Shanghai Conservatory of Music CSC Scholarship 2026 — Full Guide
Complete guide to applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) at Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, Shanghai.
Quick Overview
| Scholarship | Type B (Chinese University Program) |
| Degree Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, General Scholar, Senior Scholar |
| Deadline | January – April 2026 (varies by channel) |
| Monthly Stipend | ¥2,500 (Bachelor's) · ¥3,000 (Master's) · ¥3,500 (PhD) |
| Language | English or Chinese (program-dependent) |
| Agency Number | 10278 |
CSC Scholarship Benefits at Shanghai Conservatory of Music
The Chinese Government Scholarship at Shanghai Conservatory of Music is fully funded and covers:
- Full tuition waiver — all academic fees covered
- On-campus accommodation — university dormitory provided free of charge
- Monthly stipend — ¥2,500 (Bachelor's), ¥3,000 (Master's), ¥3,500 (PhD)
- Comprehensive medical insurance — provided by the Chinese government
- Settlement allowance — one-time payment upon arrival
International travel costs are not included and must be arranged and paid by the student.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the CSC scholarship at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a citizen of a country other than the People's Republic of China
- Be in good health and meet the physical examination requirements
- Bachelor's applicants: high school diploma, under 25 years old
- Master's applicants: bachelor's degree, under 35 years old
- PhD applicants: master's degree, under 40 years old
- Meet the language requirements of the chosen program (English proficiency or HSK for Chinese-taught programs)
- Not be receiving any other Chinese government scholarship at the time of application
Available Programs & Subjects
Shanghai Conservatory of Music offers a wide range of programs for international students across multiple faculties. For the most up-to-date list of programs accepting CSC scholarship students, visit the university's international admissions page or search for Shanghai Conservatory of Music on the CSC Study in China portal.
How to Apply — Step by Step
There are two main channels to apply for the CSC scholarship at Shanghai Conservatory of Music:
Channel 1: Apply Directly to Shanghai Conservatory of Music (University Route)
- Contact a professor — email potential supervisors at Shanghai Conservatory of Music with your CV and research interests. Securing an acceptance letter greatly improves your chances.
- Create your CSC account — register at campuschina.org and begin the online application. Use agency number 10278.
- Complete the CSC application form — fill in your personal details, education history, study plan, and preferred program.
- Upload and prepare documents — gather all required documents (see checklist below) and upload them to the CSC portal.
- Submit to Shanghai Conservatory of Music — also apply through Shanghai Conservatory of Music's own international admission portal if required.
- Wait for results — results are typically announced between June and August.
Channel 2: Apply Through Your Country's Embassy (Bilateral Route)
- Check your embassy's deadline — contact the Chinese embassy or your country's education ministry for the bilateral program deadline and requirements.
- Complete the CSC online application — same process as above at campuschina.org.
- Submit to your embassy — deliver printed application materials to the designated authority in your country.
- Embassy nominates candidates — your embassy shortlists and forwards applications to CSC.
Required Documents
Prepare the following documents for your CSC application to Shanghai Conservatory of Music:
- CSC Application Form (printed from campuschina.org)
- Highest degree diploma (notarized copy)
- Academic transcripts (notarized copy)
- Study plan or research proposal (minimum 800 words)
- Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors
- Valid passport copy
- Foreigner Physical Examination Form (completed within 6 months)
- Language proficiency certificate — English: IELTS/TOEFL (or university attestation); Chinese: HSK certificate
- Acceptance letter or pre-admission letter from Shanghai Conservatory of Music (if available)
- Published papers or academic achievements (if applicable, especially for PhD)
- No Criminal Record certificate
All documents not in Chinese or English must be notarized translations.
Application Deadline
| Application Channel | Typical Deadline |
|---|---|
| University Direct (Shanghai Conservatory of Music) | February – April 2026 |
| Embassy / Bilateral Program | December 2025 – March 2026 (varies by country) |
| CSC Online System Closes | Usually end of April 2026 |
Always verify exact deadlines on the Shanghai Conservatory of Music website and your country's embassy.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Shanghai Conservatory of Music can be an excellent strategic choice with lower competition than top-tier universities.
- A well-written study plan matters even more at less competitive universities — show clear motivation and research direction.
- Contact professors directly through the university website. Smaller universities often have more responsive faculty.
- Submit your application as early as possible. Late applications often face stricter review.
- Have all documents professionally translated and notarized well before the deadline.
About Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Introduction
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SHCMusic) is a municipal public college in Shanghai, China. It is affiliated with the City of Shanghai and is part of the Double First-Class Construction. The college was founded on November 27, 1927.
History
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music is a music institute famous at home and abroad. It grew out of the National Conservatory of Music (Guoli yinyueyuan 国立音乐院), which was established by Cai Yuanpei on November 27, 1927. Dr. Xiao Youmei (Shio Yiu-mei) was the director of the new school and curriculum. His teachings were based on the Leipzig Conservatory of Music, where he graduated. Its founding was a major milestone in modern music education in China.: xvi It was considered the premiere institution for Western music learning. Professors came from as far as Russia and France. Several of the original professors were recruited from Russian emigres who had fled the Russian civil war (1918-1922) to China.
It was renamed several times: National Training School of Music (1929), Branch of National Conservatory of Music (1943), Shanghai National Training School of Music (1945), Shanghai and Huadong Branches of Chinese Conservatory of Music (early 1950s). It received its current name in 1956.
Programs
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music consists of 4 departments. It involves six disciplines and 23 sub-disciplines, some traditional, the others newly developed.
The conservatory supports a high-level music research institute, a specialized music library with a large collection, a first-class museum of Asian instruments, and a unique music publishing house.
A six-year secondary school and a three-year elementary section were established in 1953 and 1956 to prepare better candidates for tertiary education, thus forming a self-contained system with a complete curriculum of music and academic education.
