To meet the growing international demand for Chinese language teachers, facilitate Chinese language education around the world, and support the professional development of Chinese language teachers, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) has established the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship (hereinafter referred to as the Scholarship) for eligible Chinese language teachers outside of China. Confucius Institutes, independent Confucius Classrooms, selected HSK test centers, foreign educational institutions, Chinese language teacher training programs/Chinese departments at foreign universities, professional associations for Chinese language teaching, Chinese embassies (consulates) abroad (hereinafter collectively referred to as Recommending Institutions) may recommend outstanding students and in-service Chinese language teachers to further their studies in international Chinese language education and related programs at Chinese universities (hereinafter referred to as Host Institutions). Xiamen University is among the universities that recruit international students under this scholarship scheme.
Xiamen University (XMU), founded in 1921 by renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee, was the first Chinese university established by an overseas Chinese person. XMU has long been listed among China’s leading universities on the national 211 Project, 985 Project and Double First-Class Initiative, which have been launched by the Chinese government to support selected universities in achieving world-class standing. Nestled snugly between green hills and the blue sea, XMU is renowned as one of the most beautiful universities around the world for its excellent education facilities and beautiful environment.
Xiamen University currently comprises Siming Campus, Zhangzhou Campus, Xiang’an Campus and XMU Malaysia. XMU consists of a graduate school, six academic divisions, 35 schools and 17 research institutes. In 2022, six XMU disciplines –Chemistry, Marine Science, Biology, Ecology, Statistics and Pedagogy – were included in the nation’s list of disciplines for achieving world-class status. XMU ranks among ESI’s global top 1% in 19 disciplines, with chemistry, materials science and engineering in ESI’s global top 1‰. XMU currently has a faculty of nearly 3,000, of whom 74% are full or associate professors. Among them, 15 are the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. XMU currently has an enrollment of more than 47,000 students, including over 21,000 students in bachelor’s degree programs, 20,000 in master’s degree programs, and 6,000 in doctoral degree programs.
XMU implements a comprehensive global outreach strategy. The University has signed cooperation agreements with 277 overseas universities. Actively involved in international Chinese education, XMU has built 14 Confucius Institutes, one Chinese Language and Culture Research Center, 34 Confucius Classrooms in 12 countries on five continents, the highest numbers with the most extensive geographic coverage among Chinese universities on the List of “Double First-Class” Universities. The establishment of XMU Malaysia was approved in September 2013, which makes XMU the first Chinese university to open an international campus.
I. ELIGIBILITY
1. Be a non-Chinese citizen;
2. Be friendly to China, have no criminal record, abide by the laws and regulations of China and the rules and regulations of the Host Institution;
3. Be in good physical and mental health, be in good academic and behavioral standing;
4. Be interested in Chinese language education and related work;
5. Be aged between 16 and 35 years on September 1, 2026. The maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45, but those who apply for a scholarship for a Bachelor’s degree shall be younger than 25 under most circumstances.
Notes:
Foreign citizens of Chinese origin, including former Chinese citizens who have obtained foreign citizenship, as well as the non-Chinese descendants of present or former Chinese citizens, will be subject to a preliminary review of citizenship status by XMU during the admission stage, and to verification of citizenship by the entry and exit administration department of China's public security authorities. Applicants who fail to pass the preliminary review or verification of citizenship will be deemed to have voluntarily relinquished their eligibility for admission, as well as the subsequent academic registration that they may obtain.
II. CATEGORIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
1. Scholarship for Master's Degree in International Chinese Language Education
The program commences in September 2026 and provides scholarship for a maximum of two academic years. Applicants shall hold a Bachelor's degree, and have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 5) as well as 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level). Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.
2. Scholarship for Bachelor's Degree in International Chinese Language Education (the major of Chinese language)
The program commences in September 2026, and the scholarship is provided for a maximum of four academic years. Applicants shall hold a senior high school diploma and have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 4) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level). Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.
3. Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Study
The program commences in September 2026, and provides scholarship for a maximum of eleven months. International students who have benefited from similar scholarships within 3 years are not eligible.
i. International Chinese language education programs: Applicants shall have a minimum score of 270 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.
ii. Chinese Language Study: Applicants shall have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK test (Level 3). Priority will be given to applicants who provide an HSKK test score.
