Youth of Excellence Scheme of China (YES China): the conditions the matcher checks
Unofficial summary · Sources checked
YES China is a China Scholarship Council master's programme with 200 places, taught in English and covered by a full scholarship. The notice for the 2026 intake sets four conditions: you must be a citizen of a country other than the People's Republic of China and under 45 and in good health; hold a bachelor's degree or higher with at least three years of work experience; fall into one of four professional categories; and hold a pre-admission letter in the required form. The scholarship match tests study level, age, country group and teaching language against the national scholarship entries and marks the conditions it cannot read as "Check a condition".
The conditions, as the notice writes them
The notice behind this page is the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship notice published by the China Scholarship Council on Campus China. Section 3, "Application requirements", reads as follows.
| Requirement | As written | Notice item |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality, age, health | Citizen of a country other than the PRC; under the age of 45; in good health both mentally and physically | 3.1) |
| Degree and experience | Bachelor's degree or higher; at least three years of work experience. Those with professional training or work experience related to the proposed programme "will be given preference" | 3.2) |
| Category | Must fall into one of four categories | 3.3) |
| Pre-admission letter | Must carry all the necessary registration information; must not mention a Chinese Government Scholarship received or promised | 3.4) |
The four categories in item 3.3) are:
- A government official at division chief level (or equivalent level) or above.
- A senior manager of an institution or enterprise.
- An administrator of a university or a scientific research institution.
- A person with relevant employment or internship experience in international organizations.
The notice does not say how "division chief level or equivalent", "senior manager" or "administrator" are evidenced, and it does not name a document that proves three years of work experience.
What the pre-admission letter must contain
Item 3.4) sets two rules for the pre-admission letter given by the university. It must contain all the necessary registration information — the notice names personal information, the admission date and the major's information. It cannot contain any information about the applicant having received, or having been promised, a Chinese Government Scholarship. Item 4.1) adds the timing: applicants should have received a pre-admission letter from one of the subprogrammes at least when they apply.
What the programme covers
Section 2, "Contents", of the notice gives the shape of the award: 200 students to be enrolled; supporting candidates are master's students; teaching language English; coverage stated as full scholarship. On duration, item 2.4) states two things: in principle the curriculum leads to a master's degree and lasts 12 months, and some programmes follow a "1+1" paradigm — full-time basic course work and research at a Chinese university in the first academic year, then work in the home country in the second academic year while finishing the dissertation, before travelling to China to defend it as the university requires; a degree is awarded to those who successfully complete the defence. Where your case sits between those two wordings is a question for the university and the China Scholarship Council handling it, not for this page.
How to apply
Section 4, "Application approach":
- Apply online through the Chinese Government Scholarship System at http://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn/#/login, submitting materials before 23:59 on 31 March 2026 (GMT+8) (item 4.1).
- Choose "Type A" for Scholarship Type. The agency code is 1563, and applicants need to find "Youth of Excellence Scheme of China" (item 4.1).
- The China Scholarship Council accepts individual applications directly, reviews the submitted materials and then arranges expert review (item 4.2).
Section 5, "Assessment and enrollment", adds the two stages: a preliminary examination by the China Scholarship Council, then a second examination by a panel of experts; final enrollment results are announced after expert review.
The 2026 intake timetable
These are the dates of that cycle. The online application deadline of 23:59 on 31 March 2026 (GMT+8) has passed.
| Time | Step | Requirement (as written) |
|---|---|---|
| January–March 2026 | Application preparations | Prepare materials as required and apply for a pre-admission letter from the intended university |
| 31 March | Online application | Log in through https://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn/#/login |
| May | Documents review | A panel of experts arranged by the CSC reviews the documents to determine who to enroll |
| June | Enrollment announcement | Admissions outcomes are publicized and admission documents are sent |
| July & August | Visa to China application | Accepted applicants go to Chinese embassies or consulates for study visas and prepare to study in China |
| September | Commencement of study in China | Students arrive at the university, complete registration and obtain residence permits |
What the scholarship match tests
The match reads 19 national scholarship entries, one of which is the Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program (YES China), and links each result to the official notice it was taken from. For this programme it can test what you enter for:
- Study level. The notice supports master's students (item 2.2). A programme closed to the level you enter is left out of the results.
- Age. Under 45 (item 3.1). Age is an optional field; if you leave it empty, the condition cannot be tested.
- Teaching language. English (item 2.3).
- Country group from your citizenship. The notice requires citizenship of a country other than the PRC (item 3.1).
It leaves as "Check a condition" everything it has no field for: the three years of work experience; which of the four categories you fall into; the degree held; health; and whether your pre-admission letter contains the registration information required by item 3.4) and no mention of the scholarship. The notice states the teaching language as English and the notice does not state a minimum English test score or an HSK level for YES China. A result is not an award and not an eligibility decision.
Questions people ask
Is there an English test score requirement?
The notice states English as the teaching language in item 2.3) and the notice does not state an IELTS, TOEFL or other English score for YES China. Whether a university asks for one is a question for that university.
Who reviews my application — the university or the council?
Item 4.2) states that the China Scholarship Council accepts individual applications directly, reviews the submitted materials and then arranges expert review; section 5 describes a preliminary examination by the council followed by a second examination by a panel of experts.
What does "full scholarship" include?
Item 2.5) states the coverage as "Full scholarship". The notice does not break that down into tuition, accommodation, living allowance or insurance.
Can I still apply for 2026?
No. The online application deadline was 23:59 on 31 March 2026 (GMT+8), and that date has passed.
Sources
- Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program 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 bodies named above, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your application prevail if they differ.