
- Write one study plan per university. 800–1,000 words that name the programme. No copy-paste from templates.
- Submit 1–2 weeks early. Never on the last day.
Want a free route for September 2027?
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