Chinese Trade Unions Silk Road Scholarship: who it is for and how it is applied for
Unofficial summary · Sources checked
The Chinese Trade Unions Silk Road Scholarship (CTUSRS) is a one-year award that funds trade union officials, mainly from countries along the "Belt and Road", to study Chinese Language in the PRC as general scholars. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) provides the funding, and the programme runs at one designated university, Beijing Language and Culture University. It is a full award: tuition, accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance, a monthly stipend and one economy-class return flight.
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What the notice says the programme is for
The Campus China page describes CTUSRS as a dedicated project for trade union officials mainly from countries along the "Belt and Road", established to develop friendly relations between trade unions of China and other countries, to enhance friendship between the Chinese working class and working classes worldwide, and to contribute to world peace, development, cooperation, workers' rights and interests and social progress. ACFTU provides the funding.
Category, length, language and university
| Item | What the notice states |
|---|---|
| Supporting category | Promising trade union officials with related working experience from countries along the "Belt and Road" |
| Study category | Chinese Language, studied as scholars |
| Length of scholarship | One academic year (12 months) |
| Instruction language | Chinese |
| Designated university | Beijing Language and Culture University |
| Major | Chinese Language |
Who can apply
The eligibility section of the Campus China page lists five criteria:
- a. Citizen of a country other than the PRC, and preferably from one of the countries along the "Belt and Road".
- b. In sound physical and mental health.
- c. Holder of a high school certificate at least, and under the age of 45.
- d. Having at least one-year work experience, and preferably experience in China-related affairs.
- e. Not a concurrent awardee of a Chinese government scholarship.
Lines a and d use the word "preferably"; the other three are written as criteria without that qualifier.
What the scholarship covers
Coverage and standard, per person per academic year:
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 8400 CNY |
| Stipend | 36000 CNY |
| Tuition | 25000 CNY |
| Medical insurance | 800 CNY |
| One-time international round-trip air fare | Economy class only |
What the notice adds about each row:
- Tuition is entirely covered by the programme, and funds are allocated directly to the host universities.
- Accommodation is a free university dormitory, with funds allocated directly to the host universities.
- The stipend is paid monthly by the host university to registered scholarship students. Students who register on or before the 15th of the month receive a full stipend for that month; those who register after the 15th receive a half stipend. Graduating students receive a stipend for another half month following the graduation date. A registered student who stays out of China for more than 15 days for personal reasons, school holidays excluded, has the stipend stopped during the absence.
- Medical insurance is covered by the programme. For the insurance policy and claims, the notice refers readers to http://www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina or http://www.campuschina.org and to the Comprehensive Insurance & Protection Scheme for Foreigners Staying in China.
- The air fare fund is used by ACFTU for an economy-class round trip between the recipient's home country and the city of the host university. Return tickets are provided only upon completion of study.
How to apply
- Prepare your application documents according to the "List of Application Documents".
- Open the CSC Study in China website at http://www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina or http://www.campuschina.org.
- Click "Scholarship Application for Students".
- Choose "Type A" as the Program Category.
- Type "00009" as the Agency Number.
- Wait for the authority name to appear on the page; the notice says it is displayed automatically once those two fields are correct.
- Fill in the online application form.
- Upload the supporting documents, following the steps listed on the left of the page.
- In "Language Proficiency and Study Plan", enter: Apply As "General Scholar"; Preferred Teaching Language "Chinese"; Discipline Applying For "Literature"; Major Applying For "Chinese Language"; Preferences of Institute I "Beijing Language and Culture University"; Preferences of Institute II and III "None".
- Enter Duration of Major Study as "1st September of current year to 15th July of the following year".
- Check every part of the application.
- Click "Submit".
After submission, the notice adds three mechanics:
- Click "Withdraw and Edit" at the top of the page to change an application, then click "Submit" again; without resubmitting, the retrieved application becomes invalid and the new one is not received. Once the application is under formal review by the CSC and the universities, it cannot be withdrawn or edited.
- Click "Print the Application Form" to download the completed form.
- The submitted documents are the only reference for the universities to confirm admission.
Three notes from the same section: use Firefox or Internet Explorer (11.0), because menu selection functions may not work in other browsers; only Chinese and English are accepted in the online application; and the "Current Contact Information" section of CGSIS must carry accurate, detailed and valid information so that admission documents can be mailed correctly and on time.
On the recommending body: the notice does not name an authority that recommends candidates. It states only that the authority name is displayed automatically once the correct Program Category and Agency Number are entered, and that ACFTU provides the programme's funding.
What this page does not tell you
The notice gives no application deadline date and names no particular academic year. Its Section II, "List of Application Documents", lists seven documents: the Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship; a notarized highest diploma; academic transcripts; a study plan or research proposal of at least 500 words; valid documents of legal guardians in China (only for applicants under 18); the Foreigner Physical Examination Form (only for applicants planning to stay in China for more than 6 months); and a resume or CV. One wording note: Section IV, "Tips for Coming to China", says "ACYLS winners" in its first sentence, although the page is about the Silk Road scholarship — that is the wording as it appears on the page.
Questions people ask
Does the scholarship pay for travel home?
Yes, one economy-class round trip between your home country and the city of the host university, funded by ACFTU, with the return ticket provided only after you complete your study.
Can I hold another Chinese government scholarship at the same time?
No. Criterion e of the eligibility section states that an applicant must not be a concurrent awardee of a Chinese government scholarship.
Is there a deadline on the official page?
The notice states no application deadline date and names no particular academic year, so this page cannot tell you when applications close.
Can I apply to more than one university?
The notice asks for Preferences of Institute II and III to be set to "None", because the programme is undertaken in one university only, Beijing Language and Culture University.
Sources
- Chinese Trade Unions Silk Road 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 bodies named above, and if the official text or the instructions of the body handling your application differ from what is written here, the official text and those instructions prevail.