Chinese Government Scholarship for South African students: the DHET call
Unofficial summary · Sources checked
South African citizens apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which is the body that nominates candidates — the first stage is a DHET application, not an application sent to the Chinese Government (DHET call, CHINA: Chinese Government Scholarship 2026/2027). For that cycle the route was: complete the DHET application form, email the supporting documents as PDFs by 30 September 2025, and wait for DHET screening; shortlisted candidates were to receive instructions for the China Scholarship Council (CSC) online portal once it opened in November 2025 (DHET call).
To see which national scholarship programmes fit your level, country group, age and language before you start, use the scholarship match: it returns 19 national scholarship entries, each labelled Conditions met, Check a condition or Not met yet, and each result links to the official notice it was taken from.
Who may apply
The DHET call states these criteria:
- South African citizenship, and good health; a medical check is required for successful applicants (DHET call).
- A strong academic record with a minimum 60% average in previous studies (DHET call).
- Availability to study in China from September 2026 (DHET call).
- Demonstrated interest in China and commitment to the development of South Africa (DHET call).
Preference goes to postgraduate applicants, previously disadvantaged individuals, and applicants in priority fields (DHET call).
The CSC guide (Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, China Scholarship Council) states its own eligibility list, item 1 of section IV: a citizen of a country other than the PRC, in good health both mentally and physically. The two documents describe the same scholarship from different sides — a national nomination call and the CSC application guide. Section V of the CSC guide has the applicant reach an application receiving agency for a recommendation (item 3) and has that agency submit the recommended candidates list and their application documents (item 5); the DHET call does not use the term "application receiving agency", and the CSC guide does not mention DHET.
Levels, education requirements and age limits
The DHET call gives education requirements and age limits as of September 2026:
| Study programme | Education requirement (DHET call) | Age as of September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese language studies (non-degree) | National Senior Certificate or equivalent with a minimum of 60%; applicants with a post-school qualification get priority | Under 35 |
| Bachelor's degree | National Senior Certificate or equivalent with a minimum 60% average is recommended | Under 25 |
| Master's degree | Bachelor's degree or NQF 7 qualification with a minimum 60% average; an Honours degree is not needed | Under 35 |
| Doctoral degree | Master's degree with a minimum 60% average | Under 40 |
Two lines in that table are stated as recommendations or priorities rather than as hard requirements: the Bachelor's entry says a 60% average "is recommended", and the non-degree entry says a post-school qualification "will be given priority". The DHET criteria section separately states a minimum 60% average for all applicants.
The age lines side by side
The CSC guide's eligibility section (section IV) states ages at the point of applying, and covers two categories the DHET call's table does not list:
| Programme | DHET call | CSC guide, section IV |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | Under 25, as of September 2026 | Under 25, item 2 |
| Master's | Under 35, as of September 2026 | Under 35, item 3 |
| Doctoral | Under 40, as of September 2026 | Under 40, item 4 |
| General scholar | Not listed in the DHET call's table | Under 45, item 5 |
| Senior scholar | Not listed in the DHET call's table | Under 50, item 6 |
Both wordings are given here because they come from two different documents: one measures age as of September 2026, the other measures it when applying. This page does not tell you which to use — ask the office handling your application, DHET or the university, which applies to your case.
Language: what each text says
The DHET call states that Bachelor's programmes are taught in Chinese but a Chinese language proficiency certificate is not required to apply, and that postgraduate programmes are taught in English.
The CSC guide's eligibility section states:
- Item 7: take the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) and upload a valid score report when applying for bachelor programmes; the guide gives the CSCA official website as www.csca.cn.
- Item 8: HSK (Level 3) for a Chinese-taught general scholar programme, excluding Chinese language majors.
- Item 9: HSK (Level 3) for a Chinese-taught senior scholar programme.
- Item 10: HSK (Level 4) for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme.
- Item 11: meet the admission requirements of the university of preference in terms of language proficiency and academic ability, among others, when applying for a programme taught in a language other than Chinese.
Section IV of the CSC guide does not say how these items apply to candidates nominated by a national authority such as DHET, and the DHET call does not mention a CSCA score report. Both sets of wording are set out above; the body handling your application decides.
The scholarship match on this site shows a CSCA score report as something every bachelor's applicant to the Chinese Government Scholarship sends. The tool compares HSK level only and prints the minimum score inside a level for you to check. It cannot test whether your country has an agreement with China, work experience, or conditions set by a university. A result is not an award or an eligibility decision.
Fields of study
The DHET call lists the following priority fields, and says the list is not limited to them:
Agriculture; Biotechnology; Chinese language studies; Computer Science; Environment and Climate change; Engineering Sciences; Food Science; Hydrogeological Engineering; Maritime Studies; Natural and Physical Sciences; Nuclear and Renewable Energy; Space Science and Technology; Telecommunications.
What the scholarship pays
Amounts below are RMB per year, from the table "What the scholarship offers" in the DHET call. The tuition column on that page carries an asterisk the surrounding text does not explain.
| Study programme | Tuition | Accommodation | Stipend | Medical insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese language studies | 20,000–27,000 | 8,400 | 30,000 | 800 |
| Bachelor's degree | 20,000–27,000 | 8,400 | 30,000 | 800 |
| Master's degree | 25,000–34,000 | 8,400 | 36,000 | 800 |
| Doctoral degree | 33,000–45,000 | 12,000 | 42,000 | 800 |
The South African government's side is listed in the DHET call without amounts: return economy airfare; midterm economy airfare; monthly stipend/allowance; once-off settlement allowance; visa costs; a compulsory orientation programme before departure; a psychosocial support service; and research support.