4. Scholarship for One-Semester Study
The program commences either in September 2026 or March 2027, and provides scholarship of a maximum of five months. International students who have benefited from similar scholarships within 3 years are not eligible. Applicants for the area of international Chinese language education shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.
5. Scholarship for Four-Week Study
The program commences either in July or December, 2026, and provides a four-week scholarship. For the areas of Chinese Study, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiji Culture, Chinese Language plus Home-Stay Experience in a Chinese Family, and Special Four-week Program for Confucius Institutes, applicants are required to provide HSK test scores. The program may be organized and applied for by a recommending institution with 10-15 participants per group. Prior to the trip, a detailed study plan shall be made in consultation with host institutions and such plan shall be submitted to CLEC for approval.
III. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Online registration on the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship application website (http://cis.chinese.cn) will be available from March 1st, 2026. For programs commencing in September, student application must complete before May 15th. Please log on to search for recommending institutions and host institutions; upload application materials online; and track the application progress, comments and results. Scholarship holders need to confirm with the host institutions to go through the procedures of studying in China, print out the scholarship certificate online, and register at host institutions on the designated date as per the letter of admission.
The application deadlines (Beijing Time) are:
1. For programs commencing in July (Four-Week Study Program), student application must complete before April 15th; recommending institutions and Xiamen University must complete review before April 25th;
2.For programs commencing in September, student application must complete before May 15th; recommending institutions and Xiamen University must complete review before May 25th;
3. For programs commencing in December (Four-Week Study Program), student application must complete before September 15th; recommending institutions and Xiamen University must complete review before September 25th;
4. For programs commencing in March 2027 (One-Semester Study Program), student application must complete before October 31th, 2026; recommending institutions and Xiamen University must complete review before November 10th, 2026.
CLEC will entrust an expert panel to review the applications. Decisions will be made based on HSK and HSKK levels and scores, geographical distribution, and other factors. The results will be published about three months before the program starts.
IV. Application Documents for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship
Please refer to the attached list of application materials for the International Chinese Teachers Scholarship.
Applicants should also provide other supporting documents required by the University according to the provisions of the relevant enrollment regulations of the University or other practical needs:
1.Admissions Guide for the Long-Term Chinese Language Program:
https://oec.xmu.edu.cn/en/Program/Long_term_Chinese.htm 2. Application Guide to Bachelor's Programs:
https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/Admissions/Undergraduate_Students.htm
3. Application Guide to Master's Programs:
https://admissions.xmu.edu.cn/Admissions/Master_s_Students.htm
V. Policies Regarding Currently Employed Chinese Language Teachers and Chinese Bridge Award Recipients
1.In-Service Chinese Language Teachers
Priority will be given to In-service Chinese language teachers who provide proof of employment and a letter of recommendation from the employer.
2. Chinese Bridge Winners
Applicants who have won the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Certificate in various Chinese Bridge competitions should submit their application documents along with their scholarship certificates to Xiamen University on the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship website.
For further inquiry, please contact chinesebridge@chinese.cn.
VI. OTHERS
1. In principle, applicants who have received a similar scholarship within three years are not eligible for the One-Semester Study Program or One-Year Study Program.
2. For course schedule in the program of Chinese Language and International Chinese language education, as well as the training plan of the Four-Week Study programs, please contact Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College of Xiamen University at oec@xmu.edu.cn.
3. Applicants shall be familiar with the specific criteria and deadlines for registration, and submit necessary documents according to specific requirements.
4. Degree students are subject to the annual assessment according to the Annual Appraisal Procedures of International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship.
5．For enrollment and other matters, please contact us in a timely manner.
6. Students who fail to pass the pre-enrollment medical examination, withdraw from school midway, or fail to report to school or suspend their studies without permission will be disqualified for scholarship.
7. The English version of this Guide is provided for reference and as a general guide only. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese versions, the Chinese version shall prevail. This application guide may be adjusted by the latest notice from the competent department of scholarship or the requirements of our university.
