studyinchina.helpYES China scholarship paperwork: pre-admission letter first, then the online application
For the 2026 intake, the notice for the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China says applicants should have received a pre-admission letter from one of the subprogrammes at least when they apply. The application is then submitted online through the Chinese Government Scholarship System. The online deadline for that intake was 23:59 on March 31, 2026 (GMT+8). That deadline has passed. This article was checked on 10 October 2026, so look for the current notice from the China Scholarship Council (Campus China) before planning any step.
Application approach
Section 4 of the notice, "Application approach," has two parts.
1) Online application
The notice says applicants should log on to the Chinese Government Scholarship System and submit application materials "before 23:59 on March 31, 2026 (GMT+8)."
Applicants "should have received a pre-admission letter from one of subprograms at least when they apply."
When applying online, applicants choose "Type A" for "Scholarship Type." The notice prints the agency code as 1563. Applicants need to find "Youth of Excellence Scheme of China."
2) Handling of applications
The China Scholarship Council accepts individual applications directly. It reviews the materials submitted by applicants and then arranges expert review.
Time and steps for the 2026 intake
Section 6 of the notice, "Time and steps," lists the following rows. The numbering is the notice's own.
| No. | Time | Step | What the notice says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January through March 2026 | Application preparations | Applicants prepare application materials as required and apply for pre-admission letter from the intended university. |
| 2 | 31 March | Online application | For online application, applicants need to log in through the login address printed in row 2 of the table. |
| 3 | May | Documents review | A panel of experts arranged by the China Scholarship Council review the application documents to determine who to enroll. |
| 4 | June | Enrollment announcement | Admissions outcomes are publicized and documents for admission are sent. |
| 5 | July & August | Visa to China application | Those who have been accepted go to Chinese embassies or consulates to obtain study visas and prepare to study in China. |
| 6 | September | Commencement of study in China | Students arrive at the university, complete registration and obtain the residence permits. |
Row 1 is the only row that mentions the pre-admission letter as a step you prepare. Row 2 is the online step itself.
Assessment and enrollment
Section 5 of the notice, "Assessment and enrollment," has two items.
1) "The application materials will undergo a preliminary examination by the China Scholarship Council."
2) "China Scholarship Council will arrange a second examination by a panel of experts. The final enrollment results will be announced after expert review."
Applicant requirements
These conditions come from section 3 of the notice for this scheme. They are conditions of the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China, not general admission rules for self-funded students.
1) "An applicant must be a citizen of a country other than the People's Republic of China, and be under the age of 45 in good health both mentally and physically."
2) "An applicant must have a bachelor's degree or higher degree and at least three years of work experience. Those with professional training or work experience related to the proposed program will be given preference."
3) "An applicant must fall into one of the following four categories:" ① A government official at the division chief level (or equivalent level) or above; ② A senior manager of an institution or enterprise; ③ An administrator of a university or scientific research institution; ④ Those who have relevant employment or internship experience in international organizations.
4) "The pre-admission letter given by the university must contain all of the necessary information of registration, such as personal information, the admission date and major's information. It cannot contain any information about having received or promised to receive Chinese government scholarships."
Item 4 is the only item in section 3 that deals with the pre-admission letter's content.
Suggestion, not a rule
Before you start, read the full current notice from the same publisher. Check that its deadline and steps match the intake you are applying for. Do not rely on the 2026 dates in this article for a later intake.
Questions people ask
Do I apply to the China Scholarship Council directly?
Section 4, part 2, of the notice says the China Scholarship Council "accepts individual applications directly." It then reviews the materials submitted and arranges expert review.
When must I have the pre-admission letter?
Section 4, part 1, says applicants "should have received a pre-admission letter from one of subprograms at least when they apply."
What was the online deadline for the 2026 intake?
The notice gives it as "before 23:59 on March 31, 2026 (GMT+8)." That deadline has passed. Look for the current notice from the same publisher for later intakes.
Sources
- Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship, China Scholarship Council (Campus China)
Checked 10 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, the National Immigration Administration, any embassy or any university, and it is not legal advice. If it differs from the official text, the official text and the current notice of the office handling your case prevail.