CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY (CSU)
Central South University Silk Road Scholarships
full · masters, phd
- Fully fundedTuition, accommodation, insurance and stipend
- CNY 3,000/moLiving allowance for master's students
- CNY 3,500/moLiving allowance for doctoral students
- ~EUR 5,000/yr (est.)Approximate annual stipend value
- Master's & PhDDegree levels supported
- Under 35 / 40Age limits for master's / doctoral applicants
At a glance
full
Funding
€6k
Max amount
Apr 30, 2027
Deadline
Open to all nationalities except Chinese; priority to Belt and Road countries
Country
Central South University (CSU)
Provider
The Central South University (CSU) Silk Road Scholarships are a fully funded program for international students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees at CSU in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. The scheme is aimed at high-achieving non-Chinese graduates from Belt and Road countries and supports study across a range of fields, with named programs including computer science and technology, mining, industrial engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering and traffic and transportation engineering, several of which are taught in both Chinese and English. The scholarship covers tuition, on-campus accommodation, a medical insurance fee and a monthly living allowance, set at CNY 3,000 per month for master's students and CNY 3,500 per month for doctoral students. Age limits apply: master's applicants must be under 35 and doctoral applicants under 40, and candidates must be in good health, hold a clean legal record and not already receive another sponsorship. Language requirements depend on the medium of instruction: Chinese-taught programs typically require an HSK Level 4 score of 260 or above, while English-taught programs require a minimum IELTS score of 6 or TOEFL score of 85, with exemptions for native or degree-level Chinese or English speakers. CSU, formed in 2000 from the merger of several institutions, applications usually close around the end of April. The exact allowance, covered items and 2027 deadline can change each cycle, so confirm the current figures on the official CSU international admissions page before you apply.
What's covered
- Tuition fee — Full tuition for the master's or doctoral program at Central South University is covered by the scholarship.
- On-campus accommodation — University-provided on-campus housing is covered for scholarship holders for the duration of the program.
- Medical insurance fee — The comprehensive medical insurance fee required for international students in China is covered under the award.
- Monthly living allowance — A monthly stipend of CNY 3,000 for master's students and CNY 3,500 for doctoral students, which over a year is roughly ~CNY 36,000 to CNY 42,000 (about ~EUR 5,000 (est.)).
- Multi-year support — Funding runs across the standard program length, so total support over a typical master's or PhD is worth well over ~CNY 72,000 (est.) in stipend alone.
How to apply
Application requires submitting through two systems, the CSU international student online system and the CSC Online Application, and then sending the supporting materials to CSU. Missing either online step disqualifies the application.
- Apply online through the CSU system — Register and log in to the CSU international student online system, select the scholarship category and submit your application; this step is mandatory.
- Apply online via the CSC system — Complete the CSC Online Application, choosing program category Type B and entering Central South University agency number 10533, then submit and print the application form.
- Prepare supporting documents — Assemble your passport copy, highest degree certificate, academic transcripts, language qualification certificates and a study plan of more than 1,000 words, with notarised English or Chinese translations where needed.
- Submit materials to CSU — Send the complete application materials to Central South University as instructed; note that the CSC does not accept the physical materials.
- Track your application — Monitor both systems for status updates and respond to any requests from CSU's international office before the deadline.
Eligibility
NationalityOpen to applicants of all nationalities except Chinese; the program prioritises graduates from Belt and Road countries.
Academic standingBe an outstanding non-Chinese graduate with high academic achievement and demonstrated scientific or innovative capability.
Age limitsMaster's degree candidates must be under 35 years old and doctoral degree candidates under 40 years old.
Health and conductBe in good health and hold a clean legal record; applicants must also provide a declaration that they hold no other concurrent sponsorship.
Language proficiencyChinese-taught programs require HSK Level 4 of 260 or above; English-taught programs require IELTS 6 or TOEFL 85, with exemptions for native or degree-level Chinese or English speakers.
Applicants must submit through both the CSU online system and the CSC online application (program category Type B, agency number 10533). A study plan exceeding 1,000 words is required as part of the documentation.
Eligible countries
Open to all nationalities except Chinese; priority to Belt and Road countries
Deadlines
2027 entry (master's and PhD)~30 April 2027 (est.)
2027 entry (results)~summer 2027 (est.)
Selection
Selection is based on academic merit, the quality of the study plan, and the candidate's scientific and innovative potential, alongside meeting the age, health, conduct and language requirements. Priority is given to outstanding graduates from Belt and Road countries, in line with the program's aim of building academic links among nations along the Silk Road. Because applications must pass through both the CSU and CSC systems, only complete, correctly submitted applications are reviewed, and CSU ranks eligible candidates against the available places before issuing admission and scholarship notices.
Verified sources
- Central South University - Internationalen.csu.edu.cnofficial
- China Scholarship Council (CSC) Online Applicationstudyinchina.csc.edu.cnofficial
About the provider
Central South University (CSU) is a public research university in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, formed in 2000 from the merger of several established institutions. It offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs across engineering, medicine, natural sciences and the humanities, and runs the Silk Road Scholarship Program to attract students from Belt and Road countries.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the Central South University Silk Road Scholarship?
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It is a fully funded scholarship for non-Chinese graduates from Belt and Road countries to pursue master's or doctoral degrees at Central South University in Changsha, China, covering tuition, accommodation, insurance and a monthly stipend.
What does the scholarship cover?
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It covers the tuition fee, on-campus accommodation, the medical insurance fee, and a monthly living allowance of CNY 3,000 for master's students and CNY 3,500 for doctoral students.
How much is the monthly stipend?
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Master's students receive CNY 3,000 per month and doctoral students CNY 3,500 per month, which is roughly ~EUR 5,000 (est.) per year depending on exchange rates.
Who is eligible to apply?
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Outstanding non-Chinese graduates from Belt and Road countries in good health with a clean legal record; master's candidates must be under 35 and doctoral candidates under 40.
What degree levels are offered?
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The scholarship supports master's and doctoral (PhD) programs across a range of fields at CSU.
What are the language requirements?
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Chinese-taught programs require HSK Level 4 of 260 or above; English-taught programs require IELTS 6 or TOEFL 85, with exemptions for native or degree-level Chinese or English speakers.
Which subjects can I study?
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Available fields include computer science and technology, mining, industrial engineering, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, and traffic and transportation engineering, several offered in both Chinese and English.
Can Chinese nationals apply?
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No. The scholarship is open to applicants of all nationalities except Chinese, with priority for Belt and Road countries.
How do I apply?
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You must apply through both the CSU international student online system and the CSC Online Application (program Type B, agency number 10533), then submit your supporting materials to CSU.
What is the application deadline?
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Applications typically close at the end of April, so for the 2027 cycle expect roughly 30 April 2027 (est.). Confirm the exact date on the official CSU page.
What documents do I need?
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A passport copy, notarised highest-degree certificate, sealed transcripts, language qualification certificates, a study plan exceeding 1,000 words, and a declaration of no other sponsorship.
Where can I confirm the current details?
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Always check the official Central South University international admissions page for the current allowance, covered items, eligible programs and deadline, as these can change each cycle.