MOFCOM Scholarship 2027: Closed Application Guide

The verified 2026 MOFCOM Scholarship application windows have closed. Official calls published in spring 2026 used country-specific submission routes and deadlines; for example, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone closed both MOFCOM-40 and MOFCOM-CSC submissions on May 12, 2026 and expected results in July–August. No official 2027 MOFCOM call or deadline has been published yet.

Quick answer: MOFCOM funds selected master’s and doctoral study in China for experienced professionals from developing or recipient countries. Applicants do not simply apply through a general scholarship blog. They must follow their home country’s designated government or Chinese Embassy Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office process, complete the required university and/or CSC portals, and receive an official recommendation.

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MOFCOM Scholarship 2026 key facts

Is the MOFCOM Scholarship open now?

Not for the 2026 calls reviewed on August 16, 2026. The official 2026 Chinese Embassy notice for Sierra Leone set May 12, 2026 as the deadline, scheduled interviews for late May and expected admissions in July–August. Deadlines in other countries were set by their own designated authorities and could differ.

That means a single worldwide deadline is misleading. It also means a 2026 notice must not be renamed “2027” until MOFCOM, AIBO, a Chinese embassy or an authorized home-country ministry publishes a new call. Prospective applicants can prepare documents and research programs, but they cannot submit a valid 2027 application yet.

Two different MOFCOM application routes

1. MOFCOM Direct-Admission Program (MOFCOM-40)

The 2026 direct-admission route contained 40 MOFCOM-led projects. An applicant could choose one project. Each project has its own university brochure, course, duration, language and contact instructions on the official AIBO 2026 enrollment guide.

Applicants generally contact the university listed in the project brochure, send the required materials to its designated address and complete any university portal. They must also follow the nomination and submission steps announced for their country. Applying to a university alone does not replace the dispatching authority’s recommendation.

2. MOFCOM–China Scholarship Council Joint Program

The joint route uses the Chinese Government Scholarship system. The 2026 Sierra Leone notice allowed applicants to select three target university/major preferences and required university-specific applications as well as the CSC Study in China portal.

Official MOFCOM-CSC instructions use Program Category Type A and agency number 00010. Those settings are specific to this route and should be used only when the applicant’s authorized notice says to do so. An incorrect category or agency number can prevent the processing authority from receiving the application.

Who can apply?

MOFCOM is not a general scholarship for every recent graduate. The program is designed to build professional and institutional capacity in recipient countries. Exact eligibility is controlled by the applicant’s country notice and selected university, but current and official guides consistently emphasize the following profile:

• citizenship of an eligible developing or recipient country and no Chinese citizenship;
• an ordinary valid passport and physical and mental fitness for study in China;
• a bachelor’s degree for a master’s program or a master’s degree for a doctoral program;
• normally no more than 45 years of age;
• relevant professional experience, commonly at least three years;
• employment as a government official, university or research professional, or senior organizational or business manager relevant to the proposed field;
• academic and language ability required by the selected program; and
• no conflicting Chinese government scholarship or disqualifying recent funding under the applicable country rules.

The 2026 Sierra Leone call added a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a four-point scale or 4.0 on a five-point scale and treated HSK Level 3 as an advantage. Those conditions should not be copied automatically to every country. Your local notice and university brochure control.

What does the scholarship cover?

MOFCOM is normally a full scholarship. Official university MOFCOM guides describe a standard package that can include:

• tuition and specified academic fees;
• on-campus accommodation;
• a living allowance of RMB 3,000 per month for master’s students and RMB 3,500 per month for doctoral students;
• a one-time resettlement allowance of RMB 3,000;
• medical insurance for international students; and
• specified international airfare for first arrival and return after graduation, with any additional home-visit airfare governed by the program rules.

The Communication University of China’s 2026 scholarship information, for example, confirms tuition, accommodation, a RMB 3,000 monthly master’s allowance, a RMB 3,000 settlement allowance, medical insurance and specified round-trip airfare for its MOFCOM master’s route.

Coverage can vary by program, and funds are limited to the approved study duration. Read the selected 2027 brochure when it is released rather than budgeting from an old article.

