The Xi’an Jiaotong University CSC Scholarship is a fully funded path to a Master’s or PhD at one of China’s elite C9 League universities, paid for under the Chinese Government Scholarship. It covers tuition, accommodation, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend. There is one detail that sets XJTU apart from many other CSC universities, though, and it is worth knowing upfront: XJTU charges a non-refundable application fee. More on that below.
This guide covers what the scholarship includes, who can apply, the fee, the documents you will need, and exactly how to apply for the 2027 intake. XJTU runs to a steady annual calendar, so the deadline lands at the end of February 2027 for this cycle. Treat that as your target and confirm it on the official portal, since this university’s deadline has shifted a little between years.
What is the Xi’an Jiaotong University CSC Scholarship?
This scholarship is part of the Chinese Government Scholarship, run by China’s Ministry of Education through the China Scholarship Council. It falls under the Chinese University Program, known as Type B, where leading universities recruit and fund international graduate students directly. Xi’an Jiaotong University is one of those institutions, and its CSC agency code is 10698, which you enter during the online application.
Under this route, you apply to XJTU itself rather than competing through your home government, and the university nominates its selected candidates to the CSC for final approval. The focus is on Master’s and Doctoral study. The Chinese Government Scholarship does fund some undergraduate places through other channels, so treat that as a separate path if you are an undergraduate applicant.
About Xi’an Jiaotong University
Xi’an Jiaotong University, usually shortened to XJTU, was founded in 1896 and is one of the oldest universities in China. It belongs to the C9 League, China’s small group of top-tier universities often compared to the Ivy League, and it sits in Xi’an, the historic former capital in Shaanxi Province. It operates under the Ministry of Education and consistently ranks among China’s top ten research universities and inside the global top 300 in major international rankings.
Where XJTU stands out is in engineering, energy and power, science, technology, management, and medicine. The university spans the full range of disciplines across its schools, with particular depth in mechanical, electrical, and energy engineering, materials science, and the health sciences. If your field is technical or scientific, XJTU is a serious choice, and a degree from it carries weight both in China and internationally.
What the XJTU CSC Scholarship covers
This is a full scholarship, not a partial award. For the length of your program, it provides:
- Full tuition coverage
- Exemption from the registration fee
- Free on-campus accommodation
- Comprehensive medical insurance for international students in China
- Funding toward laboratory work, internships, and basic textbooks
- Free Chinese language courses
- A monthly living allowance
The living allowance is set by degree level: 3,000 RMB per month for Master’s students and 3,500 RMB per month for Doctoral students, which is roughly $400 to $500 a month depending on the exchange rate. It is meant for everyday costs, so plan your budget around it.
The application fee you need to know about
Unlike many CSC universities, which charge nothing to apply, Xi’an Jiaotong University requires a non-refundable application fee of 800 RMB. In most cases the university sends a payment notice through its portal to applicants who pass the initial review, so you usually pay it during the university stage of the process rather than at the very start. Either way, budget for it, and do not expect it back, since it is non-refundable whether or not you win the scholarship.
Duration of the scholarship
Funding follows the standard length of your program, generally up to three years for a Master’s and up to four for a Doctorate, as specified in your admission letter, with a Chinese language preparatory year included beforehand if your program needs it. The exact duration varies by program, so check the figure on your offer.
Who can apply
To be eligible for the Xi’an Jiaotong University CSC Scholarship, you need to meet these conditions:
- You must be a citizen of a country other than China.
- You must be in good health.
- For a Master’s program, you need a Bachelor’s degree and must be under 35.
- For a Doctoral program, you need a Master’s degree and must be under 40.
- You should have a strong academic record and, for research degrees, genuine research ability.
- You cannot already hold another scholarship.
There is no published minimum GPA, but this is a competitive scholarship at a top university, so strong grades matter.
Language requirements
XJTU offers programs in both English and Chinese, and the requirement depends on which you choose. For English-taught programs, a medium-of-instruction certificate from a previous English-language degree is often accepted, so IELTS or TOEFL is not always mandatory, though some programs do ask for around IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80. For Chinese-taught programs, you will need HSK, commonly Level 4. Check the requirement for your specific program rather than assuming a letter covers everything.
Programs and fields available
Almost all of XJTU’s Master’s and Doctoral fields are open under the scholarship, across engineering, energy and power, electronics and information, computer science and software, materials, electrical engineering, management, aerospace, economics and finance, law, mathematics and statistics, life sciences, and a large health sciences center covering medicine, pharmacy, and nursing. The university’s real strength is on the technical and scientific side, so it suits applicants in those areas especially well. Browse the current program list on XJTU’s international admissions site to confirm your field and identify a potential supervisor before applying.