The DHET call also states that successful applicants will be required to sign a contract and return to South Africa upon completion of their studies, and that no additional financial support will be provided by DHET other than what is stated on that page.
Duration
| Study programme | Duration of programme | Preparatory Chinese language course | Duration of scholarship (years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese language studies | 1 | None | Up to 2 |
| Bachelor's degree | 4–5 | 1–2 | 4–7 |
| Master's degree | 2–3 | 1–2 | 2–5 |
| Doctoral degree | 3–4 | 1–2 | 3–6 |
Studies must be completed within the duration of the scholarship as specified in the Admission Notice (DHET call).
How to apply
- Complete the DHET application form.
- Save every document as a PDF.
- Name each file clearly, for example SurnameNamePassport or SurnameNameAcademicRecord.
- Email the documents by 30 September 2025 to the email address published on the DHET call page.
- Use the subject line "Chinese Scholarship Application, [Your Surname]".
- Wait for DHET to screen your application.
- Follow the further instructions if you are shortlisted.
Photographs of documents are not accepted; documents must be clear and in PDF format (DHET call).
Documents
For all programmes the DHET call's checklist lists: the completed DHET application form; a copy of a South African ID; a copy of your passport; academic records/transcripts; degree certificates for Master's or PhD applicants; a one-page motivational letter; two reference letters; the Foreigner Physical Examination Form; and a non-criminal record report issued within the last 6 months.
On the passport: the call asks for a passport valid until at least 1 December 2026, and states that applicants without a valid passport can still apply, but that a passport will be required for submission to the Chinese Government when the call opens later in the year.
Per programme, the DHET call adds:
Bachelor's or Chinese language programmes — National Senior Certificate with a 60% average, or a certificate of equivalence from the Matriculation Board if you hold another school leaving certificate; the minimum 60% average excludes Life Orientation; prerequisite subject marks are reviewed separately, with Engineering applicants' NSC Maths and Physics marks and social science applicants' NSC English marks given as examples. Two reference letters, at least one from a schoolteacher, the second from a teacher or work supervisor.
Master's programmes — degree certificate(s) at a minimum Bachelor's level or a full qualification equivalent to NQF level 7, with SAQA verification for degrees obtained outside South Africa, and a minimum 60% average; official transcripts of all previous university studies; admission documents issued by the chosen university (admission notices, pre-admission letters, invitations from professors), which the page says give priority in nomination. Two reference letters, at least one from a lecturer or professor, the second from a lecturer or work supervisor.
Doctoral programmes — degree certificates including a Master's degree, or a full qualification equivalent to NQF level 9, with SAQA verification for degrees obtained outside South Africa, and a minimum 60% average; official transcripts; the same admission documents, with the same priority note; and a research proposal in Chinese or English. The page's line reads "A minimum of 1000 words for non-degree students, and 1000 words for postgraduates." Two reference letters, at least one from a lecturer or professor, the second from a lecturer or work supervisor.
Every reference letter must be signed and on official letterhead, carry a contact number and email address, and provide a substantiated assessment of the applicant's reliability, integrity, academic excellence and overall suitability for an international scholarship (DHET call).
Applicants are required to research programmes and institutions themselves and are responsible for ensuring the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa. The DHET call states that if there are discrepancies in the scholarship details, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details on that page.
After you send it
DHET reviews all applications to determine eligibility against the minimum requirements (DHET call). Applicants who meet the requirements are informed and given further instructions, including how and where to submit on the CSC online portal once it opens in November 2025. Applicants who do not meet the minimum criteria are notified by email, and the page states that individual feedback is not provided to unsuccessful applicants.
The dates on the page
The DHET page shows the date 10 October 2026 under its title while its text describes the 2026/27 intake, with studies starting in 2026; those two facts are as printed on the page. The dates in this article — 30 September 2025 for the DHET deadline, November 2025 for the CSC portal, September 2026 for the start of studies and for the age calculation, and 1 December 2026 for passport validity — are the dates of that cycle. The CSC guide page carries no publication date and names no academic year, so it does not say which intake it applies to.
Questions people ask
Do I need a Chinese language certificate to apply?
The DHET call says no: Bachelor's programmes are taught in Chinese but a Chinese language proficiency certificate is not a requirement to apply. The CSC guide's eligibility section states HSK (Level 4) for a Chinese-taught master's or doctoral programme and a CSCA score report for bachelor programmes. Both sets of wording are given above; ask the office handling your application which applies to you.
Can I apply if my passport has expired?
Yes, according to the DHET call, which asks for a passport valid until at least 1 December 2026 but states that applicants without a valid passport can still apply, and that a passport will be required for submission to the Chinese Government when the call opens later in the year.
What average do I need?
60%. The DHET call's criteria state a minimum 60% average in previous studies, and each row of its education table names a 60% figure (for the Bachelor's degree, as a recommendation).
Is there an age limit for doctoral study?
The DHET call sets under 40 as of September 2026 for a doctoral degree. The CSC guide's eligibility section states under 40 when applying for a doctoral program, plus under 45 for a general scholar program and under 50 for a senior scholar program.
When do studies start?
The DHET call requires availability to study in China from September 2026, and measures the age limits as of September 2026.
Sources
- CHINA: Chinese Government Scholarship 2026/2027 — Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), South Africa (internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za)
- Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China, campuschina.org)
Checked 10 October 2026. This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, is not published by the Department of Higher Education and Training or the China Scholarship Council, and if anything here differs from the official text or from the instructions of the body handling your application, the official text and those instructions prevail.