International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship: the scholarship run by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
The International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship is a scholarship established by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) for eligible Chinese language teachers outside China. It supports further study in international Chinese language education and related programs at Chinese universities. The definition comes from the preamble of the Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, published by CLEC.
See also Scholarships on this site.
Definition
The preamble gives three aims for the Scholarship: to meet the growing international demand for Chinese language teachers, to facilitate Chinese language education around the world, and to support the professional development of Chinese language teachers.
The preamble names the following bodies as Recommending Institutions: Confucius Institutes, independent Confucius Classrooms, selected HSK test centers, foreign educational institutions, Chinese language teacher training programs or Chinese departments at foreign universities, professional associations for Chinese language teaching, and Chinese embassies (consulates) abroad. A Recommending Institution may recommend outstanding students and in-service Chinese language teachers.
The preamble calls the Chinese universities where recommended applicants study Host Institutions.
What the official text says
Eligibility
Section I of the guidelines sets the following conditions:
- The applicant is a non-Chinese citizen.
- The applicant is friendly to China, has no criminal record, abides by the laws and regulations of China, and abides by the rules and regulations of the Host Institution.
- The applicant is in good physical and mental health and in good academic and behavioral standing.
- The applicant is interested in Chinese language education and related work.
- The applicant is aged between 16 and 35 years on September 1, 2025. Item 5 states that the maximum age limit for in-service Chinese teachers may be extended to 45. Item 5 also states that applicants for a Bachelor's degree scholarship shall be younger than 25 under most circumstances.
Scholarship categories
The guidelines set six categories. The table gives the length of funding and the HSK and HSKK lines as printed in each category.
| Category | Length of funding | HSK line | HSKK line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Doctor's degree in International Chinese Language Education | Maximum of four academic years | Minimum score 200 on HSK Level 6 | Minimum score 60 on HSKK Advanced Level |
| 2. Master's degree in International Chinese Language Education | Maximum of two academic years | Minimum score 210 on HSK Level 5 | Minimum score 60 on HSKK Intermediate Level |
| 3. Bachelor's degree in International Chinese Language Education | Maximum of four academic years | Minimum score 210 on HSK Level 4 | Minimum score 60 on HSKK Intermediate Level |
| 4. One-Year Study Program | Maximum of eleven months | Depends on the field of study (see below) | Depends on the field of study (see below) |
| 5. One-Semester Study Program | Maximum of five months | Depends on the field of study (see below) | Depends on the field of study (see below) |
| 6. Four-Week Study Program | Maximum of four weeks | HSK score required; category 6 prints no level or minimum score | Category 6 names no HSKK score |
Category 1 requires a Master's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, linguistics, international Chinese language education, or an education-related discipline. Category 2 requires a Bachelor's degree. Category 3 requires a senior high school diploma.
Categories 1 and 2 give priority to applicants who may provide an employment contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China, or proof to the same effect.
Category 4 (One-Year Study Program) sets the following lines by field:
- International Chinese language education programs: minimum score 270 on HSK Level 3. An HSKK score is required; item 4 prints no minimum HSKK score for these programs.
- Chinese language and literature, Chinese history, or Chinese philosophy programs: minimum score 180 on HSK Level 4 and 60 on HSKK Intermediate Level.
- Chinese language study programs: minimum score 210 on HSK Level 3. Priority is given to applicants who provide an HSKK score.
Category 5 (One-Semester Study Program) commences in September 2025 or March 2026. It sets the following lines by field:
- International Chinese language education, Chinese language and literature, Chinese history, or Chinese philosophy programs: minimum score 180 on HSK Level 3. An HSKK score is required.
- Traditional Chinese medicine or Taiji culture programs: HSK scores are required, and priority is given to applicants who also provide an HSKK score. Category 5 prints no minimum HSK score for these programs.
Category 6 (Four-Week Study Program) commences in July or December 2025. For Chinese language study, traditional Chinese medicine, Taiji culture, or Chinese language plus homestay with a Chinese family programs, an HSK score is required. Category 6 states that a Recommending Institution may organize and apply for the program with 10 to 15 participants per group. Category 6 also states that a detailed study plan shall be made in consultation with the Host Institution(s) before the trip, and submitted to CLEC for review and approval.
The 2025 cycle
Section III states that online registration opens on February 20, 2025, on the International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship website named in that section. Applicants may search for Recommending Institutions and Host Institutions, submit application materials online, and track the application.
Section III states that a successful applicant must confirm with the Host Institutions the procedures for studying in China, and must register at the Host Institution on the designated date stated in the Letter of Admission.
Section III sets the following deadlines (Beijing time) for the 2025 cycle:
| Programs commencing | Applicants complete applications by | Recommending and Host Institutions complete review by |
|---|---|---|
| July (2025) | April 15, 2025 | April 25, 2025 |
| September (2025) | May 15, 2025 | May 25, 2025 |
| December (2025) | September 15, 2025 | September 25, 2025 |
| March 2026 | October 31, 2025 | November 10, 2025 |
Section III states that CLEC will entrust an expert panel to review the applications. It states that decisions will be based on HSK and HSKK levels and scores, geographical distribution, and other factors. It also states that results will be announced about three months before the program starts.
Related terms
- HSK and HSKK
- Recommending Institution
- Host Institution
- Letter of Admission
- Confucius Institute
- Chinese Government Scholarship
Sources
- Application Guidelines for International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship 2025, Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC, chinese.cn)
Checked 10 October 2026.
This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this entry, the official text and those instructions prevail.