New Silk Road Scholarships 2026 Open at Southwest University (SWJTU)

Southwest University (SWU) in Chongqing, China, has opened applications for the New Silk Road Scholarship 2026, a dedicated funding track designed for international students from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. Unlike generic Chinese government scholarships that attract tens of thousands of applicants across all nationalities, this program narrows its focus to students from Belt and Road partner nations where SWU has established joint study agreements — making it a less crowded and more targeted opportunity for eligible candidates.

The scholarship supports admission at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels, and depending on the award type, can cover tuition fees entirely or extend to monthly living stipends. Applications are currently open through the university’s international portal, and the window closes on June 15, 2026.

For students already researching funded study options in China for the 2026 intake, here is what this scholarship actually offers, who qualifies, and how the application works.

What the Money Actually Covers — A Two-Tier Funding Breakdown

The New Silk Road Scholarship operates on two distinct funding tiers. Which one you receive determines whether your award stops at tuition or extends into monthly financial support for living costs.

• Type A (Tuition + Living Allowance): Covers full tuition fees and provides a monthly stipend — CNY 1,100 per month for undergraduate students, CNY 1,400 per month for master’s students, and CNY 1,700 per month for doctoral candidates.
• Type B (Tuition Only): Covers full tuition fees with no monthly stipend attached.
• Not included under either type: Medical insurance at CNY 800 per year and on-campus accommodation fees must be paid out of pocket by all scholarship holders, regardless of award tier.

Who Gets a Seat at the Table — Eligibility Criteria

This scholarship is not open to all international students. SWU has set clear nationality, academic, and language filters, and missing even one disqualifies an application outright.

• Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens from a country along the Belt and Road Initiative.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a minimum score of 80 out of 100 under percentage-based grading systems, is required.
• Language proficiency proof is mandatory — accepted certificates include HSK (for Chinese-taught programs), TOEFL iBT, or IELTS, and scores must demonstrate the ability to handle both daily communication and academic work on a Chinese university campus.
• Applicants must not currently hold any other scholarship funded by the Chinese government or any other Chinese institution. Students already studying in China on a different scholarship cannot apply for or switch to this one.

Apply: https://admissions.swu.edu.cn/Scholarships/New_Silk_Road_Scholarship.htm

Final Deadline to Submit Your Application

The application window for the New Silk Road Scholarship 2026 at Southwest University of China will close on June 15, 2026.