2026 China Link Program: CUG Application Open

Program introduction

China Scholarship Council (CSC) continues to carry out China Link Short-term Scientific Exchange Scholarship Program (referred to as China Link Scholarship) in 2026, to deepen the academic friendship and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign young scholars, and to build a platform for the exchange of scientific research young talents in the world.

Program scheme

1. Funding categories

General scholars: current undergraduate students and master students.

Senior scholars: current Ph. D students or faculty members.

2. Duration

1-12 months. Start time be no later than August 31, 2027.

3. Study language

English or Chinese, determined by the disciplines applicants have chosen.

4. Study/research fields

All majors other than Chinese language study.

Funding

Successful applicants will receive a full scholarship from CSC during their stay in China, including tuition waiver, free on-campus accommodation, comprehensive medical insurance and a monthly stipend (CNY 3,000 for general scholars; CNY 3,500 for senior scholars).

Eligibility

1.Be a citizen of a country other than the People’s Republic of China；be in good health mentally and physically.

2.Be under 45 for general scholars. Be under 50 for senior scholars.

3.Register as full-time student or employed as full-time academic staff at CSC foreign partner institutions by the time of application and throughout the proposed stay in China.

Application documents

1.A copy of the personal information page of your valid passport.

2.A studentship certificate or the certificate of employment from your current university/institution.

3.Study or research plan.

4.A copy of “physical examination form for foreigners” (valid for six months).

5.Non-criminal record (valid for six months).

6.Officially recognized awards, scientific research achievements (if any).

7.Language certificate (if any).

8.Other supplementary documents.

Application process

1. Applicants submit application on CUG International Student Application System.

2. After the application is reviewed by Admission Office, applicants log into the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System to complete CSC online application and upload supporting documents. The code for CUG is 10491. Please select Type B for this program. Please refer to Appendix 2 for Online Application Guide at CSC.

3. CSC notifies CUG of scholarship award results on a monthly basis.

4. CUG notifies scholarship admission results to applicants and prepare admission documents.

Contact

Ms. ZHANG Zhongyuan

Tel：+86-27-6788 6120

E-mail：zhangzhongyuan@cug.edu.cn

CUG Overview

China University of Geosciences (CUG), established in 1952, is a national key university affiliated with the Ministry of Education. It is also listed in the National “211 Project” and the “Double First-class Plan”. CUG, featuring geosciences, is a comprehensive university that also offers a variety of degree programs in science, engineering, literature, management, economics, law, education and arts. Its Geology and Geological Resources & Engineering have both been ranked as national number one disciplines.

Guided by academic frontiers, responding to the demands of socioeconomic development, CUG aims to be a comprehensive university, featuring geosciences with coordinated development of multiple disciplines and offering a variety of degree programs in science, engineering, literature, management, economics, law, education, and arts. Two of CUG disciplines are national first-level key disciplines and 16 are provincial-level key disciplines. The 2 first-level disciplines, “Geology” and “Geological Resources and Geological Engineering” have been ranked top in every national evaluation of academic disciplines and have been listed in the “Double First-Class Plan”. CUG comprises 23 schools (institutes), which offer 70 undergraduate degree programs, 19 first-level doctorate degree programs, and 34 first-level master’s degree programs. There are also 16 postdoctoral research stations at CUG.

CUG faculty members have been awarded 2 Special Prizes for National S&T Advance (as participants), 1 Second Prize for National Natural Science, 4 Second Prizes for National S&T Advance, over 150 citations for S&T achievements at the provincial and ministerial level, 1 listed among Top Ten National Science Advance, 2 listed among Top Ten Geological S&T Advance, 2 listed among Top Ten Geological Prospecting Results since 2016. Twelve faculty members have listed as Highly Cited Scientist by Clarivate Analytics, and 26 as Highly Cited Scholar by Elsevier.