China Scholarship Council - roles & responsibilities

The China Scholarship Council (CSC) is a government agency in China which provides scholarships to students for doctoral and postdoctoral studies abroad.

Queen's University recently signed an agreement with the CSCand with specific Chinese universities to be a preferred host institution for CSC scholarship holders. These scholarships will be awarded to students across all graduate programs, particularly those in physical sciences, applied science and life sciences.  Queen's will also consider CSC scholarship holders graduating from any other institution. There are a collection of highly ranked Chinese Universities the "985 and 211" schools (see attached listing).

Who is qualified to receive a CSC PhD scholarship?

• A citizen of China, studying in China or abroad
• Students must be either 4th year undergraduates or in their 1st year of their PhD or current graduate students in a Master program
• NB: There are no Master scholarships. However, a letter of offer to a 4th year undergrad from a foreign university can indicate that the offer will lead to a PhD degree.

In order to apply for the CSC scholarship, a student normally must first have received a formal offer of admission from Queen's University.

There are two rounds in which students submit their applications to CSC. Round 1 from  March 1 - 20 and round 2 from May 20 - 30. The second round will only be open if the pool of CSC funds in not exhausted in the first round. Thus it is highly encouraged that offers be sent to students  before March 1.

Below is information that will help you understand the roles and responsibilities of both the CSC, the student and you the Department:

1. Funding requirements by the Department
2. Example of wording for a Conditional Letter of Offer
3. Contribution from the CSC
   
4. List of 985 & 211 Universities

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1.  Funding requirements by the Department

A student who comes with CSC funding is required to receive departmental funding equivalent to the international tuition – this can come from any combination of RA, ITA, QGA, TA, or other departmental resources. It is expected that in addition to this the supervisor would cover bench costs.

The conditional letter of acceptance should indicate that if the student receives the CSC Scholarship, they will receive funding equivalent to the international tuition fees, which they will be required to pay.

What that means for the department however, is you need to provide the student with an award that is at least equivalent to the cost of the tuition fee. That is currently about $13,000.

 

2.  Example wording for a conditional letter:

Dear (name of student)

Congratulations on your offer to come to Queen's.  The offer of admission is conditional to you winning the CSC. Once it has been confirmed that you have been awarded a CSC scholarship, then you will be admitted into the PhD program in  (program name) and you will be provided with an award that will be at least equivalent to the cost of tuition fees. 

In relation to being a TA, it is up to individual departments to assign TA positions to their graduate students.  The TA stipend may form a part of the award given to you as tuition support. You should determine these details with the graduate coordinator in the Department. 

 

3. Contribution from the CSC

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