Three art centers integrate teaching, performing and scientific research: Zhou Xiaoyan International Opera Center, International String Academy, and International Piano Art Center. The conservatory has established six performing groups: Symphony Orchestra of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, New Ensemble, String Quartet, Percussion Ensemble, National Music Orchestra and Choir.
Shanghai Conservatory of Music maintains close relationships with many first-class conservatories and famous musicians, including collaborations with schools in the US, France, UK, Russia, Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Germany and Japan. Many internationally well-known musicians such as Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Yuri Shishkin, Leon Fleisher, Pinchas Zukerman, Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo Ma have served as honorary or guest professors.
Rankings and reputation
As of 2021, Shanghai Conservatory of Music ranked no.4 nationwide among universities specialized in Arts in the recognized Best Chinese Universities Ranking and ranked the best in China in the "Music and Dance" subject.
Shanghai Conservatory of Music is regarded as the most prestigious music and arts school in China. It ranked 2nd in China after (the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing) and 43rd in the world by the 2022 QS World University Rankings in Performing Arts. It ranked 10th in Music and 30th in Performing Arts in the world by the 2024 QS World University Rankings by subject.
Departments
Degree awarding departments
| Department | Duration | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | Master's degree | Doctorate degree | |
| Voice and Opera | 5 years | 3 years | 3 - 6 years |
| Musicology | 4 years (Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair)
5 years (Musicology) | ||
| Composition and Conducting | 4 years (Solfeggio)
5 years (Others) | ||
| Piano | 4 years | ||
| Orchestral Instruments | |||
| Traditional Chinese Instruments | |||
| Music Engineering | |||
| Modern Instruments and Percussion | |||
| Arts administration | / | ||
| Music Education | |||
| Musical Theatre | |||
| Digital Media Art School | |||
Other departments
- General Education
- School of Marxism
- Secondary Professional Music School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Directors of the Conservatory
Source:
- Cai Yuanpei 蔡元培 (1927-1928)
- Xiao Youmei 萧友梅 (1928-1940)
- Li Weining 李惟宁 (1940-1945)
- Dai Cuilun 戴粹伦 (1945-1949)
- He Luting 贺绿汀 (1949-1984)
- Sang Tong 桑桐 (acting, 1984-1986)
- Sang Tong 桑桐 (1986-1991)
- Jiang Mingdun 江明惇 (1991-2000)
- Yang Liqing 杨立青 (2000-2009)
- Xu Shuya 许舒亚 (2009-2014)
- Lin Zaiyong 林在勇 (2015-2018)
- Liao Changyong 廖昌永 (2019-)
Faculty and student body
The conservatory has 50 professors and 120 associate professors. There are approximately 1,200 students.
Notable faculty and alumni
Faculty
- Huang Tzu (1904-1938), composer
- He Luting (1903-1999), composer, alumnus and former president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The main music hall on campus was later named after him.
- Ding Shande (1911-1995), composer, alumnus and former vice president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
- Zhou Xiaoyan (1917-2016), operatic soprano, former vice president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
- Wen Kezheng (1929-2007), operatic bass, former Director of the Department of Vocal Music and Opera
- Zhu Jian'er (1922-2017), Chinese symphonic composer and songwriter
- Vladimir Shushlin (1896-1978), Russian vocal teacher
- Liao Changyong, operatic baritone, alumnus and the president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music
- Ying Huang, operatic soprano, alumnus and professor at the Department of Vocal Music and Opera
- Yingdi Sun, pianist, alumnus and the deputy director of the Department of Piano
- He Xuntian, composer, alumnus and professor at the Department of Composition and Conducting
Alumni
- Lü Ji - composer of revolutionary music
- Yi-Kwei Sze - bass-baritone
- Wang Jianzhong - composer and pianist
- Min Huifen - erhu musician
- Muhai Tang - conductor
- Jianyi Zhang - operatic tenor
- Wei Song - operatic tenor
- Rui Shi Zhuo - composer
- Jampa Tsering - singer and dancer
- Yang Erche Namu - writer and singer
- Jian Wang - cellist
- Yu Long - conductor
- Liu Fang - pipa musician
- Jiaxin Cheng - cellist
- Du Yun - composer, performer, performance artist
- Shenyang - bass-baritone
- Yu Di - singer
- Chang Shilei - singer, music producer and songwriter
- Yu Guanqun - operatic soprano
- Chen Zhiyi - composer and music producer
- Ying Fang - operatic soprano
- Mei Gui Zhang - operatic soprano
- Cai Chengyu - operatic tenor
- Zhou Yi - pipa musician
Disclaimer: The university information above is sourced from Wikipedia and may not reflect the most current data. We recommend verifying details on the official Shanghai Conservatory of Music website.
External Links
- uhpress.hawaii.edu
- paiyin.net
- shanghairanking.com
- shanghairanking.cn
- topuniversities.com
- topuniversities.com
- topuniversities.com
- shcmusic.edu.cn
- shcmusic.edu.cn
- wap.xinmin.cn
- shcmusic.edu.cn
- shcmusic.edu.cn
- en.shcmusic.edu.cn
- admissions.cn
- admissions.cn
- isni.org
- viaf.org
- d-nb.info
- id.loc.gov
- catalogue.bnf.fr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CSC scholarship deadline for Shanghai Conservatory of Music?
Does Shanghai Conservatory of Music require an acceptance letter for CSC?
What is the monthly stipend at Shanghai Conservatory of Music?
Can I study in English at Shanghai Conservatory of Music?
What is the agency number for Shanghai Conservatory of Music?
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Join the CGS World Community on TelegramRankings sourced from Shanghai Ranking — BCUR 2025. University descriptions sourced from Wikipedia where available.