“Belt and Road scholarship” is a term you see often in Chinese university listings, and it confuses many applicants. Is it one scholarship? Multiple? Different from CSC? This guide untangles what Belt and Road scholarships actually are and how to apply for them in 2026.
What are Belt and Road scholarships?
There is no single “Belt and Road Scholarship” in the way there is a CSC scholarship. Instead, “Belt and Road” is a label that many Chinese universities, provinces, and organizations use for scholarship programs that prioritize students from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). These are separate from CSC, though the benefits are often similar.
Common forms include:
- University-specific BRI scholarships at institutions like Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong, and Xiamen University
- Provincial BRI scholarships funded by provincial governments
- Silk Road scholarships (the original name for the Xi’an and Shaanxi region version)
- ANSO and CAS-linked BRI funding for science students
What they all share is a focus on applicants from BRI partner countries and programs that align with the economic and developmental goals of the initiative.
Who qualifies?
Most Belt and Road scholarships are open to citizens of BRI partner countries. The list is long and includes most of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Latin America. If your country has signed a BRI cooperation agreement with China, you likely qualify.
Some programs are further restricted by field (engineering, economics, environmental science) or degree level (Master’s and PhD are more common than Bachelor’s).
Benefits
Benefits vary by program, but typical BRI scholarships cover:
| Benefit | Typical Coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Full or partial waiver |
| Accommodation | Dormitory or housing allowance |
| Living stipend | Varies (some match CSC rates, some are partial) |
| Health insurance | Usually included |
| Airfare | Sometimes (not always) |
Some BRI scholarships cover only tuition, while others are full-ride equivalents. Read the specific terms carefully.
How to find and apply
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Check university websites. Many Chinese universities list their BRI or Silk Road scholarships on their international admissions pages. Search for “[University Name] Belt and Road scholarship” or “[University Name] Silk Road scholarship.”
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Provincial scholarship listings. Some provinces actively recruit BRI students. Read our guide to provincial scholarships for a starting point.
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Apply directly to the university. Most BRI scholarships are Type B-style: you apply to the university, and they award the funding. No embassy involvement is needed.
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Contact a professor. For Master’s and PhD, securing a supervisor’s agreement strengthens your application. This is similar to CSC. Our guide to choosing universities by scholarship odds can help you pick institutions strategically.
How does it compare to CSC?
| Feature | Belt and Road Scholarships | CSC |
|---|---|---|
| Funding source | Universities, provinces, or organizations | Chinese national government |
| Centralized application | No (each program is separate) | Yes (campuschina.org) |
| Country priority | BRI countries explicitly | All countries, but BRI gets soft priority |
| Competition | Often lower (less well-known) | High |
| Benefits | Varies (partial to full) | Always full for Type A/B |
| Degree focus | Master’s and PhD mainly | All levels |
The main advantage of BRI scholarships is lower competition. Many applicants do not know these exist, which means fewer applications per spot.
Tips
Search by province, not just by university. Provincial governments sometimes offer dedicated BRI scholarships that apply to multiple universities in the province. Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Shanghai have been active in this space.
Stack with partial funding. Some BRI scholarships cover only tuition. You can sometimes combine these with other funding (university assistantships, home country grants) to cover living costs.
Your degree level affects options. Most BRI scholarships target Master’s and PhD students. For Bachelor’s level, see our comparison of how degree levels affect scholarship outcomes.
Silk Road scholarships in Xi’an. Shaanxi Province, home to the ancient Silk Road starting point of Xi’an, runs prominent Silk Road scholarships. Xi’an Jiaotong University and Northwestern Polytechnical University are key institutions.
Frequently asked questions
Is BRI scholarship the same as CSC?
No. They are separate funding sources. You can apply to both.
Can I apply for BRI scholarships from any country?
Most require you to be from a BRI partner country. The list is large, but check the specific program.
Do I need HSK?
Only for Chinese-taught programs. English-taught programs under BRI scholarships do not require HSK.
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