Guidebook to the ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship

Ⅰ. Introduction to ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship

The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship Program (ACYLS) is an initiative in response to the call of the Leaders of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and ASEAN Member States (AMS) to increase people-to-people exchanges, strengthen educational cooperation and promote academic exchanges and linkages between AMS and the PRC, in an effort to foster a third pillar of socio-cultural and people-to-people exchanges within ASEAN-China relationship towards building a closer community of shared future.

ACYLS is a dedicated project for ASEAN nationals, in particular young and promising professionals with working experience in ASEAN Member States. The Chinese government will provide funding for ACYLS mainly through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF).

ACYLS will support nationals from AMS to study for Master or PhD degrees, undertake short-term research programs, and participate in training courses in the PRC. ACYLS provides a full scholarship award covering all program-related expenses including tuition waiver and other school fees, accommodation, round-trip international air fare, comprehensive medical insurance and stipends.

Ⅱ. ACYLS Application Guidelines

1. Supporting Categories, Length of Scholarship and Instruction Language

Supporting categories: ACYLS supports young and promising professionals with working experience from ASEAN Member States to pursue Master or PhD degrees, undertake short-term research programs, and participate in training courses in the PRC.

Length of Scholarship: Recipients of ACYLS will be sponsored by the scholarship for a certain duration according to their enrolled length of schooling. The recipients shall complete their studies within the duration of scholarship. The length of schooling for each supporting category is as follows:

Instruction Language: English. Candidates are strongly advised to register for English-taught programs, and their English language proficiency must meet the language requirements of the applied programs.

2. Coverage and Standard

Stipend: Within the scholarship duration, registered scholarship students will receive a stipend from their host university on a monthly basis. Students registering on or before the 15^th of the month will receive a full stipend of that month. Those who register after the 15^th of the month will receive a half stipend of that month. Graduating students will receive stipend for another half a month following the graduation date. If a registered student stays out of China for more than 15 days due to personal reasons (school holidays excluded), his/her stipend will be stopped during his/her absence from China.

Master's students: 4,000 RMB per month

Doctoral students: 5,000 RMB per month

Research scholar: 5,000 RMB per month

* Host universities may request their students to have a banking account of RMB in China to receive the stipend. Enrolled students are encouraged to contact their host universities for more details.

One-time Settlement Fee: ACYLS recipients will receive the one-time settlement fee from the host university upon their registration. It is provided to master’s students, doctoral students and research scholars. The standard is 3,000 RMB per person and will be issued in Chinese currency.

International Round-trip Air Fare: The fund will be used by the China Scholarship Council and the host universities to support round trip air fares (Economy Class only) of ACYLS recipients between their home country and the city of host university. Details for the use of the fund and reimbursement of flight tickets are spelled out in Chapter VI of this document.

Tuition: Tuition will be entirely covered by the ACYLS program and funds will be directly allocated to the host universities.

 

*Tuition of some majors (e.g., MBA) may be exceptionally high. For students apply for those majors, whether the tuition will be entirely covered by the scholarship will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

 

Accommodation: ACYLS recipients will be provided with university dormitory with one single room for each recipient.

Medical Insurance: It is covered by the ACYLS program. To check insurance policy and insurance claims, please Protection Scheme for Foreigners Staying in China.

Annual Review: Enrolled students’ performance is subject to annual review by the China Scholarship Council and the host universities. Failure to pass the review may result in expulsion from university and cancellation of his/her scholarship.

3. When & where to Apply

Applicants shall submit their applications to ACYLS national focal points of their respective home countries before the deadline. Faculty and staff from ASEAN universities, who apply through ASEAN University Network (AUN) and AUN Thematic Networks, shall submit their applications to AUN Secretariat before the deadline. The application generally opens from January to March every year. For the application deadline of the current year, applicants shall consult the ACYLS national focal points or AUN Secretariat directly.

4. Eligibility

Applicants of ACYLS should meet the following criteria:

a. Citizen of an ASEAN Member State (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam);

b. In sound physical and mental health;

c. Proficient in English (i.e., must possess an IELTS score of at least 6.0 or a TOEFL score of at least 80 points);

d. Holder of an undergraduate degree and under the age of 45 if applying for a master’s degree;

e. Holder of a graduate/master’s degree and under the age of 45 if applying for a PhD degree;

f. Holder of at least an undergraduate degree if applying for the short-term research program;

g. Having at least one-year work experience within government agencies, public or private institutions, universities, think-tanks or similar social agencies, and preferably has experience in the following:

•      work related to foreign and international affairs, especially ASEAN and China-ASEAN affairs;

•      work or study in the PRC;

•      academic work on China or ASEAN-related affairs;

h. Not a concurrent awardee of a Chinese government scholarship;

i. Meets other admission requirements of the Chinese universities to which the applicant has applied.

