Help
SEARCH THE THREAD
BEFORE POSTING!!!!
---
We've decided to make a new thread for the next round of CSC scholarship applicants. The plan is to make a fresh one each year. So this one's for you 2010 kids.
Before we start: please check out the ARCHIVED posts from the past - it's a lot of information to sift through but it will answer the majority of your questions.
---
The Basics
Website: http://en.csc.edu.cn/
Information and Eligibility: http://en.csc.edu.cn...f3da38f99.shtml (READ THIS)
Application Forms: http://en.csc.edu.cn...lt.aspx?cid=277
Online Application (not really): http://laihua.csc.edu.cn (search this thread for comments)
List of Universities: http://en.csc.edu.cn...hua/Search.aspx
This thread is ONLY about the Chinese Government Scholarship - none of the others listed on the website. Here, we will discuss the steps of getting the Chinese Language scholarship. The process for those getting degrees is similar... you should be able to figure it out the small differences if that's what you're trying to do.
To apply, contact and send your application to a Chinese embassy/consulate located in your home country. For example, Australians must apply at a Chinese embassy in Australia, and Americans must apply at a Chinese embassy in America. People currently in China can also apply, but they still have to mail their applications to a Chinese embassy in their home country!
---
What We Know
Very close to absolutely nothing. None of us know how this process works - and no one that is part of the process can tell us how it works. This is because even they don't know how it works. So just follow the rules. Trust me. Try calling the CSC people. I dare you.
Deadlines are in April - the deadline is different for each country/region/state/province. I encourage people to post and share their respective deadlines for 2010.
The EU has its own CSC Scholarship. There are 100 full one-year scholarships.
The PIF (Pacific Islands Forum) countries also has its own CSC Scholarship. There are 10 full scholarships. Airfare is included. I have no idea which countries are part of this forum.
For everyone else, there are two types of scholarships: Full and Partial
The full scholarship covers tuition, books, shared dorm, insurance, a monthly stipend, and (maybe) airfare. Airfare is ONLY covered if your specific country has this included in their agreement with China - it is limited to developing nations.
For partial, you get to choose what you would like covered on the application.
For people that are only applying for Chinese Language (as opposed to a degree), you can choose between 1 or 2 years. For people who are pursuing a degree, you can request 1 or 2 years of Chinese Language study BEFORE taking your classes if you either can't speak Chinese or need it improved.
WE DO NOT KNOW THE CHANCES OF GETTING THIS SCHOLARSHIP FOR ANY COMBINATION OF THESE CHOICES. We don't know if we have a better chance of getting a partial or full scholarship, or if it's easier to get it if you request 1 or 2 years. Nor do we know how much your GPA matters, or if already having Chinese language skills hurts/helps you, or if having been to China before means you get extra points, or if having six toes will increase your chances. Whatever it is, we don't know. Quit asking. Please.
You MUST start in September at the start of the new academic year (Generally. Some universities have their own December deadlines for Spring semesters. But you're on your own for that.) ... and SUMMER CLASSES are NOT included in the scholarship.
---
The Application
1. Proposed Study in China: Chinese Language Student
2. Duration of the Major Study: For people learning Chinese - you can study for either one or two years, starting in September.
3. Study or Research Plan: In the previous years, they required all applicants to write something like a personal statement that was no less than 400 words (THIS IS STILL TRUE FOR EU APPLICANTS and probably for "degree" applicants), but now, you can just write in a few sentences that you would like to learn Chinese. Feel free to write a full "study plan" if you'd like - check out the archived thread for more information.
4. Organization/Person Recommending You: I say go for anything that sounds official: Use your university, your professor, the company you work for, this forum, whatever.
5. The Guarantor: Anyone you know in China - CSC will not call or contact them. You can make this part up if you want. For people who want a real person, I'll be your guarantor. Maybe. If you participate in this thread. I'm not a fan of giving my real name, address, and phone number to strangers. Seriously.
6. Letters of Recommendation: We have heard reports that letters of recommendations are NOT required for those studying Chinese and not pursuing a degree. This is also written on the website. Include them if you wish. Those who are pursuing a degree will need TWO letters of recommendation from professors/employers.
