Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship 2026/2027 in China — Full or Partially Funded
The Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship is open now for the 2026/2027 academic year, supporting international students at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels across universities in Shanghai. Established in 2006 by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the scholarship offers two distinct funding tiers — a full award covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and medical insurance, and a partial award covering tuition and medical insurance only. There is no single, centralised deadline. Each participating Shanghai university sets its own application timeline, so the deadline you need to track is the one set by the specific institution you are applying to.
This is an important structural point to understand before you apply: there is no central Shanghai Municipal Government application portal. You apply directly to a university in Shanghai that participates in the scheme, and that university manages your admission and scholarship application together. Your eligibility, your required documents, and your deadline are all set by the institution — not by a single government office. This means the first decision you need to make is not “how do I apply for this scholarship” but “which Shanghai university and programme do I want to study at.”
The scholarship has supported international students for nearly two decades and remains one of the more substantial government-funded study options in China, particularly for students pursuing degrees in Shanghai’s well-resourced public universities. Whether you receive Category A or Category B depends on the university’s allocation and your application strength — not on your own selection. You apply for the scholarship; the university determines which category, if any, you are awarded.
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Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Shanghai Municipal Government |
| Host Country ⇒ | China |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate | Masters | PhD |
| Benefits ⇒ | Category A: Fully Funded — tuition, accommodation, living expenses, medical insurance. Category B: Partially Funded — tuition and medical insurance only |
| Funded By ⇒ | Shanghai Municipal People’s Government |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Not centrally specified — set independently by each participating university |
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About the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship
The Shanghai Municipal Government established the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship in 2006 to attract international students and researchers to study in Shanghai and strengthen the city’s universities as international education destinations. Shanghai is China’s largest city and a major centre for finance, technology, and higher education, home to several of the country’s top-ranked universities, including institutions consistently placed in global rankings for engineering, business, and the sciences.
The scholarship operates through a decentralised model. Rather than a single national body processing all applications, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government allocates scholarship places to individual participating universities, and each university then runs its own admissions and scholarship selection process for the students it accepts. This means the experience of applying — the documents required, the platform used, and the deadline you must meet — varies depending on which university and programme you choose.
The scholarship uses two categories to give universities greater flexibility in allocating funding. Category A recipients receive full support, while Category B recipients receive partial support that covers tuition and insurance only, so they must fund their own accommodation and living costs. Both categories are available across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies, although undergraduate preparatory programmes are only available under Category A.
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What the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship Covers
The Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship has two funding categories. The benefits differ significantly between them, so confirm which category you are being considered for before making financial plans.
Category A — Full Scholarship:
- Full tuition fees for the duration of the programme
- Accommodation, provided by the university or covered as an allowance
- Living expenses, paid as a stipend for the duration of study
- Comprehensive medical insurance
Category A is available for undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and undergraduate preparatory programmes.
Category B — Partial Scholarship:
- Tuition fees for the duration of the programme
- Comprehensive medical insurance
Category B is available for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes — it is not available for undergraduate preparatory programmes.
The most important thing to confirm before accepting an offer is which category applies to you. The scholarship listing does not guarantee Category A — many applicants receive Category B, which leaves accommodation and living expenses as out-of-pocket costs. Ask your chosen university directly, before you accept any offer, which category you have been awarded and what the exact monetary value of accommodation or living stipends is, if applicable.
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Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship depends on your intended level of study. The following requirements apply across all applicants, in addition to level-specific criteria:
General requirements for all applicants:
- You must be a foreign national — Chinese citizens are not eligible
- You must be in good health, meeting the medical standards required for international students in China
- You must usually hold at least HSK Level 4, the Chinese proficiency exam, and meet any additional language requirements of your specific programme
- You must meet the specific academic and language requirements set by the university and programme you are applying to
- You must not be currently receiving any other Chinese government scholarship — this scholarship cannot be held alongside other state-funded Chinese awards
Undergraduate applicants:
- Must have completed high school
- Must be under 25 years old
Undergraduate preparatory applicants:
- Must hold a high school diploma or higher
- Must have a pre-admission notice from a Shanghai university
- Must be under 23 years old
Master’s applicants:
- Must hold a bachelor’s degree
- Must be under 35 years old
Doctoral applicants:
- Must hold a master’s degree
- Must demonstrate strong academic ability
- Must be under 40 years old
Note that some programmes are taught in English and may not require HSK Level 4 specifically. Confirm the language requirement directly with your chosen university and programme because requirements vary by institution, and the scholarship does not standardise them.