Documents you will need
Requirements can shift slightly each year, but an XJTU CSC application typically calls for:
- The Chinese Government Scholarship application form, completed and printed from the CSC online system
- The XJTU application form for international students, generated through the university portal
- Your highest degree diploma, notarised, with a certified English or Chinese translation if the original is in another language (a certificate of expected graduation if you have not yet graduated)
- Your academic transcripts, notarised and translated where needed
- Two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. If a professor at XJTU has already given you provisional acceptance, that supervisor’s recommendation can serve as one of the two.
- A study plan or research proposal, at least 800 words for Master’s applicants and around 1,500 words for PhD applicants
- The Foreigner Physical Examination Form, completed in English
- A copy of your passport
- Passport-style photographs with a white background
- An HSK certificate, if you have one (not compulsory)
- Published papers or academic achievements, if any (not compulsory)
- A non-criminal record certificate, where required
- Your CV
Key dates to plan around
XJTU follows a consistent annual schedule, so you can plan against it:
- Applications open: around November
- Application deadline: 28 February 2027
- University review and the application-fee payment notice: through the spring
- Final results from the CSC: generally by summer
- Enrollment: in September
One honest caveat: XJTU’s deadline has landed anywhere from late February to April across different years, so confirm the exact 2027 date on the official portal before you rely on it.
How to apply for the Xi’an Jiaotong University CSC Scholarship
The application runs across two systems, and you complete both:
- Register on the CSC online application system, select Scholarship Type B, and enter XJTU’s agency code, 10698. Complete the form, then download and print it to sign.
- Register on XJTU’s international student application system and complete the university’s own application with the same details and documents.
- Pay the 800 RMB application fee when the university requests it, usually after you pass the initial review.
- Try to secure a provisional acceptance or recommendation from a prospective supervisor beforehand, since it strengthens your application.
- Submit before the 28 February deadline. There is no need to send hard copies; the process is online.
Tips for a stronger application
A few things separate competitive XJTU applications from the rest:
- Contact a supervisor early. A provisional acceptance from a professor in your field can double as one of your recommendation letters and signals real interest from the department.
- Tailor your research plan to XJTU’s strengths. Tie it to the university’s work in engineering, energy, or science where you can, rather than writing something generic.
- Notarise and translate documents in good time. This step causes most last-minute problems.
- Budget for the 800 RMB fee. Factor it in so it does not catch you off guard mid-application.
- Apply early. Early, complete applications get a fairer review than rushed ones.
Common mistakes that cost applicants the scholarship
Strong candidates often lose out on avoidable errors:
- Skipping the supervisor and acceptance-letter step, which for research degrees is often decisive.
- Completing only one of the two applications. Both the CSC system and the XJTU portal must be done.
- Being caught off guard by the 800 RMB fee, or missing the payment notice in the university portal.
- Submitting a generic research plan with no link to XJTU or your field.
- Leaving notarisation and translation to the final week and missing the deadline over paperwork.
- Applying while already holding another scholarship, which makes you ineligible.
Most of these come down to starting late, so give yourself a couple of months.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Xi’an Jiaotong University CSC Scholarship fully funded? Yes. It covers tuition, the registration fee, on-campus accommodation, medical insurance, free Chinese language courses, and a monthly allowance of 3,000 RMB for Master’s students or 3,500 RMB for PhD students.
Is there an application fee? Yes. XJTU charges a non-refundable application fee of 800 RMB, usually requested through the university portal after the initial review. This is unusual among CSC universities, so plan for it.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL? For English-taught programs, often not, if you can provide a medium-of-instruction certificate, though some programs ask for around IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80. Chinese-taught programs require HSK, commonly Level 4.
What is the age limit? Master’s applicants must be under 35 and Doctoral applicants under 40.
What is the deadline? XJTU’s deadline falls at the end of February, so the 2027 deadline is shown as 28 February 2027. Confirm it on the official portal, as the date can shift.
Do I need to send hard copies? No. The application is completed online through the CSC and XJTU systems.
Can I apply to more than one university? Yes. The Chinese Government Scholarship lets you apply to more than one university in the same cycle, each with its own separate CSC and university application. Applying to two or three is a sensible way to spread your chances, though each one takes real effort to do well.
Conclusion
The Xi’an Jiaotong University CSC Scholarship is a strong, fully funded option for a Master’s or PhD at a C9 League university, and it is an especially good fit if your field is engineering, science, or technology, where XJTU excels. The package covers full tuition, accommodation, insurance, and a monthly stipend, with the one catch being the non-refundable 800 RMB application fee. For the 2027 intake, work toward the 28 February 2027 deadline: line up a supervisor, tailor your research plan, get your documents notarised early, and apply through both the CSC system and the XJTU portal. Confirm the exact date and fee on the official sites before you submit.
Official sources
- China Scholarship Council application system: https://studyinchina.csc.edu.cn/
- Xi’an Jiaotong University international student application system: http://isso.xjtu.edu.cn/recruit/login
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
