China Foreign Affairs University CSC Scholarship 2026 — Full Guide

Double First Class

Complete guide to applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, Beijing.

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	10040

CSC Scholarship Benefits at China Foreign Affairs University

The Chinese Government Scholarship at China Foreign Affairs University 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 China Foreign Affairs University, 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

China Foreign Affairs University 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 China Foreign Affairs University 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 China Foreign Affairs University:

Channel 1: Apply Directly to China Foreign Affairs University (University Route)

Contact a professor — email potential supervisors at China Foreign Affairs University 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 10040.
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 China Foreign Affairs University — also apply through China Foreign Affairs University'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 China Foreign Affairs University:

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 China Foreign Affairs University (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 (China Foreign Affairs University)	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 China Foreign Affairs University website and your country's embassy.

Tips for a Strong Application

China Foreign Affairs University 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 China Foreign Affairs University

Introduction

Public university in Beijing, China

China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU; Chinese: 外交学院; lit. 'Diplomacy Academy') is a public university of foreign service in Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The institute is part of the Double First-Class Construction.

Since its foundation, there have been over 300 ambassadors and thousands of senior diplomats among the alumni of CFAU, gaining the university a reputation as "the cradle of Chinese diplomats". At present, CFAU has two campuses. The first began operating in 1956; the second one came into service in 2012.

The university maintains two campuses in Beijing: the newer Zhanlanguan Rd Campus (展览馆校区) in Xicheng and the original Shahe Campus (沙河校区) in Changping.

History

China Foreign Affairs University was founded in 1955 with the advice of then-Premier Zhou Enlai, and is affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the university is not to be confused with the University of International Relations, also in Beijing). The predecessor of CFAU was the Department of Diplomacy of Renmin University of China. Vice Premier and Foreign Minister of China Chen Yi was the president of the university from 1961 to 1969. The university was forced to close during the years of Cultural Revolution. It was reopened in 1980 under the auspices of Deng Xiaoping. Most of the former presidents of CFAU are ambassadors. The current president is Wan Fan (王帆), specialist in international relations, and its party secretary is Qi Dayu. Before 2005, the university was called the Foreign Affairs College in English.

Academic

The courses of study offered include foreign languages (English, French and Japanese), foreign policy, international politics and relations and diplomacy, international law and economics. The university awards bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. China Foreign Affairs University also holds short-term courses for Chinese civil servants and for foreign diplomats.

CFAU, along with the East Asia Security Centre, began hosting the East Asia Security Forum and Conference (EASCC) in 2001.^: 4 Presenters at the EASCC symposium include Chinese academics, government officials, ambassadors, senior Chinese Communist Party officials, and senior People's Liberation Army officials.^: 4 EASCC is attended by foreign academics, foreign government and military representatives, and representatives of international bodies and corporations.^: 4

Model United Nations

Model United Nations (MUN) is the most renowned student activity of CFAU. On June 3, 1995, CFAU organized the 1st Model United Nations Conference. It was the first of its kind held in China and attended by Chinese students.

In 2002, together with UN Association of China, CFAU organized the 1st Beijing Model United Nations Conference (BMUN. Its name changed into Beijing International Model United Nations (BIMUN) since 2017). It was the first inter-university MUN in China and was later listed as one of the three most prestigious university MUNs.

In 2004, CFAU again cooperated with UN Association of China and hosted the 1st China Model United Nations Conference (CNMUN).

Praise and criticism

On July 1, 2008, then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised CFAU as "the cradle of Chinese diplomacy; an institution that has firmly established itself as an authoritative forum in active and inter-active discussions on issues concerning China and its expanding role in the international community" in his address given at the university.
Former French President Jacques Chirac on April 29, 2009, called CFAU "the institute of higher education which cultivates top talents for Chinese diplomacy."
US Ambassador to China Gary Faye Locke celebrated CFAU as "China's incubator of diplomatic talent" at the Opening Ceremony of U.S.-China Joint Training Program for Afghan Diplomats at CFAU.

In recent years, CFAU has been criticized for putting too much emphasis on the study of foreign languages at the cost of diplomatic training and education, and some consider many Chinese foreign affairs personnel no more than translators or interpreters.

Fund scandal

In 2013, during a thorough investigation by the National Audit Office of the PRC, noncompliance was discovered in the procurement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, involving more than 52 million RMB. Among them, about 38 million RMB was associated with the construction of CFAU's new campus in Shahe.

Rivalry

CFAU has produced an array of senior diplomatic officials and proudly claims itself as "the cradle of Chinese diplomats". However, having trained hundreds of Chinese ambassadors, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) also considers itself "the cradle of PRC diplomats". Rivalry between students of the two universities continue to present day.

Gallery

Front Gate of Zhanlanlu Campus
South Gate of Shahe Campus
Memorial Statue of Zhou Enlai and Chen Yi

Disclaimer: The university information above is sourced from Wikipedia and may not reflect the most current data. We recommend verifying details on the official China Foreign Affairs University website.

External Links

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CSC scholarship deadline for China Foreign Affairs University?

For the university channel (direct application to China Foreign Affairs University), the deadline is typically between January and April 2026 — check the university's international admissions page for the exact date. For the embassy/bilateral channel, contact your country's Chinese embassy or education ministry, as deadlines vary by country (usually December–April).

Does China Foreign Affairs University require an acceptance letter for CSC?

An acceptance letter is not always required for China Foreign Affairs University, but it can strengthen your application considerably. Reach out to potential supervisors via email or the university's admission portal.

What is the monthly stipend at China Foreign Affairs University?

CSC stipends are standard across all universities: Bachelor's students receive ¥2,500/month, Master's students ¥3,000/month, and PhD students ¥3,500/month. The stipend covers living expenses in Beijing.

Can I study in English at China Foreign Affairs University?

Yes, China Foreign Affairs University offers English-taught programs at the Master's and PhD levels. Some Bachelor's programs may also be available in English. Check the university's international student portal for the full list of English-medium programs.

What is the agency number for China Foreign Affairs University?

The CSC agency number for China Foreign Affairs University is 10040. You will need this number when filling out the CSC online application form.

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Rankings sourced from Shanghai Ranking — BCUR 2025. University descriptions sourced from Wikipedia where available.