Chinese Trade Unions Silk Road Scholarship

I. Program Overview

The Chinese Trade Unions Silk Road Scholarship (CTUSRS) is a specialized funding initiative tailored primarily for trade union practitioners from Belt and Road participating countries. Launched to strengthen bilateral union cooperation between China and global nations, the program aims to deepen friendly ties between Chinese working communities and international labor groups. It also contributes to global peace and sustainable development, international collaborative progress, the protection of labor rights and interests, and inclusive social advancement worldwide.

Funded entirely by the All‑China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), this scholarship supports outstanding recipients to undertake a one‑year Chinese language training program as visiting scholars in China. As a fully‑funded scholarship program, CTUSRS covers all study‑related expenditures, including full tuition exemption, campus accommodation, comprehensive international student medical insurance, monthly living allowances, and a one‑time cross‑border round‑trip air ticket subsidy.

Target Candidates: Experienced and outstanding trade union staff from Belt and Road countries pursuing professional Chinese language studies in China. Program Duration: One full academic year (12 months) Medium of Instruction: Chinese Designated Host Institution: Beijing Language and Culture University Academic Discipline: Chinese Language

Annual Scholarship Benefit Standards (Per Person) Accommodation Allowance: 8,400 CNY Living Stipend: 36,000 CNY Tuition Fee Coverage: 25,000 CNY Medical Insurance Premium: 800 CNY International Round‑trip Airfare: Economy‑class ticket (one‑time subsidy)

Living Stipend Regulations

Throughout the scholarship term, enrolled participants receive monthly stipends issued by their host university. Full monthly allowance is granted to students who complete university registration on or before the 15th day of each month, while half‑month stipends apply for registrations completed after this date. Graduating scholars are eligible for an additional half‑month stipend upon their graduation date. Any scholar who leaves Chinese territory for personal reasons (excluding official school vacations) for over 15 consecutive days will have their monthly stipend suspended during their absence.

Tuition Coverage

The CTUSRS program fully waives all tuition fees for eligible participants, with dedicated financial funds directly allocated to the partner university.

Accommodation Benefits

All scholarship recipients are entitled to free on‑campus dormitory accommodation, with relevant funding settled directly with the host institution.

One‑time International Airfare Subsidy

Administered by the All‑China Federation of Trade Unions, this subsidy covers economy‑class round‑trip flight tickets between recipients’ home countries and the host city in China. The return flight ticket will only be provided after scholars successfully complete their full program of study.

Eligibility Requirements

All CTUSRS applicants must satisfy the following qualifications: a. Hold non‑Chinese nationality, with priority given to citizens of Belt and Road partner countries; b. Maintain excellent physical and mental health status; c. Possess at least a high school graduation certificate and be under the age of 45; d. Have a minimum of one year of formal work experience; candidates with China‑related professional experience are preferred; e. Not be a concurrent beneficiary of any other Chinese government scholarship program.

II. Mandatory Application Documents

1. Official Chinese Government Scholarship Application Form (completed in either Chinese or English);
2. Notarized copy of the highest academic degree obtained. All non‑Chinese and non‑English credentials must be attached with officially notarized Chinese or English translations;
3. Full academic transcripts. Non‑Chinese and non‑English transcript documents require notarized Chinese or English translated versions;
4. A detailed study or research proposal with a minimum word count of 500 words (written in Chinese or English);
5. Valid legal guardian certification in China (mandatory only for applicants under 18 years old);
6. Foreigner Physical Examination Form (English version only). Required for applicants planning to stay in China for more than six months. The medical examination must cover every item specified on the official form. Incomplete forms, documents without physician signatures, official hospital seals, or sealed applicant photos are deemed invalid. The physical examination result remains valid for only six months, so applicants are advised to arrange their medical check‑up reasonably;
7. A personal curriculum vitae (CV) covering all academic backgrounds and professional work experience acquired after high school, to be uploaded to the “Other Supporting Documents” section of the CGSIS (Chinese Government Scholarship Information System).

Important Note: All submitted documents must be authentic, valid and complete. Applicants are required to upload clear scanned copies to the CGSIS system. Substandard or incomplete materials will negatively impact scholarship review results.

III. Standard Application Procedures

Step 1: Prepare all application materials in strict accordance with the official document checklist.

Step 2: Access the official CSC Study in China platform.

Step 3: Complete system registration by selecting the correct program attributes. For the CTUSRS program, applicants must choose Type A as the Program Category and input 00009 as the official Agency Number. The corresponding institutional authority name will pop up automatically after correct entry. Accurate input is mandatory, as incorrect information will lead to application submission failure or invalidation.

Step 4: Fill out the online application form fully and accurately, and upload all required supporting documents by following the on‑screen guidance. The standardized settings for the language proficiency and study plan section are as follows:

Application Identity: General Scholar Preferred Teaching Language: Chinese Applied Discipline: Literature Applied Major: Chinese Language First Preference Institution: Beijing Language and Culture University Second & Third Preference Institutions: None (program exclusively offered at the designated university) Study Duration: September 1st of the current year to July 15th of the following year

Step 5: Double‑check all application details for accuracy before final submission. Click the “Submit” button to complete the process. All submitted documents serve as the sole evaluation basis for university admission review.

Step 6: Applicants can revise their submitted applications via the “Withdraw and Edit” function on the top navigation bar. All modified versions must be resubmitted manually; otherwise, the withdrawn application will expire and fail to be recognized by the system. No edits or withdrawals are permitted once the application enters official review by CSC and host universities.

Step 7: Download and print the finalized application form via the system’s “Print the Application Form” function.

System Reminders: Applicants are recommended to use Firefox or Internet Explorer 11.0 for system operation, as other browsers may cause functional errors. The online system only accepts Chinese and English content. To ensure timely and accurate delivery of admission documents, applicants must fill in precise and up‑to‑date contact information in the CGSIS system.

IV. Pre‑departure & In China Guidelines

1. Visa Application Rules

Scholarship recipients must apply for a Chinese student visa at local Chinese embassies or consulates. Required materials include valid ordinary passport, admission letter, JW201 Study Visa Application Form, and Foreigner Physical Examination Form (both original and duplicate copies). Participants studying in China for over six months need to apply for an X1 visa, while those with a study period of six months or less should apply for an X2 visa. Applicants failing to present valid standard documents or holding non‑qualified passports/visas will be denied university registration and cannot apply for a Chinese residence permit. All visa application fees are borne independently by applicants.

2. University Registration, Health Verification & Residence Permit Application

Campus Registration Scholarship holders must complete on‑campus registration before the deadline specified in their admission letter, presenting original admission documents, JW201 form and physical examination certificate. Students unable to register on schedule must obtain prior official approval from the host university. Unapproved delayed registration will be regarded as voluntary abandonment of the scholarship, resulting in automatic program termination.

Health Verification Students staying in China for more than six months must submit their passport, admission letter, physical examination form and blood test report to local health and quarantine authorities for official verification. Those who fail to meet national health standards will be required to undergo a re‑examination. Individuals who refuse re‑testing or are diagnosed with diseases prohibited for foreign residents in China will be ordered to leave the country.

Residence Permit Application Upon arrival in China, scholarship students must apply for a legal residence permit from local public security bureaus before the official deadline. Required materials include a valid passport, university admission letter, JW201 form, officially verified health report, and standard identification photos.