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Required Documents
Because each university manages its own application process, the exact document list varies by institution. In general, expect to prepare:
- Application documents required by your chosen university — formats and submission methods differ between institutions
- Academic certificates and transcripts — covering your most recent qualification (high school for undergraduate applicants, bachelor’s degree for master’s applicants, master’s degree for doctoral applicants)
- Language proficiency certificate — typically an HSK certificate, unless your programme is taught in English and specifies an alternative requirement
- Any additional documents required by your specific institution and programme — this may include a research proposal, recommendation letters, a personal statement, or a medical examination form
Before you begin preparing documents, visit the international admissions page of your chosen Shanghai university directly. Each university sets its own document requirements, certified translation rules, and submission formats, so a document checklist from one institution may not match another’s requirements.
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How to Apply
- Choose a Shanghai university that participates in the scholarship scheme — not all universities in Shanghai offer this scholarship, so confirm participation directly on the university’s international admissions page before proceeding
- Visit the university’s international admissions website to review the specific programmes available, the application platform used, and the document requirements for both admission and the scholarship
- Prepare all required application documents, including academic transcripts, language certificates, and any programme-specific materials
- Submit your scholarship application directly to the university — there is no separate government-level application; admission and scholarship applications are typically combined or closely linked
- Wait for the university’s review and final decision — processing times vary by institution, and some universities require an interview or additional assessment before confirming an award
Because the application route runs through individual universities, identify your target institution early. If you are considering more than one Shanghai university, check each one’s deadline separately — they will not necessarily align, and missing one university’s deadline does not extend another’s.
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Application Deadline
Not centrally specified — deadlines vary by participating university.
There is no single Shanghai Municipal Government deadline that applies across all institutions. Each university sets its own timeline for both admission and scholarship applications within the same process. Once you have identified your target university, check that institution’s international admissions page directly for the current deadline, and build in time before that date to complete language testing, document certification, and any required interviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship fully funded?
Your scholarship benefits depend on the category the university awards you. Category A provides full funding for tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and medical insurance. Category B provides partial funding for tuition and medical insurance only. You cannot choose your category—the university determines it based on its funding allocation and its assessment of your application.
Can Nigerian and African students apply for the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship?
Yes. The scholarship is open to all foreign nationals, with no country restrictions specified. Nigerian and other African applicants who meet the academic, age, and language requirements for their intended level of study are eligible to apply.
Do I need to know Chinese to apply for this scholarship?
In most cases, yes — applicants are generally required to hold at least HSK Level 4. However, some programmes at Shanghai universities are taught in English and may have different language requirements. Confirm the specific language requirement with your chosen university and programme before applying.
How do I know which Shanghai university to apply to?
Not all universities in Shanghai participate in this scholarship scheme. Start by identifying universities offering your intended programme, then check each one’s international admissions page to confirm whether they participate in the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship and what their specific application process involves.
What is the deadline for the Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship?
There is no single deadline. Each participating university sets its own admission and scholarship deadline. Check the international admissions page of your specific target university for the current deadline.
Can I apply for this scholarship alongside other Chinese government scholarships?
No. The eligibility requirements state explicitly that applicants must not be receiving any other Chinese government scholarship. You can only hold one Chinese state-funded scholarship at a time.
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Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from official Shanghai Municipal Government Scholarship sources as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice, and deadlines vary by participating university. Always confirm the latest details directly on your chosen university’s official admissions page before submitting your application.
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