VII. CONTACTS
Division of Scholarships, Center for Language Education And Cooperation
Email: scholarships@chinese.cn
Tel: +86-10-58595743
+86-10-58595999 (Asia, Africa)
+86-10-5859595973 (America, Oceania )
+86-10-58595827 (Europe)
Website: http://cis.chinese.cn
Office of Admissions and Examinations, Xiamen University
Add: 422 South Siming Road, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China 361005
Tel: +86 (0)592 2184792, 2188375
Fax: +86-592-2180256
Email: admissions@xmu.edu.cn
Web: http://admissions.xmu.edu.cn
Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College of Xiamen University (for the management and teaching of the programs of Chinese language and International Chinese language education)
Tel: +86 (0) 592 2186211
Fax: +86 (0) 592 2093346
Email: oec@xmu.edu.cn
Website: http://oec.xmu.edu.cn
VIII. APPENDIXES
Appendix 1
International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Coverage and Standard
The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation fees, living allowance (excluding Four-Week Study Program students), and comprehensive medical insurance.
1. Tuition is managed comprehensively by the Host Institution for the training and management of scholarship students, the organization of cultural activities, and the administration of Chinese proficiency tests.
2. Accommodation fees are managed comprehensively by the Host Institution to provide free on-campus housing (generally double rooms) for students. If a scholarship student applies for and receives permission from the Host Institution to live off-campus, the Host Institution will issue a monthly or quarterly accommodation allowance. The allowance is RMB 1,000/month for doctoral students and RMB 700/month for other scholarship categories.
3. The living allowance is distributed by the Host Institution on a monthly basis. The standard rate for undergraduates, One-Year, and One-Semester students is RMB 2,500/month; for Master’s students in International Chinese Language Education is RMB 3,000/month; and for Doctoral students in International Chinese Language Education is RMB 3,500/month.
Scholarship students must register at the Host Institution by the time stipulated in the Admission Letter; failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the scholarship.
Students who register on or before the 15th of the month will receive the full monthly allowance; those who register after the 15th will receive half of the monthly allowance.
If a scholarship student leaves China for personal reasons for more than 15 days during the study period (excluding winter and summer breaks), the living allowance will be suspended for the duration of their absence.
If a scholarship student suspends their studies, withdraws from school, or receives disciplinary action from the Host Institution for personal reasons, the living allowance will be suspended starting from the date of suspension, withdrawal, or penalty notification.
For graduating students, the living allowance is issued up to half a month after the graduation date confirmed by the school.
4. Comprehensive medical insurance expenses are implemented in accordance with relevant regulations from the Ministry of Education of China regarding international students studying in China and are purchased by the Host Institution. The standard for Four-Week Study Program students is RMB 100/person; for One-Semester Study Program students is RMB 400/person; and for students studying for more than one year is RMB 800/person/year.
Appendix 2
List of Application Materials for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship
I. General Documents (Required for All Applicants)
1. Scanned copy of passport photo page.
2. Scanned copy of HSK and HSKK score reports (valid for two years).
3. Recommendation letter from the head of the Recommending Institution.
II. Additional Documents for Degree Students
4. Proof of highest academic qualification (or proof of expected graduation) and academic transcripts.
5. Doctoral students in International Chinese Language Education must provide two recommendation letters from associate professors or professors or experts with equivalent professional titles in relevant fields. They must provide a personal statement in Chinese (approx. 3,000 words), detailing their understanding of the intended major and their research plan. Priority will be given to applicants who provide an employment agreement (or equivalent proof) from a teaching institution for post-graduation employment.
6. Master’s Students in International Chinese Language Education) must provide recommendation letters from two supervisors holding the title of associate professor or above. Priority will be given to applicants who provide an employment agreement (or equivalent proof) from a teaching institution for post-graduation employment.
III. In-service Chinese Language Teachers must attach proof of employment and a recommendation letter issued by their employer.
IV. Applicants under the age of 18 must submit entrusted guardianship documents signed by a guardian in China.
Applicants must also provide any other proof materials required by the Host Institution.
