Shanghai Government Scholarship Program China Application Guide 2027
If you want the Shanghai Government Scholarship at Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU), you do not apply to the Shanghai government. You apply to the university through its own online system, and the scholarship is decided as part of that application. This guide covers SHOU’s 2027 round only, based on SHOU’s own pages. We did not check other Shanghai universities, so do not assume their dates and majors match.
SHOU’s pages say any non-Chinese citizen with a personal passport can apply, and they name no countries, so Pakistani students are not excluded. The graduate deadline is February 1, 2027. The bachelor and 1+4 language-preparatory windows opened on October 1, 2026, so as of October 10, 2026 all three are open. The scholarship covers real money: the top version pays tuition, a dorm room, medical insurance, and a monthly allowance. It also comes with strict paperwork, and a few rules that cannot be undone once you submit.
What the Shanghai Government Scholarship Covers
| Award | What SHOU says it covers |
|---|---|
| SGS Type A | Tuition, a double room in the international student apartments, medical insurance, and a monthly allowance: 2,500 RMB for bachelor, 3,000 RMB for master, 3,500 RMB for PhD students |
| SGS Type B | Tuition and medical insurance |
| 1+4 Bachelor Chinese Language Preparatory Program Scholarship | For bachelor candidates with HSK 3. One year of preparatory study with a fee waiver or scholarship terms set after a pre-admission interview and overall evaluation. The bachelor-stage scholarship is then decided from your preparatory-year results |
All money figures on SHOU’s pages are in Chinese yuan (RMB, also written CNY), and we have not converted them. For comparison, here is what SHOU lists as the yearly tuition for self-funded students. The scholarship replaces the tuition part, and SHOU lists the 400 RMB application fee as a separate cost.
| Level | Chinese-taught tuition per year | English-taught tuition per year |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | 20,000 RMB | 32,000 RMB |
| Master | 25,000 RMB | 31,000 RMB |
| Doctoral | 28,000 RMB | 35,000 RMB |
Medical insurance is listed at 400 RMB per semester or 800 RMB per year for self-funded students. The SGS pages say both Type A and Type B cover it.
Which Programs Are Included
Not every SHOU program is on the scholarship list. The SGS guide names a short set of majors, and the prospectus lists more programs for general admission. Check the list below before you plan around this scholarship.
| Level | Majors on the SGS guide | Length and teaching language |
|---|---|---|
| Master and PhD | Aquaculture and Biology (College of Fisheries and Life Science); Fishery Resources (College of Marine Living Resource Sciences and Management); Marine Science (College of Oceanography and Ecological Science); Food Science and Engineering (College of Food Science and Technology); Fishery Economics and Management (College of Economics and Management); Marine Science (College of Engineering Science and Technology) | Master 3 years, PhD 4 years. The prospectus lists all of these as English-taught |
| Bachelor | Aquaculture; Marine Fishery Science and Technology | 4 years. The prospectus lists both as Chinese-taught |
Who Can Apply
- A non-Chinese citizen in good health, holding a personal passport.
- Age and education: bachelor applicants need a high school degree and must be 25 or younger. Master applicants need a bachelor degree and must be 30 or younger. PhD applicants need a master degree and must be 35 or younger.
- Grades: the SGS guide says GPA above 3.0. The prospectus only says outstanding academic performance, with no number.
- PhD applicants also need research experience and at least one published scientific paper, according to the prospectus.
- Bachelor applicants must have a China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) result. Register for the test at csca.cn.
- A laptop and a stable internet connection for the online interview.
- Willingness to meet the graduation requirements, which the prospectus describes as HSK and a research paper, and to follow local laws and university rules.
The two bachelor majors on the SGS list need different CSCA subjects. Aquaculture needs Chinese, Maths and Chemistry. Marine Fishery Science and Technology needs Chinese, Maths and Physics.
Two small details can cause trouble. First, the SGS guide says GPA above 3.0 but never says on which scale, and SHOU’s prospectus gives no number at all. If your transcript uses percentages or another grading scale, email admissions@shou.edu.cn before you assume you meet it. Second, several documents have time limits: the physical exam certificate is valid for 6 months, language certificates must be under 2 years old, and recommendation letters must be dated after September 1, 2026. Prepare them in an order that keeps all of them valid on the day you submit.
Dates and Steps for the 2027 Round
| Track | Application window |
|---|---|
| Graduate (master and PhD) | October 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027 |
| Bachelor degree | October 1, 2026 to May 30, 2027 |
| 1+4 Bachelor Chinese Language Preparatory Program | October 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027 (see note below) |
There is one conflict. The SGS guide gives April 30, 2027 as the end of the 1+4 window, while the prospectus shows May 30 for bachelor and 1+4 applicants together. We follow the SGS guide, which is the page written for this scholarship, and suggest you aim for the earlier date. Neither page gives a time of day or a time zone.