Required documents

The old page listed a 400-word plan and omitted key nomination materials. The current Sierra Leone call required a study or research plan of at least 1,000 words. Requirements can differ by country and university, but a realistic preparation list is:

• the correct MOFCOM, CSC and/or university application form;
• an ordinary passport valid for the period specified in the call;
• degree certificates and full academic transcripts, with required authentication and certified Chinese or English translations;
• a detailed study plan or research proposal meeting the current word limit;
• a current CV showing education and professional experience;
• two recommendation letters—commonly one professional or employer recommendation and one academic recommendation;
• language evidence required by the selected English- or Chinese-taught program;
• the Foreigner Physical Examination Form completed through the authorized process;
• a recent police or no-criminal-record certificate when required;
• an employer, ministry or dispatching-authority nomination or approval; and
• any country information form or university-specific document.

Names, dates, degree titles and employment history must agree across every portal and document. Fabricated transcripts or work records can lead to rejection or later cancellation of an award.

How to apply for the next MOFCOM cycle

1. Wait for an official country call. Monitor the Chinese embassy’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office and the relevant ministry or scholarship authority in your country.
2. Confirm that your country and professional profile are eligible. Do not assume that “developing country” status alone is sufficient.
3. Choose the correct route. Compare MOFCOM direct-admission projects with the MOFCOM-CSC university list.
4. Read the official brochure. Use AIBO for MOFCOM-led programs and the current university admissions page for course, language and portal requirements.
5. Contact the university. Follow the brochure’s international admissions contact and obtain any required pre-admission or confirmation material.
6. Complete the correct portals. For MOFCOM-CSC, use Type A and agency number 00010 when the new call confirms them; also complete each required university portal.
7. Submit through the designated authority. Follow its file format, email subject, paper-copy, authentication and deadline rules exactly.
8. Attend the interview if shortlisted. The country authority recommends candidates; the university and Chinese authorities make the final decision.
9. Keep original documents. Successful applicants may need them for verification, visa processing and university registration.

How to prepare for 2027 without inventing a deadline

• Renew an ordinary passport early enough to meet the next call’s validity rule.
• Request official transcripts and determine the authentication process in your country.
• Identify one or two fields that connect directly to your current professional role and your country’s development needs.
• Draft a specific 1,000-word-plus proposal explaining the problem, program fit, implementation plan and post-study impact.
• Discuss nomination procedures with your employer or relevant ministry before the short application window opens.
• Prepare credible recommendation letters and language evidence.
• Review the 2026 AIBO list only as a research reference; programs can change in 2027.

Browse our China scholarship archive and other scholarship guides, but always return to the official provider before applying.

Scam and application-safety checks

• China Scholarship Council states that it does not authorize individuals or intermediary agents to process Chinese government scholarship applications.
• Do not pay anyone for a “guaranteed nomination,” agency number or admission letter.
• Use the official AIBO, CSC, Chinese embassy, home-government and university domains linked from the current call.
• Do not send passports or authenticated records to a commercial blog or messaging-group administrator.
• A valid university offer does not bypass the MOFCOM country recommendation process.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MOFCOM Scholarship open for 2026?

The official 2026 application windows verified for this update have closed. Sierra Leone’s deadline was May 12, 2026, with results expected in July–August. Check your country authority because deadlines and nomination procedures differ.

Is the MOFCOM Scholarship open for 2027?

No official 2027 call or deadline had been published as of August 16, 2026. Prepare documents now, but do not submit through an unofficial form or reuse a 2026 deadline.

Can any international student apply?

No. MOFCOM targets eligible recipient-country professionals, usually experienced officials, academic or research staff, and senior managers. Citizenship, role, experience, age, education and nomination rules all matter.

What is agency number 00010?

It is the agency number used with Program Category Type A for the MOFCOM-CSC route in the verified instructions. It should not be substituted into unrelated Chinese Government Scholarship applications.

Can I apply directly to a Chinese university?

You may have to complete a university application, but it does not replace the authorized home-country or Chinese embassy recommendation. Follow every layer named in the current call.

Does MOFCOM require IELTS?

There is no single rule for every project. The selected English- or Chinese-taught university program sets acceptable evidence. Some official guides accept IELTS, TOEFL or proof of prior English-medium study, while others specify different standards.

Can I choose three universities?

The verified MOFCOM-CSC route allowed three university/major preferences. MOFCOM-40 allowed one direct-admission project. Do not mix the two route rules.

Is the scholarship fully funded?

It is normally a full award covering tuition, accommodation, stipend, insurance and specified travel or settlement support. The current project brochure and award letter define the exact package and duration.

Bottom line

The MOFCOM Scholarship is a genuine, competitive postgraduate program for experienced professionals from eligible countries. The 2026 calls are no longer an application opportunity, and 2027 dates must not be invented. Use this guide to prepare, then follow the new official country notice, AIBO program list, university instructions and CSC settings when MOFCOM publishes the next cycle.