Application Guide for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship Of Soochow University (2026)
ELIGIBILITY
All applicants shall be:
1. Be a non-Chinese citizen;
2. Maintain a friendly attitude toward China, have no criminal record, and abide by the laws and regulations of the Chinese government and the rules and regulations of the Host Institution;
3. Be in good physical and mental health, and demonstrate strong academic performance and conduct;
4. Be committed to working in Chinese language education, teaching, and related fields;
5. Be between the ages of 16 and 35 (as of September 1, 2026). The age limit is extended to 45 for in-service Chinese language teachers.
SCHOLARSHIP TYPES AND QUALIFICATIONS
1. One-Year Study Program
The program commences in September 2026, with a scholarship duration of up to 11 months.
(1) International Chinese Language Education: Applicants must score at least 270 on the HSK (Level 3) and possess an HSKK score.
(2) Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy, etc.: Applicants must score at least 180 on the HSK (Level 4) and 60 on the HSKK (Intermediate Level).
(3) Chinese Language Study: Applicants must score at least 210 on the HSK (Level 3). Priority will be given to those who provide an HSKK score.
2. One-Semester Study Program
The program commences either in September 2026 or March 2027, with a scholarship duration of up to 5 months.
(1) International Chinese Language Education, Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy, etc.: Applicants must score at least 180 on the HSK (Level 3) and possess an HSKK score.
(2) Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiji Culture: Applicants must possess an HSK score. Priority will be given to those who provide an HSKK score.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Starting March 1, 2026, applicants may visit the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship section of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation website (http://www.chinese.cn). On the site, applicants can search for Recommending and Host Institutions, submit application materials online, and track the progress of their application, including review comments and final results. Scholarship recipients must confirm enrollment procedures with the Host Institution and register by the date stipulated in the Admission Letter.
Deadlines (Beijing Time):
1. September admission: Student applications close May 15; Recommending/Host Institution reviews close May 25.
2. March 2027 admission: Student applications close October 31; Recommending/Host Institution reviews close November 10.
Centralized Review by Expert Panel: CLEC will commission an expert panel to conduct a centralized review. Funding decisions will be based on HSK and HSKK scores, while also considering geographical distribution and other factors. The review process will be completed, and results announced, approximately three months prior to enrollment.
The scholarship provides tuition fee, accommodation fee, living allowance and comprehensive medical insurance. The monthly allowance for one-year and one-semester students is 2500RMB.
CONTACT
Please apply for Soochow University as your first choice and fill in the following information in the “Emergency contact and telephone in China” section:
Name: Xia Wenjia
Tel: +86-512-65223787
Fax:+86-512-65223403
Email: wjxia@suda.edu.cn
Add: School of Overseas Education, Main Campus, Soochow University, No.333 Ganjiang Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. 215006