ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship

The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship (ACYLS) is a flagship program jointly initiated by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and ASEAN Member States (AMS). It aims to enhance people-to-people ties, strengthen educational cooperation, and deepen academic exchange between ASEAN and China—building the socio-cultural “third pillar” of the ASEAN-China Partnership and a shared future community.

ACYLS is open exclusively to ASEAN nationals, particularly young professionals with demonstrated leadership potential and relevant work experience. The program offers full scholarships for Master’s and Doctoral degrees, short-term research, and training courses at leading Chinese universities.

All expenses are covered, including tuition, accommodation, international airfare, comprehensive medical insurance, and monthly stipends.

II. Application Guidelines

1. Supported Categories and Duration

All programs are English-taught. Applicants must meet the English proficiency requirements set by the host university.

2. Scholarship Coverage

• Monthly Stipend:
  • Master’s: RMB 4,000
  • Doctoral: RMB 5,000
  • Research Scholar: RMB 5,000
• One-Time Settlement Allowance: RMB 3,000 upon registration.
• Tuition: Fully covered (high-tuition majors such as MBA are subject to case-by-case review).
• Accommodation: Single university dormitory room.
• Airfare: Round-trip economy class ticket between home country and China.
• Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage under CSC’s Foreign Students Policy.

Students’ performance is reviewed annually by CSC and their universities. Failure to meet academic or conduct standards may result in termination of the scholarship.

3. Application Timeline and Channels

• Application Period: January – March (annually)
• Where to Apply:
  • National Focal Points in each ASEAN Member State, or
  • ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat for university faculty/staff applicants.
    Applicants must confirm the specific national deadlines with their focal points or the AUN Secretariat.

4. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

1. Be a citizen of an ASEAN Member State (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Viet Nam).
2. Be in good physical and mental health.
3. Be proficient in English (IELTS ? 6.0 / TOEFL ? 80).
4. Be under 45 years old.
   • Bachelor’s degree holders applying for a Master’s program.
   • Master’s degree holders applying for a Doctoral program.
5. Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree for short-term research programs.
6. Have at least one year of professional experience in government, academia, private sector, or think-tanks—preferably related to ASEAN-China affairs.
7. Not be receiving another Chinese Government Scholarship.
8. Meet admission criteria of the selected Chinese university.

5. Application Procedures

1. Online Submission:
   • Register on the CSC Study in China Portal ? “Scholarship Application for Students.”
   • Choose Program Category Type A, and enter Agency Number 0025.
   • Upload all required documents and submit online.
2. Hard-Copy Submission:
   • Print and submit the completed application form and supporting documents to the ACYLS National Focal Point or AUN Secretariat before the national deadline.
3. Review & Selection:
   • National focal points and the AUN Secretariat will screen and recommend qualified applicants to the ACYLS Joint Committee (Jakarta).
   • The China Scholarship Council (CSC) finalizes placements and notifies awardees.

6. Required Application Documents

1. Application Form (English, via CSC portal)
2. Passport copy (valid for ? 12 months)
3. Notarized highest degree and transcripts (with English/Chinese translation)
4. Study Plan or Research Proposal (? 500 words for non-degree, ? 800 for graduate)
5. Two Recommendation Letters (from employer and professor)
6. English-language certificate (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent)
7. Foreigner Physical Examination Form (if stay > 6 months)
8. Resume/CV (education + work history)
9. Certificate of Non-Criminal Record (issued within 6 months)
10. Guardianship documents (for applicants < 18 years old)

III. Placement and Confirmation

ACYLS scholars are placed in 33 designated Chinese universities, including:
Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Wuhan University, and others across Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, and other cities.

• Each applicant may select one major and up to three preferred universities.
• CSC determines final placement based on university capacity and candidate eligibility.
• Scholarship results are announced by 31 July, with admission documents (Admission Letter + JW201) issued thereafter.
• Scholarship cannot be deferred or transferred.

IV. Pre-Departure and Arrival Information

1. Visa Application

Admitted students must apply for an X1 visa (for studies > 6 months) or X2 visa (? 6 months) at the nearest Chinese embassy/consulate using:

• Passport
• Admission Letter
• JW201 Form
• Foreigner Physical Examination Form

2. Registration and Residence Permit

Students must register at their host university on the specified date.

• Health verification and residence permit applications must be completed within the legal timeframe.
• Failure to register or pass health verification may result in cancellation of the scholarship.

3. Airfare Reimbursement

• Master’s/PhD: One round-trip ticket for initial arrival + return upon graduation; annual home visit ticket (except graduation year).
• Research Scholars: One round-trip ticket per program.
• Maximum reimbursement:
  • RMB 3,000 (one-way) / RMB 6,000 (round-trip).

V. Contact and Focal Points

Applications are coordinated through national focal points within each ASEAN Member State’s Ministry of Education or equivalent authority.
A complete list of contacts is available from the ASEAN Secretariat or at participating universities.

For details and updates:
Website: www.campuschina.org
Administered by: China Scholarship Council (CSC)
Supported by: ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF)