The Bilateral Program is actually the original and most traditional form of the Chinese Government Scholarship. It is what most people mean when they talk about “CSC Type A” or “embassy route” scholarships. But the term confuses many applicants because it sounds like a separate program. Let us clear that up.
What is the bilateral program?
The Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program is a scholarship agreement between China and specific countries. Under these agreements, the Chinese government allocates a set number of scholarship spots to each partner country. The partner country’s government (usually through the embassy or ministry of education) selects and nominates candidates.
This is the Type A channel that we reference throughout our guides. If you have read about applying “through the embassy” for CSC, you are reading about the Bilateral Program.
Who qualifies?
Eligibility depends on your country’s bilateral agreement with China:
- Citizens of countries that have signed educational cooperation agreements with China
- Usually any degree level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, General Scholar)
- Must meet the age and health requirements set by CSC
- Nominated by the relevant authority in your home country
The number of slots per country varies based on the bilateral agreement. Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Indonesia typically receive some of the largest allocations.
Benefits
The Bilateral Program provides the same full CSC scholarship package:
| Benefit | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Fully covered |
| Accommodation | University dormitory |
| Living stipend | CNY 2,500/month (Bachelor), CNY 3,000/month (Master), CNY 3,500/month (PhD) |
| Health insurance | Comprehensive medical insurance |
| Settling-in allowance | One-time allowance upon arrival |
How it differs from other CSC programs
CSC actually runs several programs under the Chinese Government Scholarship umbrella:
| Program | Application Route | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral Program | Through embassy/government nomination | Country-level slot allocation |
| Chinese University Program | Through university directly (Type B) | University nominates you to CSC |
| Great Wall Program | Through UNESCO | For UNESCO developing country members |
| EU Window Program | Through specific EU member institutions | EU citizens only |
The Bilateral Program is the most common and the one with the largest number of slots globally. When people say “CSC scholarship,” they usually mean either the Bilateral Program or the Chinese University Program.
How to apply
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Find the announcement. Check the Chinese Embassy in your country and your national Ministry of Education for the annual CSC Bilateral Program announcement. It usually appears in December-February.
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Register on the CSC online system at campuschina.org. Select “Type A” when prompted.
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Enter your country’s agency number. Each country has a designated agency number that identifies embassy-route applications.
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Choose up to 3 university preferences on the form.
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Submit both online and in hard copy to the embassy or your national nominating authority.
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The embassy reviews and shortlists. They forward recommended candidates to CSC in Beijing.
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CSC makes the final decision. Results come May-July.
Tips
Know your agency number. Every country has a numeric code used in the CSC online form. Your embassy announcement will include this code. Getting it wrong can cause your application to be mis-routed.
The embassy is a filter. Your application must first impress your country’s embassy or education authority before it even reaches CSC. Understand what your specific embassy looks for. In some countries, they prioritize PhD over Master’s applications. In others, they balance across fields.
Apply through both channels. The Bilateral Program (Type A) and the Chinese University Program (Type B) are not mutually exclusive. You can and should apply to both. Read our comparison of the two channels for the full strategy.
Avoid common mistakes. Embassy-level rejections happen for preventable reasons: missed deadlines, incomplete documents, inconsistent information between online and paper applications. Our red flags guide covers these in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bilateral Program the same as CSC?
Yes, it is one program under the CSC umbrella. “Bilateral Program” is the official name for the embassy-route (Type A) scholarship.
Can I apply for the Bilateral Program from any country?
Only from countries that have active bilateral education agreements with China. This covers most countries in Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America and Europe.
How many spots does my country get?
This varies by the bilateral agreement. Your embassy should know the approximate allocation. Larger partner countries (Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Bangladesh) typically get more.
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