The three categories remove different expenses
Beijing’s January 2026 procedures define A as tuition, accommodation, living support and comprehensive medical insurance. B covers tuition, accommodation and insurance, while C covers tuition and insurance. Therefore B is not the same package as Shanghai B, and C does not include a monthly living allowance.
Off-campus accommodation support requires the receiving institution’s approval. The framework does not make an independently rented apartment automatically reimbursable. Universities administer selection and notify the category; the city framework alone does not establish which category a particular programme will offer.
Category A has academic criteria that should not be hidden
The published framework normally links A to a QS top-500 university background or a key secondary school, with an average of at least 85 or GPA of at least 3.6; it has separate language conditions. B/C normally use an average of at least 80 or GPA of at least 3.0 with the stated institutional-background conditions.
These are Beijing criteria, not a universal CSC GPA. The framework allows exceptional supporting evidence and a collective host decision. That provision should not be sold as a guaranteed exemption. Preserve the grading scale and qualification evidence rather than declaring an unverified converted GPA.
Put this guide into practice
Create a short record for your intended programme. Add the relevant notice or document beside each item; leave unpublished details marked “to confirm”.
- Exact scholarship category and eligible study level
- Age limit and the date used to calculate it
- Cash stipend separated from tuition and housing support
Your next step
Three preparation tasks, with useful guides. No account or email; this is not an eligibility assessment or scholarship prediction.
Build my free preparation planAge, language and renewal must be read together
Degree thresholds are no older than 25, 35 and 40 at enrolment for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral applicants. Chinese-taught degree programmes use HSK 4 or above in the framework. English-taught Category A applicants who are not native English speakers need the prescribed proficiency evidence, including TOEFL 85 or IELTS 6.5, or equivalent accepted proof.
Selection does not end the obligations. Each recipient undergoes annual review covering academic performance, learning attitude, attendance and conduct. The institution may suspend, revoke or adjust the category after review. A family planning several years of study therefore needs a budget for the possible change, not only the first-year letter.
Beijing 2026 framework: costs and academic criteria
| Category | Named cost coverage | Normal academic threshold |
|---|---|---|
| A | Tuition, accommodation, living costs and insurance | Average at least 85 or GPA at least 3.6; stated background condition |
| B | Tuition, accommodation and insurance | Average at least 80 or GPA at least 3.0; stated background condition |
| C | Tuition and insurance | Average at least 80 or GPA at least 3.0; stated background condition |
The normal criteria have an exceptional-evidence provision subject to collective host review. University and programme admission conditions also apply.
How Beijing’s municipal award is administered
The 2026 municipal procedures replace simplistic older descriptions of one fixed Beijing tuition award. Hosts accept and evaluate applications, determine categories and apply their implementation rules. The city framework supports degree and specified non-degree study, but it does not mean every campus offers every category for every programme. Consult the intended institution before using a funding estimate.
Beijing criteria are not the general CSC checklist
The published framework includes academic, age and language conditions, with more demanding criteria for Category A. University-level admission requirements also apply. Do not take a general CGS eligibility table as the complete Beijing checklist. Existing students may face a separate application or review process from new entrants. A course’s eligibility must be confirmed with its host. The reference date and inclusive wording matter. Beijing’s 2026 framework uses “no older than” 25, 35 and 40 at enrolment; general CSC guidance uses “under” those ages when applying.
FAQ
Is Beijing Category B the same as CSC Type B?
No. Beijing’s letter identifies a municipal funding package, while CSC Type B identifies a university-managed application route. Their recipients, conditions and covered costs must be compared separately.
Your next step
Three preparation tasks, with useful guides. No account or email; this is not an eligibility assessment or scholarship prediction.
Build my free preparation plan