Call for UNESCO/The People’s Republic of China – The Great Wall Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme 2026-2027 is open now!!!
The Government of the People’s Republic of China, in collaboration with UNESCO, has officially opened the Great Wall Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme for the academic year 2026–2027. This fully funded initiative is designed to promote human resource development and strengthen academic and research capacity in developing countries, while fostering international cooperation and mutual understanding among peoples through education, culture, communication, science, and technology.
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Under this programme, a total of 75 fellowships will be awarded to qualified candidates from developing UNESCO Member States. Of these, 27 fellowships are available for new recruitment to applicants from 135 eligible countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and the Arab region. The fellowships are tenable at a selected number of recognized Chinese universities and target talented students and researchers who seek advanced academic training or research experience in China.
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The programme offers multiple study options. Applicants may apply for a Master’s degree, a Doctoral degree, or a one-year Visiting Scholar Programme as either a General Scholar or Senior Scholar. Depending on the level and nature of the programme, the duration of study may range from one year to five years. Fellowship recipients will be enrolled on a full-time basis in the academic or research programme to which they are admitted.
Study programmes may be conducted in either English or Chinese, subject to the availability of courses at the host universities. Applicants who wish to enroll in Chinese-taught programmes are expected to possess an adequate level of Chinese language proficiency before beginning their studies or research activities.
Eligibility is limited to nationals of the invited developing Member States who meet the academic and admission requirements of the selected Chinese universities. In line with UNESCO’s core priorities, special consideration is given to gender equality and geographic balance. Female candidates, as well as applicants from Africa and Small Island Developing States—particularly those from least developed countries—are strongly encouraged to apply.
Due to UNESCO’s intergovernmental framework, applications cannot be submitted directly by individuals. All applicants must submit their complete application packages through the National Commissions for UNESCO in their respective countries. These National Commissions are responsible for reviewing, endorsing, and nominating qualified candidates to UNESCO.
The final selection of fellowship recipients will be carried out by the host Chinese universities and subsequently approved by the relevant Chinese authorities and UNESCO. The National Commissions for UNESCO of the selected candidates will be formally informed of the final results. Extensions or repeat awards under the same UNESCO fellowship programme are not permitted.
Benefits
Facilities Offered by the Government of the People’s Republic of China
- Tuition waiver for the academic programme that they are enrolled in within the framework of the fellowships programme
- Monthly living allowance to cover meals and other living expense, in accordance with the following rates:
i) General visiting scholar, or Master’s degree students: CNY 3 000 (three thousand Chinese yuan)
ii)Senior visiting scholar, or Doctoral degree students: CNY 3 500 (three thousand five hundred Chinese yuan) - On-campus accommodation or accommodation subsidy2; Comprehensive Medical Insurance and Protection Scheme for International Students in China.
Facilities Offered by UNESCO
- International travel to and from China at the beginning and at the end of the fellowship
- Monthly pocket allowance of US$ 80 (eighty US dollars)
- A termination allowance to cover excess luggage charges at time of return to home country.
Note: No allowance will be granted by UNESCO or the Government of China for financing or lodging any spouse or dependent of the fellows.
Eligibilities
Candidates must be nationals of the invited Member States, fulfilling the following requirements:
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Meeting the eligibility requirements in age, language and academic qualifications for the chosen study programme:
One-year Visiting Scholar Programmes
– Candidates applying for General Scholar Programmes must hold a high school diploma and should not be older than the age of forty-five (45); whereas those who apply for Senior Scholar Programmesmust hold a master’s degree or an associate professor position (or above) and not be older than the age of fifty (50).
– English proficiency is required. For a candidate applying for a Chinese-taught programme as General or Senior visiting scholar, her/is Chinese proficiency must reach HSK Level 3.
Degree Programmes
– Candidates applying for Master’s Degree Programmes must hold a bachelor’s degree and should not be older than the age of thirty-five (35); whereas those who apply for Doctoral Degree Programmesmust hold a master’s degree and should not be older than the age of forty (40).
– English proficiency is required. For a candidate applying for a Chinese-taught degree programme, her/is Chinese proficiency must reach HSK Level 4.
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Meeting the admission requirements of the applied universities in terms of academic ability, language proficiency and other relevant criteria.
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Be in good health, both mentally and physically.
Application Process
Step 1:
Read carefully the Application Guidelines for the 2026-2027 UNESCO/China Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme to understand the requirements for eligible candidatures and the procedures for the submission of application.
Step 2:
Contact the National Commission for UNESCO of your home country to enquire about the application procedures at the national level.
Applicants are encouraged to contact in advance their target Chinese universities and obtain admission for the applied study programmes. Applicants with admission documents will be prioritized during the fellowship selection. If you have received admission notice, pre-admission letter or invitation from professors, please attach the documents in your online application.
Step 3:
Submit your online application, along with the required supporting documents in the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (https://campuschina.org) as mentioned in the Application Guidelines using the “Apply Now” link.
Please refer to the Instructions for Online Application for UNESCO/China – the Great Wall Co-sponsored Fellowships Programme, for a explicit guidance on online application submission.
Step 4:
Submit your online application form and all the supporting documents to the National Commission for UNESCO of your home country by Friday, 23 January 2026.
Step 5:
As soon as you are informed by the National Commission for UNESCO of your country that you are nominated as a candidate for this programme, you should communicate your the online application form and the supporting documents to [email protected].
Note: Only applications nominated by the National Commission will be accepted by UNESCO. It is mandatory for each nominated candidate to submit his/er application in the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System before the application deadline. Application without online registration will not be considered.
Step 6:
Letters of nomination, along with all the application documents should be submitted to UNESCO by the National Commissions by Tuesday, 10 February 2026 at the latest. Candidates who submit incomplete applications, or submit the online applications beyond this deadline won’t be considered.
Application Deadline: January 22, 2026
Application ClosedOfficial link