5. Application Procedures

Step 1- Complete online application by visiting CGSIS . Online submission of the application is compulsory for each applicant by completing the application information and uploading all necessary supporting documents.

Step 2- Prepare the application documents according to the “List of Application Documents” and upload all the required documents into the online application system. Also submit the hard copies of application form and relevant documents to the ACYLS national focal points/AUN Secretariat as required before the deadline. ACYLS national focal points of ASEAN Member States and AUN Secretariat will then review the qualifications of all applicants and provide the list of recommended recipients to the Joint Committee of the ACYLS, which will decide the final recommendation list.

Step 3- The Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) will only process the applications recommended by the Joint Committee. Applicants not included in the list will not be considered. CSC reserves the right to make necessary adjustments to the applicants’ host universities.

6. Application Documents

Applicants must provide authentic and valid documents according to the requests and upload clear scanned copies onto CGSIS. Failure to fulfill the requirements will negatively influence the scholarship results.

When submitting applications to the ACYLS national focal points and AUN Secretariat, the applicants should follow the prescribed requirements.

7. Placement

The ACYLS will be carried out within 33 designated Chinese universities (List of the universities attached hereto). Each applicant can choose one major and three preferred universities out of the 33 designated universities. CSC will place each applicant in one university based on their choices and universities's requirements.

8. Scholarship Confirmation

A. Qualified applications will be sent to the candidates’ preferred universities for placement by CSC. Based on various factors, such as the scholarship funding requirements, the host university's teaching capacity, study length and applicants’ criteria, CSC reserves the right to make necessary adjustments/changes to the candidate’s preferred university and field of study. The placement results will be confirmed by the universities.

B. Winners of the scholarship will receive the final results from CSC through email before 31 July. The candidates will receive the admission documents (Admission Letter and Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201)) from the host universities the host universities.

C. Scholarship recipients shall not change their host university, field of study, or duration of study stipulated on the Admission Letter after their coming to China.

D. Scholarship will not be reserved if the scholarship recipients cannot register before the registration deadline.

Note: Applicants must provide accurate, detailed and valid information for the "Current Contact Information" of CGSIS.

9. Application for Change

Scholarship students are not allowed, in principle, to change their academic programs, host universities or the length of schooling during their study in China. Those who need to change for special reasons are required to apply to CSC via their host universities. The change can happen only after the approval from both CSC and the ACYLS Joint Committee based in Jakarta.

10. Timeline

January-March	Applicants apply to ACYLS national focal points and AUN Secretariat for the ACYLS programs and complete online application via the CGSIS(Chinese Government Scholarship information System).
March-April	ACYLS national focal points of AMS and AUN Secretariat review and choose proper candidates, and submit the recommendation list to the Joint Committee based in Jakarta. The Joint Committee reviews all the recommendations from AMS and and AUN Secretariat, then submits a nomination list to CSC.
May-July	CSC engages with the designated universities for placement.
End of July	CSC notifies the scholarship recipients of the final results upon the confirmation by the Joint Committee. Host universities mail the admission documents to respective recipients.
August	ACYLS recipients receive admission documents and go through necessary procedures for coming to China.
September	ACYLS recipients arrive in China and register with the host universities.

 

 

Ⅲ. Designated Universities

No.	University	City	No.	University	City
1	Peking University	Beijing	18	East China University of Science and Technology	Shanghai
2	Tsinghua University	Beijing	19	Shanghai University of Finance and Economics	Shanghai
3	Renmin University of China	Beijing	20	Nanjing University	Nanjing
4	Beijing Normal University	Beijing	21	Zhejiang University	Hangzhou
5	China Agricultural University	Beijing	22	Xiamen University	Xiamen
6	Beijing Foreign Studies University	Beijing	23	Wuhan University	Wuhan
7	Beijing Language and Culture University	Beijing	24	Huazhong University of Science and Technology	Wuhan
8	University of Science and Technology Beijing	Beijing	25	Hunan University	Changsha
9	Beijing Jiaotong University	Beijing	26	Sichuan University	Chengdu
10	Communication University of China	Beijing	27	Beihang University	Beijing
11	Central University of Finance and Economics	Beijing	28	Beijing Institute of Technology	Beijing
12	University of International Business and Economics	Beijing	29	China Foreign Affairs University	Beijing
13	Nankai University	Tianjin	30	Shanghai University	Shanghai
14	Tianjin University	Tianjin	31	Guangxi University	Nanning
15	Fudan University	Shanghai	32	Guizhou University	Guiyang
16	Shanghai Jiao Tong University	Shanghai	33	Yunnan University	Kunming
17	Tongji University	Shanghai

 

Ⅳ. List of Application Documents

1. Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship (in English);

2. A copy of your valid ordinary passport home page;

3. Notarized highest diploma. Documents in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with notarized Chinese or English translations.

