The Beijing Government Scholarships for International Students (BGS) are aimed at supporting outstanding international students who are pursuing their studies or conducting scientific research at higher education institutions and research institutes in Beijing. Applicants, including both new applicants and currently enrolled students, may apply for BGS through their universities. The host institutions are responsible for reviewing applications and selecting BGS recipients. Further details of the application process are set out below.

I. Eligibility and Duration of Funding

1. Outstanding international students pursuing degree programs, including undergraduates, master's students, and doctoral students 

The funding duration shall not exceed the standard period of study for the enrolled program. Any doctoral student who is unable to complete the program within the standard period due to special circumstances may apply for an extension of BGS funding.

2. Outstanding international students in non-degree programs, including preparatory students, visiting students (including inter-university exchange students), and research scholars

Preparatory students are eligible for funding for one academic year. For visiting students (including inter-university exchange students) and research scholars, the funding duration shall not exceed one academic year. Visiting students (including inter-university exchange students) will receive funding at the master's level, while research scholars will be funded at the doctoral level.

II. Coverage, Standards, and Disbursement Methods

(I) The scholarships are divided into Category A, Category B, and Category C scholarships, based on levels of study and academic disciplines.

1. Category A covers tuition fees, accommodation fees, living expenses, and comprehensive medical insurance premiums. 

2. Category B covers tuition fees, accommodation fees, and comprehensive medical insurance premiums. 

3. Category C covers tuition fees and comprehensive medical insurance premiums.

(II) Disbursement Methods

1. Tuition fees: Recipients are exempt from tuition fees.

2. Accommodation fees: Recipients are exempt from on-campus accommodation fees. For any recipient who chooses off-campus accommodation with the university's approval, the university shall provide an accommodation allowance on either a monthly or quarterly basis in accordance with applicable standards.

3. Living expenses: Living expenses shall be disbursed on a regular basis by the universities.

4. Comprehensive medical insurance premiums: These fees shall be disbursed to the recipients after enrollment and registration, or used by the universities to purchase medical insurance on behalf of the recipients, in accordance with relevant financial regulations.

III. Requirements

(I) Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens, be well-disposed towards China, and be in good physical and mental health.

(II) Academic and Age Requirements

1. An applicant for a bachelor's degree program must have a high school diploma or equivalent qualification, and be no older than 25 years of age at the time of enrollment.

2. An applicant for a master's degree program must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification, and be no older than 35 years of age at the time of enrollment.

3. An applicant for a doctoral degree program must hold a master's degree or equivalent qualification, and be no older than 40 years of age at the time of enrollment.

4. An applicant for a preparatory program must have a high school diploma or equivalent qualification, hold a pre-admission notice issued by the institution to which the applicant has applied for a bachelor's degree program, and be no older than 24 years of age.

5. A visiting student (e.g., an inter-university exchange student) must hold a qualification equivalent to a bachelor's degree, or be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or master's student, and be no older than 45 years of age at the time of enrollment.

6. A research scholar must hold a master's degree or above, or hold an academic title of associate professor or above, and be no older than 50 years of age at the time of enrollment.

(III) Language Proficiency

1. For programs taught in Chinese:

- Preparatory programs and visiting programs: HSK Level 3 or above 

- Degree programs: HSK Level 4 or above

2. For programs taught in foreign languages:

- Applicants must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the languages of instruction and provide valid, widely recognized language proficiency certificates.

- For English-taught programs, non-native English speakers must submit proof of their English proficiency. Applicants for the Category A scholarship must submit a TOEFL score of 85 or above, an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or other equivalent proof of English proficiency.

(IV) Academic Performance

- For Category A: In principle, the applicant's previous degree-granting institution should be a university ranked among the world’s top 500 in the QS World University Rankings, or the applicant must have a diploma from a key high school in his/her home country (with an average score of no less than 85, or a GPA of 3.6 or above). For a current student, the previous academic year's average score must be 85 or above. 

- For Category B or C: The applicant's previous degree-granting institution should, in principle, be a key university or research institute, or the applicant must have a diploma from a key high school in his/her home country (with an average score of no less than 80, or a GPA of 3.0 or above). For a current student, the previous academic year's average score must be 80 or above. 

- A research scholar should, in principle, come from a university ranked among the top 500 in the QS World University Rankings.

Any applicant not meeting the above requirements may provide other proof of academic excellence, which shall be subject to collective review and determination by the host institution.

An applicant for a master's degree, doctoral degree, or research scholar program must submit two letters of recommendation written in Chinese or English by two referees holding the title of associate professors or above in relevant fields.

(V) Applicants must not concurrently receive other scholarships (excluding one-time awards) provided by Chinese government bodies, social organizations, or the admitting institutions.

(VI) Other requirements

Applicants must also pass the admission assessments or entrance examinations for international students and meet the academic, language, and other relevant requirements of their admitting institutions.

IV. Application Procedures

(I) Inquiry and Application Channels

Applicants may search for institutions offering BGS and relevant program information in the "Studying in Beijing" section of the International Web Portal of Beijing and submit applications directly to the relevant institutions. For details regarding programs, courses, and required documents, please consult the intended institutions.

(URL: https://english.beijing.gov.cn/studyinginbeijing/index.html)

(II) Deadlines

Application deadlines are determined by each institution and published in the "Studying in Beijing" section of the International Web Portal of Beijing. All application materials must be submitted before the deadline specified by the intended institution.

V. Approval and Review

(I) Institutions shall formulate scholarship evaluation procedures, review application materials, conduct examinations or assessments, and comprehensively evaluate applicants based on academic performance, overall performance, and development potential to determine the list of recipients and corresponding scholarship categories, and notify applicants accordingly.

(II) Every BGS recipient must undergo an annual review organized by the host institution, which shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation based on the student's academic performance, attitude toward study, attendance, and conduct, ensuring standardized and rigorous procedures, with fair outcomes. The review shall be carried out in accordance with the institution's implementation measures for scholarships. Students who fail the review will have their scholarships suspended or revoked in the following academic year.

Institutions may also adjust their scholarship categories based on the review results through internal decision-making procedures.