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ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship: the Chinese Government Scholarship programme for ASEAN member states

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The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship Program (ACYLS) is a scholarship for ASEAN nationals, according to the Introduction of the Guidebook to the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship, published by the China Scholarship Council (Campus China). The guidebook describes ACYLS as a dedicated project for young and promising professionals with working experience in ASEAN Member States. It supports Master or PhD degrees, short-term research programs and training courses in the PRC.

See also Scholarships on this site.

Definition

The guidebook states that ACYLS responds to the call of the leaders of the PRC and ASEAN Member States to increase people-to-people exchanges and strengthen educational cooperation. It describes ACYLS as an effort to foster a third pillar of socio-cultural and people-to-people exchanges within the ASEAN-China relationship. The Chinese government will provide funding for ACYLS mainly through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF). The guidebook describes the award as a full scholarship covering all program-related expenses, including tuition waiver and other school fees, accommodation, round-trip international air fare, comprehensive medical insurance and stipends.

What the official text says

Supporting categories and length

Section 1 names three supporting categories. Masters students, doctoral students and research scholars are the categories listed. The length of scholarship equals the length of schooling for each category:

Supporting category Length of schooling Length of scholarship
Masters students 2-3 academic years 2-3 academic years
Doctoral students 3-4 academic years 3-4 academic years
Research scholars 4-5 months 4-5 months

Section 1 states that recipients shall complete their studies within the duration of the scholarship.

Instruction language

Section 1 states that the instruction language is English. It says candidates are strongly advised to register for English-taught programs. It also states that English proficiency must meet the language requirements of the programs applied for.

Eligibility

Section 4 lists the following criteria for applicants:

  • a. Citizen of an ASEAN Member State (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam);
  • b. In sound physical and mental health;
  • c. Proficient in English (i.e., must possess an IELTS score of at least 6.0 or a TOEFL score of at least 80 points);
  • d. Holder of an undergraduate degree and under the age of 45 if applying for a masters degree;
  • e. Holder of a graduate/masters degree and under the age of 45 if applying for a PhD degree;
  • f. Holder of at least an undergraduate degree if applying for the short-term research program;
  • g. Having at least one-year work experience within government agencies, public or private institutions, universities, think-tanks or similar social agencies, and preferably has experience in the following:
  • work related to foreign and international affairs, especially ASEAN and China-ASEAN affairs;
  • work or study in the PRC;
  • academic work on China or ASEAN-related affairs;
  • h. Not a concurrent awardee of a Chinese government scholarship;
  • i. Meets other admission requirements of the Chinese universities to which the applicant has applied.

Coverage

Section 2 sets out the following:

  • Stipend: Registered students receive a monthly stipend from their host university. Students who register on or before the 15th of the month receive a full stipend for that month. Students who register after the 15th receive a half stipend for that month. Graduating students receive a stipend for another half month following the graduation date. If a registered student stays outside China for more than 15 days for personal reasons (school holidays excluded), the stipend is stopped during the absence.
  • Monthly rates: Master's students 4,000 RMB per month; doctoral students 5,000 RMB per month; research scholars 5,000 RMB per month.
  • Banking: Host universities may request their students to have an RMB bank account in China to receive the stipend.
  • One-time settlement fee: Masters students, doctoral students and research scholars receive a one-time settlement fee of 3,000 RMB per person, paid in Chinese currency on registration.
  • Air fare: The China Scholarship Council and the host universities support round-trip air fares (economy class only) between the home country and the city of the host university. Section 2 refers to Chapter VI of the guidebook for the use of the fund and reimbursement of flight tickets.
  • Tuition: Tuition is covered by ACYLS, and funds are allocated directly to the host universities. Section 2 states that tuition for some majors (for example, MBA) may be exceptionally high, and that for those majors coverage is decided case by case.
  • Accommodation: Each recipient is provided with one single room in a university dormitory.
  • Medical insurance: Medical insurance is covered by the ACYLS program. Section 2 refers readers to the Comprehensive Insurance & Protection Scheme for Foreigners Staying in China for the policy and claims.
  • Annual review: The China Scholarship Council and the host universities review enrolled students' performance each year. Failure to pass the review may result in expulsion from university and cancellation of the scholarship.

Where and when to apply

Section 3 states that applicants submit applications to the ACYLS national focal points of their home countries before the deadline. Faculty and staff from ASEAN universities who apply through the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and AUN Thematic Networks submit applications to the AUN Secretariat before the deadline. Section 3 states that the application generally opens from January to March every year. For the application deadline of the current year, Section 3 directs applicants to consult the ACYLS national focal points or the AUN Secretariat directly.

Application procedures

Section 5 gives the following steps:

  1. Visit campuschina.org.
  2. Click "Scholarship Application for Students" and log in to CGSIS (Chinese Government Scholarship Information System).
  3. Complete the online application.
  4. Upload all necessary supporting documents to the online system.
  5. Prepare the documents listed in the List of Application Documents.
  6. Submit hard copies of the application form and relevant documents to the ACYLS national focal point or the AUN Secretariat, as required, before the deadline.
  7. The national focal points and the AUN Secretariat review the qualifications of all applicants.
  8. They provide the list of recommended recipients to the Joint Committee of the ACYLS.
  9. The Joint Committee decides the final recommendation list.
  10. The Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) processes only the applications on the recommended list.

Section 5 states that online submission is compulsory for each applicant. It also states that applicants not included in the list will not be considered, and that CSC reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to the applicants' host universities.

Related terms

Sources

Checked 10 October 2026.

This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice and is not published by the bodies named. If the official text differs from this summary, the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail.

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