Marine Scholarship by SOA & The Ministry of Education of China 2019

The ocean, covering about 71% of the Earth’s surface, plays a primary role in addressing the climate change and supporting the global economy, trade and livelihood. The sustainable ocean development has direct impact on the development and prosperity of all coastal countries now and in the future. And it has become an inexorable trend worldwide that through international cooperation and exchange we should deepen our understanding of the ocean and promote sustainable ocean development to enhance regional and global economic prosperity. Under this consideration, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) and the Ministry of Education of China jointly initiate the program of Marine Scholarship of China (hereinafter called the Scholarship) for the purpose of providing financial support to outstanding students from the coastal countries or regions around the South China Sea, the Pacific and the Indian Oceans and African developing countries to study in China for a master’s or doctoral degree in oceanography or other related specialties, cultivating advanced professionals of the related fields for developing countries, enhancing international marine cooperation and exchange, and promoting the harmonious ocean development in the region and around the world. China Scholarship Council (CSC) is in charge of the admissions and routine management of the Scholarship.

Universities to offer the Scholarship

Xiamen University, Zhejiang University, Ocean University of China, Tongji University

Duration of the Scholarship

Candidates for a master’s degree: 2-3 years of study with the Scholarship
Candidates for doctoral degree: 3-4 years of study with the Scholarship
Scholarship awardees who choose Chinese as the teaching language and request Chinese language training prior to their formal academic studies will receive one- year training and have their scholarship funding extended correspondingly for one year.
The duration of the Scholarship will be deﬁned upon the student’s admission to the university, and will not be extended in principle. If a student is unable to ﬁnish the program for some special reasons, his or her scholarship may be extended appropriately until graduation with prior consent of SOA, the university and CSC.

Scholarship Admissions:

i. SOA and the universities will jointly organize a panel of reviewers to screen the candidates for the scholarship on the basis of the candidates’ academic performance and achievements and their supervisors’ opinions. The ﬁnal list of the scholarship awardees will be publicly announced.
ii. Entrusted by CSC, the university will mail the Admission Notice and Visa Application Form (JW201) to the scholarship awardee by July 31 every year.
iii. In principle, the Scholarship student is not allowed to change the school, subject, and duration of study pre-deﬁned on the Admission Notice.

Annual Review of The Scholarship

According to the Measures of Annual Review of Chinese Government Scholarship Status, CSC will carry out a comprehensive annual review of the scholarship students’ academic performance, attitude towards study, attendance records, behavior, rewards, and punishments etc.
Scholarship students must pass the review to qualify themselves for next year’s scholarship funding. Those who fail the review may have their scholarship suspended or terminated next year.
Those whose scholarship has been suspended may continue their study at the University at their own expense, and if they wish to recover eligibility of receiving the scholarship, they may attend the review next year and, upon passing the review, apply for the continuity of the Scholarship.
Those whose scholarships have been ofﬁcially terminated are not eligible to apply for recovery of the Scholarship.

Benefits:

Exemption from tuition fees, and provide accommodation on campus
Living allowance: RMB 3,000 per month for master’s students, and RMB 3,500 per month for doctoral students
The Comprehensive Medical Insurance for Chinese Government Scholarship Students
International travel expenses: to be paid by the student

Requirements:

The applicant for a master’s degree studies is required to have a bachelor’s degree and be usually under the age of 40
The applicant for doctoral degree studies is required to have a master’s degree and be usually under the age of 45. Eligible Regions: The coastal countries or regions around the South China Sea, the Paciﬁc and the Indian Oceans and African, American developing countries

How to Apply:
Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship (to be filled out in Chinese or English)
An applicant is supposed to log on to Chinese Government Scholarship Information System, fill in all the necessary information, and then print the Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship which will be automatically generated after successful submission. The online application system can be found at the given link, and the institutional codes of the universities are Xiamen University: 10384, Zhejiang University: 10335, Ocean University of China: 10423, and Tongji University: 10247.

Photocopy of last degree certificate. Certificates in languages other than Chinese or English must be accompanied by a notarized translation in Chinese or English.
Academic transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than Chinese or English must be accompanied by notarized translations in Chinese or English.
The applicant’s study or research plan in China (in Chinese or English).
Two letters of recommendation (in Chinese or English) by Professors or Associate Professors.
Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form (downloadable from CSC’s website) completed in Chinese or English. The applicant must strictly take all the examination as required by the Form. Leaving a blank or absence of signature of the doctor or seal of the hospital will make the form invalid.
Application for joint training with relevant institutions. The applicant needs to submit the application in Chinese or English if he/she needs joint training.

These application documents will not be returned no matter the application is accepted or not.