A major international academic opportunity has officially opened for the 2026–2027 cycle — the UNESCO/The People’s Republic of China Great Wall Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme. This highly respected global fellowship invites outstanding students, researchers, and scholars from 135 developing Member States to pursue advanced studies and research in China under one of UNESCO’s longest-standing international cooperation programmes.
Applications for the new cycle are now open, and interested candidates must submit their completed application files to their National Commission for UNESCO no later than Friday, 23 January 2026. Nominations from National Commissions must reach UNESCO by Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
This article walks you through the full opportunity — who can apply, what fields are available, benefits, required steps, and official deadlines — so you can prepare your application on time and maximize your chances of selection.
What This Programme Is About?
Launched to strengthen human resource development and international academic exchange, the Great Wall Fellowships support students from developing regions across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States, and Europe. For the 2026–2027 academic year:
- 75 total fellowships will be offered, hosted by selected Chinese universities.
- 27 new seats are available for fresh recruitment.
- Scholarships cover postgraduate degree studies, doctoral studies, and one-year Visiting Scholar programmes for both General and Senior scholars.
Depending on the programme, study duration ranges from 1 to 5 years. Courses may be delivered in English or Chinese, depending on the university and major. UNESCO places high priority on Gender Equality, Africa, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — so applicants from these categories are strongly encouraged.
Who Can Apply?
A total of 135 developing countries across all UNESCO regions are formally invited and these include:
Africa (46 countries): Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Seychelles, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon, Angola, Malawi, Congo, Ghana, Gabon, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Burundi, Togo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Cabo Verde, DR Congo, Comoros, Namibia, Zambia, Benin, Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Eswatini, South Africa, Guinea, Senegal, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, CAR, Chad, Mauritius, Mali, Botswana, Uganda, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ethiopia.
Asia-Pacific (38 countries): Laos, Turkmenistan, Samoa, Maldives, Viet Nam, Bhutan, PNG, Nepal, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Tonga, Timor-Leste, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Uzbekistan, DPR Korea, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran, Niue, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Cambodia, India, Tuvalu, Thailand.
Arab States (13 countries): Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Mauritania,, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Sudan.
Latin America & Caribbean (26 countries): Belize, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia,, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Cuba, DR, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Grenada, Haiti, Guyana, Mexico, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Honduras, Venezuela.
Europe (12 countries): Armenia, Albania, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Georgia, North Macedonia, Poland, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine.
If your country is on the list — you’re eligible to apply.
Available Study Fields
Fields of study depend on the host universities selected by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). These generally include:
- Science & Technology
- Engineering
- Agriculture
- Education
- Culture & Communication
- Social Sciences
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Medicine (non-clinical)
- IT & Computer Sciences, and more
Applicants must review the CSC website for specific programmes and language requirements.
Eligibility Requirements: Who Is a Strong Candidate?
You must meet the age, academic, and language criteria for the specific programme you apply for:
1# Visiting Scholar Programmes (1 year)
General Scholar
- High school diploma
- Under age 45
- English proficiency required
- For Chinese-taught: HSK Level 3.
Senior Scholar
- Master’s degree OR Associate Professor rank (or higher)
- Under age 50
- English proficiency required
- For Chinese-taught: HSK Level 3.
2# Master’s & PhD Programmes
Master’s
- Bachelor’s degree
- Under age 35
- English proficiency required
- For Chinese-taught: HSK Level 4
Doctoral
- Master’s degree
- Under age 40
- English proficiency required
- For Chinese-taught: HSK Level 4.
Apply: https://www.unesco.org/en/fellowships/greatwall
For the 2026–2027 cycle of the UNESCO/The People’s Republic of China – The Great Wall Co-Sponsored Fellowships Programme, applicants must submit their complete application files to the National Commission for UNESCO in their home country no later than Friday, 23 January 2026.
Only candidates who are officially nominated at the national level will proceed to the next stage. The National Commissions of invited Member States must then submit the official nominations, along with all supporting documents, to UNESCO by Tuesday, 10 February 2026.