7. You need a notarized copy of your most recent transcript, and your high school diploma (for those who are still in university) or degree (if you already graduated from college). If it is not in English or Chinese, you need to get it translated into one of those two languages.
8. They want TWO copies of the application. We're not sure of that means the whole application (including any documents) or just the application form - so we recommend that you send two of everything.
---
The University
Applying to the university of choice before applying is OPTIONAL. We don't know if you get a better chance of either getting the scholarship or getting your first choice if you do get the scholarship. Also, there is no guarantee that you will get your first, second, or third choice that you list. There have been some people last year that didn't get any of their three and were sent to a random university.
If you do apply beforehand, the university will send you an acceptance letter (which you would include with your scholarship application) and a student visa form that you will use to apply for your Chinese visa.
You are not allowed to change universities. I have yet to hear of anyone who was able to if they were unhappy with their school.
---
The Foreigner Physical Examination Form
You can get it filled out by your family doctor, internist, or a doctor from a clinic. It usually takes no more than 20 minutes. You don't need a "seal," as stated - the signature of the doctor and a stamp with the doctor's name and address and contact information of the hospital/clinic is fine. As for the "photo section" - it requires either a signature or stamp on the photo and paper (half on/half off at the same time) so that it can act as a seal to prove that it is your photo and has not been tampered with.
DO NOT send the ORIGINAL Foreign Physical Examination Form with either the CSC application or your visa application. Send copies. You keep the ORIGINAL with you - treat it like your passport (even though you'll never use it again).
---
Post-Scholarship/In China
Notification: If you get the scholarship (notification is sent to you sometime around May/June - some people were notified as late as August), CSC will send you a package filled with information on the selected school, an admission letter from that school, a letter reminding you that you must register at the school between certain dates, and the Visa Application Form for Study in China (JW201) already filled out by CSC. All you need to do is get the visa, book your flight, and come to China.
Stipend: All fees are taken care of. The only thing you need to manage is your stipend. Some universities will give you an ATM card that gets money deposited in it every month, while others will require you to pick up cash from a certain office. the stipend is generally handed out at the end of the month. The stipend is 1700 RMB a month - and a normal person will blow that in about a couple weeks or so eating out, exploring the city, buying daily necessities, partying - but it is POSSIBLE to live off just that if you just stay home and study, eat at the cafeteria, and have no life.
Housing: The housing provided is the cheapest international students' accommodations the school offers. Usually, it's a tiny room with two desks, two closets, and two beds - without a private bathroom (you use a shared one with the rest of the floor). At some schools you can move to a nicer dorm, even to a single - as long as you pay the difference. However, in ALL cases, if you decide to move off-campus, you will lose the housing money altogether. They will not help you with your rent.
Insurance: The scholarship pays for crap insurance. If you have health issues or would like to have comprehensive insurance, pay for your own plan before you get to China. You don't want to be on this insurance if something serious happens to you. You're going to get third-world country treatment and nothing more.
---
Other/Miscellaneous
I found a strange CSC Liaison Officer Contact Page. It gives you contact information of people in Beijing. Yeah. Good luck with that.
There are AGE LIMITS for those applying for the scholarship. Please read the CSC page on eligibility for more information.
---
JOIN THE DISCUSSION - SAY HELLO
Hello. Where are you applying from? Just studying Chinese or pursuing a degree? What did your local Chinese embassy say? Where and how did you get your papers notarized? Did you apply for your school of choice beforehand? Where did you get your Physical Exam done? Anything else you learned or would like to share?
I want to thank everyone that has been/is/will be a part of this project - including all the admins, members, lurkers - everyone. It's a huge collaborative effort, and I'm glad we're in this together. Good luck, boys and girls. See you in China!
This post has been edited by extrapages: 14 February 2010 - 08:27 PM
Don't forget to hold all those people to their guarantor pledges 
I remember on last year's thread at least one person said they were turned away from the Sydney Consulate because they said only a university can send it in on behalf of an applicant. If I manage to get a contact in Sydney I will let you know so you can add him/her to your list of contacts if you want.
I'm seriously lost.