- Step 1, apply online. Register at SHOU’s application system, fill in the form, upload your documents, and pay the 400 RMB application fee by transfer. For master and PhD programs, first find a supervisor on SHOU’s supervisor list, get approval, and write your research proposal with that supervisor.
- Step 2, review. SHOU checks eligibility first, then the academic department evaluates you. An interview may follow. If you miss an interview without notice, SHOU treats it as withdrawal.
- Step 3, wait for the result. Provisionally admitted applicants who applied for a scholarship wait for the official scholarship result. Check your email and your SHOU account often.
- Step 4, get your admission papers. Admitted students download the Admission Notice and the JW202 form, then apply for an X-type study visa at their local Chinese embassy or consulate.
- Step 5, register on campus. Bring the original diploma and transcripts, non-criminal record and physical exam record. Anyone who has not obtained the required certificates by September 1, 2027 loses the admission.
SHOU online application system
The 400 RMB application fee is non-refundable once paid. The passport you use on the application cannot be changed until you enroll. And SHOU says new students must study in Shanghai in person in September 2027, with no deferment allowed.
Documents Checklist
The prospectus lists these items. Documents not in Chinese or English need a notarized translation.
- A passport copy valid beyond March 1, 2028, plus a 1-inch electronic photo in JPG format.
- Degree certificate and all-year transcripts for your last qualification: high school for bachelor, bachelor degree for master, and bachelor and master degrees for PhD. Copies need the school’s official stamp or the president’s signature. Graduating students send a pending graduation certificate and current transcripts, then the originals once issued.
- Language proof. For English-taught programs: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 within the last 2 years, or a signed statement from a native English speaker confirming English is a country’s official language or their mother tongue. For Chinese-taught programs: an HSK certificate from the last 2 years, with HSK 5 above 180 for bachelor and HSK 4 above 180 for master and PhD. Bachelor candidates applying for the 1+4 program need HSK 3.
- A one-page personal statement in English or Chinese.
- A foreigner physical examination certificate valid for 6 months, with a detailed blood report. SHOU rejects forms without the doctor’s signature, the hospital stamp, or a sealed photo.
- A non-criminal record.
- A signed statement of financial support from you and your sponsor. SHOU says a scholarship cannot be counted as the financial support.
- A guardian’s commitment letter, only if you are 16 to 18 years old.
- For master and PhD: a research proposal and study plan with your SHOU supervisor’s e-signature, a resume, and two recommendation letters from two different associate professors or higher, one of them your previous supervisor, dated after September 1, 2026.
The language rules sit in a crowded prospectus layout, so confirm them with SHOU before you pay for a test.
Notes for Pakistani Applicants
SHOU’s pages name no countries and give no Pakistan-specific route, so the general rules above apply. A few points are worth checking early. The CSCA and the physical exam certificate have their own rules, and the physical exam must follow SHOU’s foreigner form. Any document not in English or Chinese needs a notarized translation. For master and PhD programs, finding a supervisor who agrees to supervise you is a step that can take weeks, so start it first. Questions go to the International Student Office at admissions@shou.edu.cn or +86-21-61900763.
Frequently Asked Questions
For master and PhD programs, yes. SHOU says you must find a supervisor who agrees to guide you and get that person’s e-signature on your research proposal. Bachelor applicants do not need one.
No. SHOU reviews your application first, then the department evaluates you, and scholarship applicants wait for the official scholarship result after provisional admission.
SHOU says CSC applicants apply at SHOU and also through the CSC website, campuschina.org, using SHOU agency code 10264. SHOU’s SGS instructions point to its own application system.
Official Sources
- Shanghai Ocean University: 2027 SGS Application Guide (scholarship types, windows, majors, eligibility, process)
- Shanghai Ocean University: 2027 Degree Programs Prospectus page (deadlines, supervisor and portal notes)
- Shanghai Ocean University: 2027 Degree Programs Prospectus (PDF) (fees, scholarship coverage, documents, visa)
- Shanghai Ocean University online application system (registration and applications)
Information in this guide was checked against the official pages above on October 10, 2026.
Scholarship requirements, deadlines, and funding details can change. Always verify current information directly with the official provider before applying.
ScholarshipOrbit is an independent guidance resource and is not affiliated with Shanghai Ocean University, the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, or any organization mentioned above.