4. Academic report.  This document in languages other than Chinese or English must be attached with notarized Chinese or English translations.

5. A Study Plan or Research Proposal (written in Chinese or English). This should be a minimum of 500 words for non-degree students, and 800 words for graduate students.

6. Two Recommendation Letters (written in Chinese or English). Applicants for the graduate programs or the short-term research scholar programs must submit two recommendation letters, one from the candidate's current employer and one from the candidate’s university professor.

7. Valid documents of your legal guardians in China (only required for applicants under the age of 18).

8. Certificates of English language proficiency (IELTS with minimum 6.0/TOFEL with 80 or above, or other internationally accepted certificates in the equivalent level).

9. Foreigner Physical Examination Form, The physical examinations must cover all of the items listed in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Incomplete forms or forms without the signature of the attending physician, or the official stamp of the hospital, or a sealed photograph of the applicants are considered as invalid. Please carefully plan your physical examination schedule as the result is valid for only 6 months.

10. A resume or CV including the educational background and working experience after high school (Upload to “Other Supporting Documents” in the CGSIS).

11. Non-criminal record report. The applicant shall submit a valid certificate of Non-Criminal Record issued by the local public security authority, usually issued within 6 months prior to the submission date of the application.

 

Ⅴ. Tips for Coming to China

1.    Visa Application

ACYLS winners should apply for an "X1" visa to study in China to the Chinese embassy and consulate-general. Those who will study in China for less than 6 months (including 6 months) can apply for an "X2" visa. Valid ordinary passport, photocopies of the Admission Letter, Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201), and the original document of Foreigner Physical Examination Form are among the required documents for visa application. Students who come to China with other types of passports, visas or without the requested documents will not be able to register with the universities, nor will they be able to apply for the residence permit in China. Visa application cost is at student's own expense.

2.      Registration, Health Verification and Residence Permit

Registration

Scholarship students must register with the host universities before the deadline of the registration as specified in Admission Letter with the Admission Letter, Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201) and Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Those who are unable to register on time must get permission from the host institution directly. Those who fail to register without the prior consent of the institution will be considered as voluntarily giving up the scholarship and the scholarship will be automatically terminated.

Health Verification and Residence Permit

Health Verification: Scholarship students who are to stay in China for more than 6 months are requested to submit their passport, Admission Letter, Foreigner Physical Examination Form and Blood Test Report to the local health quarantine office to have their physical examination report verified. Scholarship students who do not meet the requirements of the above authority will be required to re-take the physical examination. Those who refuse to re-take the physical examination or are diagnosed with diseases that are not permitted to stay in China according to Chinese laws and regulations will be required to leave China.

Residence Permit: Upon their arrival in China, scholarship students must apply for residence permit to the local police authority before the deadline regulated by the visa-issuing authority with their passport, Admission Letter, Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201), verified health report, and photograph that meets the image requirements of the authority.

3. Funding of International Round-trip Air Fare

For master’s and doctoral degree students, ACYLS will provide them with one-time round-trip international air fare for their first visit to China and return to home country after graduation, as well as one round-trip international air fare for home visit at the end of each academic year, yet excluding the graduation year. Students need to purchase the air tickets (economy class only) by themselves according to relevant regulations, and apply for reimbursement of the expenses from the host university with the original purchase receipt.

For the first visit to China and return to home country upon graduation, the ceiling for reimbursement is 3000 RMB each. The ceiling for round-trip ticket for home visit is 6000 RMB. The excess fee shall be borne by the students.

For the first visit ticket to China, students can apply for reimbursement after their registration with the university. For the return ticket to home country upon graduation, the students can apply for reimbursement when they are qualified for graduation. For home visit round-trip tickets, students can apply for reimbursement after their return to school from home visit.

For Research Scholars, ACYLS will provide them with one-time international round-trip air fare. Students need to purchase the air tickets (economy class only) by themselves according to relevant regulations, and apply for reimbursement of the expenses from the host university with the original purchase receipt. The round-trip air ticket shall not exceed 6000 RMB. The students can apply for reimbursement prior to their completion of study.