While the overarching Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) gets all the glory, wealthy Chinese municipalities run their own parallel funding schemes. The Shanghai Government Scholarship (SGS) is designed specifically to funnel elite international talent into Shanghai's top-tier universities, such as Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, and Tongji.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters, PhD
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- Optional
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- 18 - 40
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Optional
- TOEFL
- Optional
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- Chinese
- Local Lang Test
- Optional (HSK 4)
- Study Languages
- Chinese, English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- Type A (Full): Tuition, dorm, medical, and monthly stipend (RMB 2500-3500). Type B (Partial): Tuition and medical only.
- Monthly Stipend
- CNY 3000/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- No / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
The SGS 'Type A' scholarship is identical in value to the national CSC scholarship. It provides a 100% tuition waiver, free accommodation, medical insurance, and a generous monthly stipend ranging from 2,500 RMB (undergraduate) to 3,500 RMB (PhD). Because it is administered locally, it is often used as a 'backup' by universities.
If a professor wants you but the university runs out of CSC quotas, they will often slide your application into the SGS pile.
Application Process
You do not apply through an embassy. You apply directly to your target university in Shanghai. During the university's online application process, you simply check a box indicating you want to be considered for the SGS.
You will usually have to fill out a parallel application on the official Study in Shanghai portal to generate an application number.
How to Win This Scholarship
The strategy here is exactly the same as the CSC Type B: secure a supervisor first. Do not apply blind. Email a professor at Fudan or SJTU with your research proposal and secure an acceptance letter.
If the department wants you, they will figure out which bucket of money (CSC or SGS) to use to fund you. Be aware that the competition is brutal because you are competing for spots in China's most desirable and expensive city.
Benefits After Completing Study
Graduating in Shanghai gives you immediate access to one of the largest financial and tech hubs in Asia. The local government has recently streamlined post-graduation work visas for international students who graduate from Shanghai universities, making it easier to stay and work in the city.
Be very careful about 'Type B' scholarships. If you are awarded an SGS Type B, you get free tuition and health insurance, but NO monthly stipend and NO free dorm. Given that Shanghai's rent is astronomically high compared to the rest of China, accepting a Type B scholarship requires you to have significant personal savings.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source